Headlines summary as of 20 July 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
11,305 (595 from prisons)	426,475 [last seven days: 72,763]	3,711/ 855	296,208 (+6,557)	397,612	11,067,518 (+217,419)16.39% of the population
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
11,674 [8,997 (get tested in hospital) + 2,677 (active case finding)]	14 (in SQ)	126,765 [53,174 in field hospital]	117,962 (+2,764)	3,502 (+80) [last seven days: 655]	14,547,244 (+248,648)21.58% of the population	3,479,726 (+31,229)5.21% of the population

• Pfizer and Biontech issued a press release that the company will send 20 million doses of its mRNA vaccines to Thailand in the 4^th Quarter. The company signed its contract with the Department of Disease Control, Public Health Ministry.—Than Settakij
• Please find the English infographic of the newest restriction by CCSA attached.
• Yesterday, the CCSA spokesperson cited the Krungsri Research forecast of the COVID new cases saying that in the worst case scenario the number of the daily new cases could be as high as 31,000 cases per day, providing that the public did not comply with the public health measures.—Khao Sod, Reuters
• In regards to the Deputy PM and Public Health Minister announcement to impose export quota of the locally-sourced Astra Zeneca vaccines, the head of the CCSA Operation Centre said that the Health Minister had met and consulted with the PM on this matter and the Health Minister will bring to proposal back to reconsider before informing the PM again.—Krungthep Turakij

Politics

• The PM announced that he is going to start completely working from home from 20 July onwards to comply with the Public Health measures.—Krungthep Turakij
• The House Speaker has ordered the Parliament to halt the Parliament session for one more week compiling with the CCSA health regulations.–Matichon
  • A main figure in the main Opposition Pheu Thai Party gave an interview that the Opposition will submit their censure debate motion in August
• After there was an online campaign to ban ‘Food Panda’ as the official account of the food delivery said that a Food Panda employee who joined the protest on Sunday is a terrorist, the employee was apprehended by police on royal defamation charge.–Matichon
• The Deputy Army Spokesperson dismissed the online circulation of the draft of the martial law imposed on Bangkok to curb the pandemic as fake. The Army has asked people cooperation not to distribute or circulate the documents.—Krungthep Turakij
• The Digital Economy Minister said that he has ordered an espionage mission of the Ministry’s staff to get into the communication of the protestors and is going to prosecute any user who broke the laws.–Matichon

Economic:

• The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) expects the economic loss stemming from extended lockdown measures will increase to 3 – 4 billion Baht daily from its earlier projection of 2 -3 billion Baht daily.  In 1 month, the loss will reach 90-120 billion Baht, for which the TCC will discuss with its members nationwide to devise plans to cope with the lockdown, such as bubble and seal routes for workers.  TCC urges the government to provide immediate assistance to affected businesses and to expedite vaccination for workers to protect the export sector.  Source:  Matichon  INN News  Daily News
• According to SME Federation of Thailand, the current lockdown is imposed on 13 provinces that generate economic value of 9.8 trillion Baht; equivalent to 60 percent of Thai GDP which total GDP of 16.8 trillion Baht.  As such, the current lockdown will cause GDP to decline by 160 billion Baht monthly.  When combined with the government’s previous 3-month semi-lockdown measures, which affected GDP by 150 billion Baht (50 billion Baht monthly), the total loss will amount to 300 billion Baht.  This could cause 2021 GDP to expand below 1 percent.  Within this week, the SME Federation of Thailand will join forces with 30 members to submit 5 proposals to PM Prayut to assist SMEs from all business sectors.  Source:  TNN Thailand
• Asia Plus Securities noted that Thailand’s GDP this year could fall into the negative territory as the current lockdown is expected to be as strict as back in 2020, which caused GDP to contract by -6.2 percent.  Thailand’s number of daily infection, which exceeds 10,000 cases per day, is ranked second Southeast Asia.   An APS studies indicated that the latest restrictions will affect 73 percent of listed firms’ profits, of which 14 percent are highly impacted.  Some 6 business segments such as retail, hotel, aviation, media and restaurants will be most affected.  The 5 sectors that are least affected are energy, petrochemical, refinery and oil.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) expects the housing market to experience severe contraction in 2021.  The extended lockdown is worsening the woes of the market which is already hard hit by the impact of the 30-day closure of construction sites and workers’ camps in Greater Bangkok since earlier this month.  Homebuyers are expected to continue delaying home purchases, wherein nationwide resident transfers will plunge by 19.7 percent to 288,045 units in the worst-case-scenario.  From the supply side, the worst case scenario translates into the number of construction permits nationwide dropping by 15.6 percent to 275,079.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The extended lockdown measures are jeopardising Thai AirAsia’s financial status as it is in the midst of preparing a business restructuring plan that will see an injection of 3.5 billion Baht loan through new investors.  However, the airline had to halt domestic flights since 12 July to comply with lockdown measures.  Thai AirAsia bemoans the government’s lack of assistance for the aviation sector that employs up to 15,000 people and reprimanded the government for not responding to the aviation industry’s request for a soft loan since last year. Should the airlines collapse, the government might not be able to meet tax revenue collection target, while shouldering the burden of repaying the 3.3 trillion Baht loan.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The PTT Group, through its power generation arm Global Power Synergy Plc (GPSC), yesterday opened the first semi-solid battery production facility in Southeast Asia.  Located in Rayong province’s Map Tha Phut area, the 1.1-billion-Baht factory will produce ‘G Cell’ batteries are lighter, have lower production cost and can be recycled.  This is in line with the Thai government’s Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission policy and the promotion of renewable technology to support the S-Curve industries, such as Electric Vehicles and Smart City.  GPSC is a licensee of US-based 24M Technologies Inc, which also developed the semi-solid battery technology.  Sources:  TNN Thailand Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 19 July 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
11,784 (100 from prisons)	415,170 [last seven days: 70,143]	3,595/ 856	289,651 (+5,741)	386,307	10,850,099 (+69,667)16.39% of the population
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
11,674 [8,997 (get tested in hospital) + 2,677 (active case finding)]	10 (in SQ)	122,097 [50,462 in field hospital]	114,928 (+2,134)	3,328 (+81) [last seven days: 631]	14,298,596 (+74,834)21.58% of the population	3,448,497 (+5,167)5.21% of the population

·         The Director-General of the Department of Disease Control said that if the pandemic situation is not getting better in the next two months, the Health Authority will look into the ultimate Wuhan lockdown model.—Siam Rath

• The National Security Council Chief who also heads the Operation Centre of the CCSA said that the Operation Centre will consider whether to recalibrate or adjust the lockdown measures every week, primarily the CCSA will consider the measure every fortnight.—Krungthep Turakij

·         On Sunday, the Royal Gazette announced the government will be tightening COVID-19 measures from Tuesday. The number of dark red provinces has increased are now increased to 13 provinces (adding Chonburi, Chaseongsao and Ayutthaya).

• The strict and highly controlled areas includes Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Narathiwat, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Ayutthaya, Yala, Songkhla, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon.
• Additional measures to be imposed on Tuesday are:

·         People living in dark red provinces (maximum and strictly controlled areas) are not allowed to go outdoors unless necessary.

·         Curfew hours are imposed from 9pm to 4am.

·         Restaurants, shopping malls remain closed while super markets, pharmacies and vaccination centres must be closed at 8pm.

·         Convenience must be closed from 8pm to 4am.

·         Provincial governors must close venues and ban activities that could pose risk of COVID-19 infection for 14 days.

·         Checkpoints will be set up to prevent people living in dark red provinces from inter-province travel.

·         The number of passengers on public transport is limited to 50 per cent capacity (only in dark red provinces).—National News Bureau of Thailand

·         The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said domestic flights to and from Bangkok and other provinces classified by the Thai government as high risk from COVID-19 will be suspended starting July 21. Exceptions are being made for medical flights, emergency landing aircrafts and flights in connection with the government’s tourism reopening programs. Other domestic fights can only fly at 50% capacity.–Reuters

·         The Deputy PM and the Public Health Minister said on Sunday that he has instructed Dr. Nakorn Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute, to draft a ministerial announcement to set the appropriate proportion of AstraZeneca vaccine for export and for domestic use, which will be submitted to the CCSA for consideration. The Public Health Ministry wants to take delivery of ten million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine per month.–ThaiPBSWorld

·         Over the weekend, there was a leaked document indicating that Thailand only wanted 3 million doses per month from Siam BioScience, the local manufacturer of AstraZeneca, but later asked to raise it to 10 million doses.—Isra News

• On Sunday, there was a circulation of the Ministry of Public Health saying that in June the Ministry has asked for 10 million doses of AZ, not three millions as earlier implicated.—Isra News

Politics

• Yesterday, more than a thousand of protestors met with harsh resistance from the police after gathered at the Democracy Monument but did not make it to the Government House.
  • Police reportedly use tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Police said eight police officers and at least one reporter were injured during the clashes. There was no report on the  protest injury, but police affirmed that they have arrested 13 protestors. —Reuters
  • Protestors did its symbolic activity—burning the replica of the PM—before adjourning at 6.30pm. The protestors will
  • The police said the use of rubber bullet was in accordance to the tactics as the protestors did not comply to the police order.–Matichon
  • Food delivery application-Food Panda was the new target of the cancel culture as protestors have call for a ban of the application after the Twitter account tweeted that they will fire their rider (food delivery employee) for participating in the yesterday’s protest. The Food Panda account tweeted that the company does not support violence and terrorism.—Khao Sod
• Over the weekend, there was a circulation and movement calling for the scrap of Royal Thai Navy plan to procure two more submarines from China.
  • The freshly elected Palang Pracharat Party’s secretary-general declared that the main ruling party is against the procurement as the Kingdom is still in the middle of pandemic. The budget, according to Ca[tain Thammanat, should be used to for the maximum profit of the people.–Matichon
  • The PM and Defence Minister has ordered the Navy to withdraw or defer its procurement proposal from the 2022 budget plan. The Defence Ministry spokesperson said that the ministry would not like to have the procurement politicised as it will affect the confidence of the country and its international image. The Navy chief said that the Navy has been thinking about withdrawing the proposal and that the RTN will announce the withdrawal on 19 July with the House Budget Committee.—Thai Rath
• Second-largest ruling Bhumjaithai Party Register made online comment that his party leader—Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin—has been sacrificed as scape goat for the vaccine failure, despite not being part of the committee since April 2021. The main figure of the party said that the vaccine procurement committee is led by Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn from Mahidol University and other private hospital owners but has no real power in arranging or procuring the vaccines.—Thai Rath
• The spokesperson of the main Opposition Pheu Thai Party has called for the CCSA to reveal the names of the committee which decided not to join WHO’s COVAX facility.—Thai Rath  

Australia

• Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs-International Studies Center held a webinar on Thai Public Diplomacy in the Digital Age. Teeranai Charuvastra, news chief at Khao Sod English and one of the panels, praised the Australian Embassy Thailand’s public diplomacy strategy. The news chief suggested the Thai MFA to engage more with the younger audience and experiment some more with memes and jokes. Teeranai mentioned the Ambassador tweet on the Thai slangs played well with the love of laugh among Thai audience.– International Studies Center

Economic:

APEC

• With Thailand slated to take over APEC chairmanship from New Zealand starting from November 2021, PM Prayut chaired a second meeting of the National Committee on the Preparation of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and Related Meetings last week, on 12 July.  The meeting identified 3 priority areas for Thailand’s APEC chairmanship, comprising:
  • facilitating trade and investment
  • rebooting regional connectivity, particularly the travel and tourism industry
  • advancing sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth through Circular-Green (BCG) economy
• Among the objectives is to build capacity in digital economy, sustainable transportation, renewable energy, low carbon emission, innovative waste management, and structural reform to promote inclusive economic participation and access to opportunities.  Source:  Thailand Public Relations Department news
• PM Prayut attended the APEC Informal Leaders’ Retreat virtually on 16 July, for which he confirmed Thailand’s support on 4 priorities, including 1) equitable access and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine 2) managing risks in living with COVID-19 under new normal standards 3) measures to assist businesses, particularly the MSMEs and 4) striking a balance in moving forth the environment and economy, specifically through the BCG economic model.  Source:  Prachchart Turakij

Others

• The National Vaccine Institution is drafting regulations to restrict the export of Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine to ensure sufficient doses are available for domestic use.  The draft regulation will be presented to CCSA for final approval.  The Thai Public Health Ministry wants to secure 10 million doses of AZ vaccines per month.  Source:  ThaiPBS World  Bangkok Post
• Thailand aims to conclude negotiations for the Thailand-Pakistan FTA (TPFTA) by the end of this year as it is anticipated to boost economic growth by 0.18 – 0.32 percent, according to a studies by Commerce Ministry.  The idea of the TPFTA was floated in 2013, with the first round of negotiations taking place in September 2015 in Bangkok.  To date, both countries have convened 9 rounds of talks and concluded 12 chapters from the total of 13 chapters.  Sources:  Bangkok Post Naew Na
• Commerce Minister Jurin said the negotiation frameworks for the Thai-EU FTA and the ASEAN-Canada FTA are scheduled to be presented to the cabinet by late September and August this year, respectively.  The Thai government is focused on accelerating FTA negotiations in a bid to boost exports, which is the country’s sole engine to boost economic growth this year.  Source:  Thai Public Relations Department News Bangkok Post
• The government expects the Samui Plus reopening model will generate for Koh Samui tourism revenue worth 180 million Baht through 1,000 foreign arrivals within the first month of its reopening from 15 July –  15 August.  The government confirms it will continue to pursue the reopening of various islands of Krabi and Phang Nga provinces in August, followed by the reopening of Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Buriram provinces in September where Thailand will host MoTo GP race.  Sources:  Prachachart Turakij Bangkok Post
• Business leaders from various sectors are urging the government to launch additional relief measures as the COVID-19 restriction measures are extended to 3 more provinces until at least 2 August.  All are urging the government to speed up the vaccination rollout. Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 15 July 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
9,186 (79 from prisons)	372,215 [last seven days: 63,895]	3,276/ 839	266,127 (+5,129)	343,352	10,163,340 (+275,216)15.35% of the population
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
9,058 [7,481 (get tested in hospital) + 1,604 (active case finding)]	22 (in SQ)	103,056 [44,474 in field hospital]	106,131 (+2,224)	3,032 (+98) [last seven days: 570]	13,533,717 (+303,036)20.44% of the population	3,370,377(+27,820)5.09% of the population

• The National Vaccine Committee is considering placing a quota on the export of domestically-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine as COVID-19 infection in Thailand surges.  It is a move that stirs concerns on vaccine protectionism and is likely to impact neighbouring countries that are also hit hard by the pandemic. In late June, AstraZeneca Thailand said its partner manufacturing facility, Siam Bioscience would produce 180 million doses this year.  About one third would be allocated for Thailand and two thirds is for export to elsewhere in Southeast Asia.  Thailand has been negotiating with the vaccine maker to procure 10 million doses of AZ vaccine per month from AZ’s current commitment of providing Thailand with 5-6 million doses.  Source:  Reuters  Bangkok Post
  • The Deputy Public Health Minister gave an interview saying that the quota is just the Committee recommendation, not the resolution and that the Department of Disease Control will need to consider this before making the decision. The Deputy Minister said, however, that should it is necessary, the authority needs to enforce related laws  to make sure the Kingdom could secure enough doses.—Inside Thailand

2. A deal by Thonburi Hospital Group to bring in Pfizer vaccines is now 60 per cent complete but there is still doubt over the government’s regulation. The chairman of the hospital private conglomerate said that  the group is working with a government agency that he cannot name yet to bring in 20 million doses the Pfizer vaccine with 5 million to arrive this month.—Thai Enquirer

Politics

• The staunch Conservative and outspoken extended royal family member M.C. Julajerm Yugala posted on his Facebook a metaphor that Thailand is sinking and that the pandemic could even flip the ship upside down.—Siam Rath
• The PM is scheduled to join the APEC Informal Leaders’ Retreat virtually at the Government House after he was on self-quarantine for 14 days after he was in close contact with a confirmed case when he travelled down to preside over the opening of Phuket Sandbox.—Prachachat Turakij
• The PM is tested negative for COVID in his third test. He is expected to return to work at the Government House from tomorrow onwards.—Matichon

Analysis/ opinion

• Prachachat Turakij made a special report determining the possibilities of the PM resigning or dissolution of the House. The media said that resigning is against the PM confident and determining personality, the next best viable option might be to reshuffle the cabinet. The media interviewed two main figures from ruling Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties which affirmed that the parties will stick with the PM and the government to steer clear off the pandemic crisis.—Prachachat Turakij

Economic

• The private sector is not confident that Thailand will be able to open its entire country in 120 days as mandated by PM Prayut, given the heightening of the lockdown measures in 10 provinces since early July.  Instead, the Federation of Tourism and Federation of Thai Industries forecast that only some provinces that can control the outbreak with 70 percent of the population vaccinated.  The same view is endorsed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which has re-strategized to start the reopening in selected provinces that have been left behind.
• TAT confirmed the reopening timeline as follows:

•             Surat Thani’s islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha-ngan reopen under Samui Plus program today (15 July)

•             Krabi province and its islands (Koh PP, Koh Ngai and Railey), Phang-nga (Khao Lak and Koh Yao) will reopen in August

•             Chiang Mai (Muang district, Mae Rim, Mae Tang and Doi Tao), Chonburi (Pattaya, Bang La Mung and Sattahip districts), Buriram (Muang district and Sanam Chang arena) will open on 1 September

•             The reopening of Bangkok, Phetchaburi (Cha-am) and Prachuabkirikhan (Hua Hin) slated on 1 October depends on vaccination rollout and the province’s capacity to handle the outbreak.  If the deadline is missed, Tourism and Sports Ministry said the government plans to keep its goal to reopen Bangkok within this year.  Sources:  Thansettakij newspaper, 14 July 2021 Bangkok Post 

• Hua Hin seaside town confirms it will reopen on 1 October and will allow fully vaccinated foreign tourists to visit it without being subjected to quarantine under the slogan Hua Hin Recharge.  The announcement came when infection rate in Hua Hin is on the upward trend.  Prachuab Kirikhan province is aiming to vaccinate 100 percent of workers in the tourism and services sector, and 70 percent of the general population of Hua Hin municipality by 30 September.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Federation of Thai Industries expects the lockdown will incur a loss of 100 billion Baht for the economy and business sectors in 14 days, wherein the government’s 500 billion Baht loan is insufficient to compensate for the loss.  Likewise, the Thai Chamber of Commerce noted the 42 billion Baht package of financial assistance for the afflicted announced earlier this week is also not enough.  TCC asked the government to support a 50 percent co-payment subsidy for the monthly salaries of employees, reinstate the cash-handout Rao Chana scheme or increase the government co-payment subsidy scheme from the existing 3,000 to 6,000 Baht to boost domestic consumption in Q3 and Q4 of 2021.  Source:  Thansettakij newspaper, 14 July 2021 Bangkok Post 
• Krungthai Bank projected that Thailand’s 2021 GDP will grow by 0.5-1.3 percent, revised from its original forecast of 0.8-1.6 percent if the outbreak is contained by September and economic activities resume in October.  It expects the current outbreak would need 6 months to be reined in (April – September).  Krungthai Bank expects the government to launch fiscal injection measures in Q3 or Q4 to stimulate the economy.  It forecasts a +3.6 percent GDP growth for 2022  Source:  TNN Thailand  Bangkok Insight  Thansettakij newspaper, 14 July 2021
• The Finance Ministry has ordered state-owned financial institutions to consider suspending principal and interest payments for all clients suffering from the fallout of the pandemic, rather than using a case-by-case basis.  The cabinet earlier requested for MoF and Bank of Thailand to discuss with related parties ways to ease the burden of banks’ clients from the pandemic’s impact.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Thai gold prices have climbed 4 percent in the past three weeks, spurred by a 2 percent increase in the global gold price, the Baht’s depreciation and fears over a major uptick in the number of new infections.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 14 July 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
9,317 (129 from prisons)	363,029 [last seven days: 61,677]	3,201/ 828	260,584 (+5,129)	334,166	9,888,124 (+289,175)14.5% of the population
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
9,180 [7,159 (get tested in hospital) + 2,021 (active case finding)]	8 (in SQ)	99,511 [43,454 in field hospital]	103,907 (+2,332)	2,934 (+87) [last seven days: 547]	13,230,681 (+322,488)19.5% of the population	3,342,557 (+33,313)4.99% of the population

Politics

• The first vaccine cocktail Thai health authority announced in inoculating Sinovac as the first dose and AstraZeneca as the second dose has tuned to be in disarray:
  • On Monday, the Deputy PM and Public Health Minister announced the use of such cocktail to improve protection against the Delta variant and build a high level of immunity against the disease.–Reuters
  • In the cabinet meeting yesterday, the PM has put the Public Health Ministry resolution on halt and ordered the ministry to reconsider citing WHO recommendation against mixing and matching the vaccines. The PM is reportedly said that this decision should be made by doctors. The Health Minister Anutin said that the decision was made by other doctors, in addition to the Ministry’s officials.–Matichon
  • Earlier on Tuesday, Krungthep Turakij reported that the PM did not have any prior knowledge of the vaccine swap scheme.—Krungthep Turakij
  • This morning, the government spokesperson said, however, that the PM did not put the vaccine swap scheme on halt, rather it was just a concern.—Krungthep Turakij
• Last night, ousted and self-exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra grilled the government management of the pandemic on Club House:
  • Thaksin said that the Public Health resolution to the vaccine cocktail was a compromise and an attempt to ‘save face’ for those who has ordered this much Chinese Sinovac vaccines. The government critic recommended the dissolution of the CCSA and let the Public Health Ministry to take the lead. He also evaluated that the PM might decide to dissolve the Parliament by the end of this year and will hold the next election in February next year.—Krungthep Turakij
• Amidst the call for the coalition parties to revoke their support from the government, the third ruling Democrat Party spokesperson announced that the party will stick to the other ruling parties. Yesterday, the deputy spokesperson of the second largest ruling Bhumjaithai Party also said that the party will not leave the coalition as the country is facing the pandemic crisis, leaving the coalition will create political vacuum which will jeopardise the country.—Krungthep Turakij
• A vocal MP from Opposition Move Forward Party Sirikanya Tansakun as part of the Budget Committee questioned the budget allocation of the Foreign Ministry, particularly a big spending of Thai Embassies and Consulate-General in Germany, the Philippines and Spain. The MP questioned the necessity of setting up two Consulate-Generals in Frankfurt and Munich despite being close to each other, juxtaposing with vast country but only two posts in Australia (Canberra and Sydney).–Matichon
• The student-led anti-government Free Youth Movement is calling for the protest against the government on the one year anniversary of their first protest on 18 July. The group called for three demands: the unconditional and immediate resignation of the PM, the transfer of royal and defence-related budget to help curb the pandemic and the change of the Sinovac to mRNA vaccines. Despite the pandemic, the group is calling for a protest on this Sunday 18 July from 2.00pm at the Democracy Monument.—Free Youth
• Anon Nampa, a leader of the anti-government and monarchical-reformist Ratsadorn (Thai people) Movement, gave an interview with Prachatai saying that their third demand: reform the monarchy is the middle ground for everyone in the society and affirming their three demands. The human rights lawyer said that by successfully reforming the monarchy, the Republic elements in the society cannot grow. He raised up the British monarchy model which will be the equilibrium point whereby the society could reach a consensus on. The protest leader said that the Ratsadorn movement is aiming to achieve two ideals that are first, the consciousness that everyone is equal before the law and second, the Constitution which guarantees that principle.–Prachatai

Analysis/ opinion

• Dr. Satithorn Thananithichote from King Prajadhipok’s Institute read into the recent online outcry against the PM management of the pandemic. The academia said that, despite the unified outcry against the government, the government will excel through this challenge as the unity amongst the conglomerate, armed forces, bureaucracies and judiciary remain strong. The political pundit said in principle, massive political change could only happen when there is conflict within the ruling elites and the departing fracture sided with the opposition. The prolong conflict in the Thai society has made the anti-government mass, so does the pro-government mass. The ruling elites, according to Dr. Satithorn, have been through these online outcries for several times in the last several years and have learned that by not reacting to the virtual criticisms, these waves of dissatisfactions will pass.–Ringsideการเมือง

Economic:

Cabinet’s decision, 13 July 2021

Latest Remedial Measures

• Approved a 42-billion-Baht financial assistance package to help 9 groups of businesses registered with the Social Security system in 10 red zone provinces that are affected by the latest lockdown restrictions.  Of the 42 billion Baht, 30 billion Baht is from the government’s loan and 12 billion Baht will be drawn from the government’s budget.  The assistance will be enforced for 1 month but may be extended, depending on the situation.
• 9 groups of eligible businesses are 1) construction 2) hotel and food services 3) arts, entertainment and recreation 4) other types of service businesses 5) auto retail and repair 6) cargo transport and depots 7) management and support activities 8) science and academic activities and 9) news and information and communication

Financial Assistance – Budget: 30 billion Baht

·         Employees registered with section 33 of the Social Security Act (SSA) will be paid 50 percent of their monthly income (with 7,500 Baht ceiling per person).  Thai employees will be paid an additional 2,500 Baht per person (with 10,000 Baht ceiling per person). If employees are not registered with Section 33 of the SSA, employers must enroll them to receive financial assistance. 

·         Section 33 employers will receive a maximum of 3,000 Baht for each employee that they employ, with the maximum of 200 employees

·         Self-insured people under Section 39 and Section 40 of the SSA will be paid 5,000 Baht per person.  Therefore, unregistered workers and freelancers must first enroll in the SSA’s section 40 to receive the payment. Employers with no employees must also register with SSA’s Section 40 within July to receive 5,000 Baht payment

·         Business operators using the government’s Thung Ngoen app as part of the Khon La Khrueng and Rao Chana stimulus schemes with employees must register with SSA’s Section 33 within July to receive financial assistance. 

·         Business operators using the Thung Ngoen app but has no employees must register with SSA’s Section 40 within July to receive financial assistance. 

Other aids – Budget 12 billion Baht

·         Discounts on electricity bills (July-August) and water bills (August-September)

·         Bank of Thailand and commercial banks are to relax debt-repayment regulations

·         Tuition fee and other related fees for the 2021 academic year will be reduced, with the Ministry of Education set to propose the solutions to the cabinet in 1 week.  Source:  Prachachart Turakij  Thai  Rath Bangkok Post

Others

• The private sector said the government’s latest financial assistance package is insufficient to help businesses that are devastated by the pandemic in the last 1.5 years, while prompting the government to borrow beyond its 60 percent debt ceiling.  Thai Chamber of Commerce estimated that the government’s 42 billion Baht package can only partially compensate for the total losses in the business sector of 200 billion Baht.  Real estatecompany Sansiri blasted the government for not providing compensation for yjr construction workers who are not covered by the Social Security system but are forced to a lockdown within their camps.  Thai Hotel Association asked the government to provide more remedial measures for hotel operators who have the bear the costs of maintaining their properties and retaining employees.  National Shippers Association said the government needs to hasten the vaccine rollout to prevent further outbreaks, or else the lockdown would be useless. Source:  Thansettakij newspaper, 14 July 2021
• Koh Samui’s Samui Plus reopening scheme is anticipated to see soft demand due to a surge in daily cases and delays in the Certificate of Entry registration process.  Tourism Association of Koh Samui does not expect an influx of visitors in the first 2 months of the island’s re-opening as it needs to build up awareness.  The Association envisages Samui Plus to be a test to prepare operators for when tourism rebounds.  The number of seat bookings on flights for July is 33, 20 in August, 10 in September and 17 in October.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Ying Aom Ying Dai government bonds worth 50 billion Baht were sold out quickly after their launch in early July.  The bonds will be used to finance state projects to ease the impact of the pandemic.  Ministry of Finance noted the government will not be issuing any additional savings bonds in FY2021 as all the bonds were issued as planned.  Source: Bangkok Post
• Customs Department reiterated that imported vaccines and medical equipment are subjected to 7 percent value added tax but are exempted from import duty until March 2022.  Customs Department dismissed the rumour that it will be imposing over 100 percent duty on future imports of Moderna vaccines.  Source:  Prachachart Turakij  Thansettakij

Headlines summary as of 13 July 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
8,685 (146 from prisons)	353,712 [last seven days: 59,659]	3,042/794	255,455 (+3,797)	316,164	9,598,949 (+297,542)14.5% of the population
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
8,527 [6,026 (get tested in hospital) + 2,501 (active case finding)]	12 (in SQ)	95,410 [41,79  in field hospital]	101,575 (+2,631)	2,847 (+56) [last seven days: 57]	12,908,193 (+338,980)19.5% of the population	3,309,244 (+41,438)4.99% of the population

• The Public Health authority announcement of the ‘mix-and-match’ of Sinovac and AstraZeneca jabs consecutively has made international headlines as it is the first place in the world to announce so. Deputy PM and Public Health Minister said the cocktail aims “to improve protection against the Delta variant and build a high level of immunity against the disease”. There have been no studies specifically on mixing Sinovac and AstraZeneca released, but a growing number of countries are looking at mix-and-match of different vaccines or giving a third booster dose amid concerns new and more contagious variants may escape approved vaccines.–Reuters
  • However, the World Health Organization chief scientist advised against people mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a “dangerous trend” since there was little data available about the health impact.–Reuters
• After becoming a large cluster in the last few months, the Justice Ministry said that 94.2 percent of the infected inmates have recovered from the virus.—Krungthep Turakij

Politics

• The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is about to fine and revoke VoiceTV from the satellite platform. The NBTC said the anti-government channel has covered on things which undermine the state security and that the channel has made six minutes advertisement more than the NBTC has allowed.—Khao Sod
• It is expected that in today’s cabinet meeting, the Interior Minister will nominate the next Interior Ministry’s Permanent-secretary. There are reportedly three candidates: the DG of Department Of Provincial Administration, the DG of Department of Lands and the permanent-secretary of Natural Resources.—Krungthep Turakij
  • A media analysed (and later deleted the report) why the permanent-secretary of Natural Resources Ministry Mr Jatuporn will be nominated to be the next Interior Ministry’s prem-sec (unprecedented for the Interior Ministry to have ‘insider’ to get the top job). The media reported that Mr Jatuporn went to the same faculty with the current Interior Ministry perm-sec. More importantly, it is reported that Mr Jatuporn is supported by an energy conglomerate head who has been sponsoring the main ruling Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP) and Thai Economy Party which the current Interior perm-sec is expected to lead after his retirement in October. The media also reported that the Interior Ministry is looking after Provincial Electricity Authority-having Mr Jatuporn in the position means the conglomerate can take control of the lucrative PEA. The Interior Ministry is also capable of lining up provincial governors facilitating the campaigns in the next election.—TOP News
• Opposition parties have agreed to file the censure debate against the government on the failure in curbing the pandemic. The Opposition will finalise the format of the censure motion at its next meeting on July 19 as the House session is on suspension due to COVID restriction.—Krungthep Turakij
• After there have been calls for the coalition parties to revoke their support of the government, the third largest ruling Democrat Party spokesperson said that the party will not withdraw from the government.—Prachachat Turakij
• Opposition Move Forward Party MPs held a virtual press conference accusing the two main parties-ruling Palang Pracharat Party and opposition Pheu Thai Party for manipulating the Constitutional Amendment motion for their own political gains. The Move Forward Party MPs said that the Parliament has passed only the Democrat Party motion which indicated the amendment of two Articles, but the deliberation in the committee involved proposals from the main PPRP and PT parties. The progressive MPs warned that the amendment proposals did not touch upon the core of the political conflicts.—Krungthep Turakij

Analysis/opinion

• Krungthep Turakij viewed the PM move to ‘step back’ from being the main commander of the pandemic situation as a strategic retreat after seeing a greater resistance from many sectors. The media reported that the change of vaccines combination (Sinovac first then AZ second) is done by Public Health Ministry lead where the PM has no prior knowledge of it. The Ministry has reached the consensus that there is no way that the Kingdom will secure 63 million doses of AstraZeneca by the end of this year.—Krungthep Turakij

Economic:

Tourism

• CCSA spokesperson Thanakorn dismissed the fake news that surfaced on social media, which claimed that Phuket has closed its borders as the island is now infested with COVID-19.  Thanakorn insisted that the Phuket Sandbox scheme remains underway, with the island having welcomed 4,778 tourist arrivals since 1 July and bookings for Q3 amounting to 176,993 nights.  As of yesterday, Phuket reported that 6 of the total 3,917 tourists who arrived in Phuket from 1-10 July are infected with COVID-19.  Sources:  Thansettakij Thai Government News
• Inoculated tourists can start booking their trip to Koh Samui, the second destination poised to reopen on 15 July under the Samui Plus sealed route program.  Registration for certificate of entry (COE) for Koh Samui was opened on Monday.  Source: Bangkok Post

Others

• Commerce Ministry is set to organise a consultation session on 15 July with the public and private sectors to discuss the possibility of upgrading 3 FTAs, comprising the ASEAN-China FTA; ASEAN-Korea FTA and ASEAN-India FTA.  Source:  Khao Sod Thailand Plus TV
• Yesterday PM Prayut and Interior Ministry representative chaired a virtual meeting to discuss Thailand’s APEC chairmanship in 2022.  The meeting was attended by members of the national committee which was appointed specifically to oversee APEC, with DPM and Foreign Affairs Minister Don serving as the chair of the APEC sub-committee.  Source:  Manager Online
• According to Bloomberg, Thailand’s imposition of lockdown-like measures to contain the deadliest Covid outbreak risks fuelling the decade-high unemployment rate and household debt.  These measures posed further downside risks to the fragile economy and may delay recovery from its worst slump in more than two decades.  It may also derail PM Prayuth’s target of welcoming back vaccinated tourists by as early as mid-October. Economists noted that foreign investors will avoid investing in Thailand due to the worsening pandemic, with the nation’s currency and stocks both tumbling for 4 weeks in a row.  Source:  Bloomberg
• The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said existing assistance launched to relieve financial burdens of households are inadequate in the midst of the latest COVID-19 outbreak.  BOT had identified 2 priority areas that must be urgently tackled, namely 1) the debt serviceability of households which could deteriorate further, given that household debt had risen to 90.5 percent of GDP and 2) risks arising from prolonged low-interest rate environment, such as investors’ search-for-yield behaviour, to maintain the stability of the Thai financial system when the economy picks up.  Sources: Bank of Thailand press release, Thai Post
• As the economy is rebounding slowly from the current COVID-19 outbreak, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) is likely to revise downward Thailand’s 2021 GDP growth from its original forecast of +1.8 percent.  The fresh lockdown and slow vaccination rollout mean Thailand may not be able to contain the outbreak by Q4 2021 or achieve herd immunity by early 2022.  Sources:  Poojadkarn online Thai Rath
• Current financial assistance offered by the BOT are its amended soft loan scheme for SMEs, in which 66.89 billion Baht of loan was approved and offered to 21929 entrepreneurs.  Amended on 26 April, the approved soft loan is expected to reach 100 billion Baht in the first 6 months.  BOT’s asset warehousing scheme for business operators is, however, not seeing much participation yet is anticipated to see higher uptake soon following regulation changes.  To date, 2 business operators with total credit line of 900 million Baht have joined asset warehousing program.  Sources:  Bangkok Post 
• The Federation of Thai Industry is closely monitoring currency movement as the Thai Baht depreciated to its weakest value in 14 months at 32.29 Baht to USD.  The depreciation is in response to the news that the US will raise its policy interest earlier than projected in 2022 and 2023.  Thai exporters is expected to benefit from the depreciation, such as automotive export, which is also unaffected by the latest lockdown measures.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• Private hospitals are suggesting that the government increase coverage of medical expenses for Covid-19 inpatients in private hospitals to let more facilities in the capital help ease the public health burden.  Source:  Bangkok Post

Headlines summary as of 12 July 2021

News

Newly confirmed case(s)	Total Cases	Patients under severe conditions and those using ventilators	Discharged from hospital	From 1 April, totally confirmed cases (third wave)	1st dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
8,656 (73 from prisons)	345,027 [last seven days: 55,794]	2,895/747	251,658 (+3,687)	316,164	9,301,407 (+87,809)14.05% of the population
Local transmission	From abroad	Being hospitalised/ in field-hospital/ quarantined	Confirmed cases in Bangkok	Death toll	Total vaccination (doses)	2nd dose vaccine recipients (from 28 Feb)
8,559 [6,044 (get tested in hospital) + 2,515 (active case finding)]	24 (in SQ)	90,578 [39,290  in field hospital]	98,944 (+2,399)	2,791 (+80) [last seven days: 515]	12,569,213 (+100,0258)18.99% of the population	3,267,806 (+12,216)4.93% of the population

• More information in English on the restrictions in Greater Bangkok and four Southern provinces are in TAT and the official announcement is at BMA
• Just this noon, the National Communicable Disease Committee has passed a resolution scrapping the two Sinovac inoculation schemes. The Committee has recommended the use of Sinovac as the first dose and after three to four weeks, AstraZeneca as the second doses. The Committee also passed a resolution to jab ‘booster dose’ for the frontline health workers who got two Sinovac doses with Astrazeneca or mRNA vaccines.—Khao Sod
• This morning the PM virtually presided over the donation of Japanese government AstraZeneca vaccines to Thailand with Japanese Ambassador and the Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin.—Krungthep Turakij
• After conducting an active case finding, more than 40 percent of the new batch of the newly recruited airforce officials are contacted with Covid-19.—Prachachat Turakij
• After a Mathematics professor posted on his YouTube saying that the government has charged tons of money on the Moderna (alternative) vaccine, the director-general of the Customs Department dismissed the report saying that the vaccine that will be imported to sell for ordinary citizen does not charge more than operational charges and VAT.—Thai Rath
• Professor Emeritus Udom Kachintorn who is the advisor of the CCSA gave an interview on the most recent lockdown measures that the lockdown aims just to buy public health officials some times to treat the remaining patients. The CCSA advisor said that after the lockdown the Public Health will consider easing the measures, should there are less than 120,000 to 150,000 newly confirmed cases per week and less than 100 deaths per day.—The Standard

Politics

• The Army is under heavy criticism as there have been a massive circulation of photos of Army personnel lining up at the airport and visit the US to get the American vaccines. 
  • The deputy government spokesperson said that the photos are real ones and that the personnels went to the US to join the training of Strategic Airborne Operation with the US Army.—Khao Sod
  • Deputy Army spokesperson also said that the operation is part of the bilateral Cobra Gold training.—Khao Sod
• Following the PM pledge not to receive his salary for three months in a show of spirit to share the difficulty with the people, there are at least 20 more ministers follow suit.—Prachachat Turakij
• Yesterday, the main Opposition Pheu Thai Party held a press conference grilling the government failure in handling the pandemic and has the resolution to file the censure debate motion. The party will consult with the MPs on Tuesday before submitting the motion in late July.—Prachachat Turakij A Pheu Thai MP said that the Opposition coordinator will discuss today on the nameless of the ministers that will be on grill.—Krungthep Turakij
• Opposition Move Forward Party revealed with the public the contract that AstraZeneca is having Siam Bioscience which turned out that most of the contract requested are blocked out. The party has been reaching out for the contract, particularly on the price and the delivery terms since March 2021.—Matichon
• It is not the best scenario for the government opposition as two figures have been tested positive for Covid-19:
  • Former Red Shirt leader and anti-government critic Nathawut Saikrea has tested positive, despite having the first jab of AstraZeneca last month.—Prachachat Turakij
  • A vocal MP from Move Forward Party is also tested positive.—Matichon
• Deputy head of the main ruling Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP) who also heads the committee of Constitutional Amendment said that the committee will discuss with the House Speaker on 12 July whether it is still allowed for the committee to meet and deliberate. The main ruling party representative dismissed the minute parties requests not to amend the electoral system by saying that everything needs to be done in accordance with the majority vote.—Matichon
  • The committee head Paiboon outlined the timeline of the Constitutional Amendment that it will take three weeks for the committee deliberation. The third reading will be voted in August to early September and ascends for the Royal approval. After the amendment motion is passed, the amendment of related laws will take four months beginning in the next Parliamentary session (November).—Prachachat Turakij
• iLaw, the civil society working on rule of laws and human rights, has warned that the new restriction effective from today has barred people from sharing information which will stir unrest among the people, no matter if it’s true or false information and that the official can prosecute without warning. The PM order under the State of Emergency used to the distribution of fake information and that the official will give warning to the people before prosecution. The civil society also pointed out that the order also add the regulation against distributing information which will undermine state security.—iLaw 

Analysis/opinion

• Local think tank TDRI evaluated the midterm performance of the government in curbing the pandemic and the distribution of the vaccine. The staunch supporter of the technocrat government has, however, said that the government has failed the people in pandemic control and vaccine administration, resulting in rendering the Kingdom sunken into public health and economic crises. The latest waves of the pandemic has made Thailand less competitive and harder to recover. The think tank called for responsibility and the need to establish an independent committee to probe the failure.—TDRI
• Former chief of the National Security Council analysed that the PM has realised that his tenure is on counting down, but that he is waiting for a ‘signal’ that he could step down with an amnesty and protection before resigning from the position. Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr said that the so-called car mob is just an advance team before the 18 July which will witness the larger gathering.—Matichon

ASEAN/World

• Matichon gets an exclusive interview with the Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Don Paramutwinai on Thai foreign policy in dealing with the pandemic The DPM said that the government has been implementing a comprehensive policy in curbing the spread which has been successful thus far. The top diplomat said the ministry has been using diplomacy to leverage the vaccine procurement, including the push for vaccine swap with Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada and the US back in April. It is expected that some countries will have enough vaccines to swap with Thailand from September 2021 onwards. The long-serving diplomat underlined that only the ‘real’ understanding in the situation and the stable national unity can help support Thai people to excel this pandemic.—Matichon

Australia

• The Asia Foundation with the Embassy has been launching Thailandlearning.org, an online learning platform with resources in many discipline. The platform has been helping students and teachers in Thailand particularly during the pandemic.—Khao Sod, Naew Na, Thai Rath, Siam Rath

Economic:

Mini FTA

• Thailand signed an MoU today to establish its first mini-FTA with the city of Kofu in central Japan.  The online signing ceremony was presided over by Thai Commerce Minister and the Kofu city governor to facilitate knowledge exchange in jewellery design and technologies as well as to expand bilateral cooperation in marketing activities.  Thai DPM and Commerce Minister Jurin said he will proceed with plans to establish further mini-FTAs with China’s Hainan province, India’s Telangana state and South Korea’s Gyeonggi province by August this year.  Thailand was scheduled to sign a mini-FTA with India’s Telangana state in January this year, but it was postponed and is still awaiting the cabinet’s consideration.  Source: Krungthep Turakij Bangkok Post  Thansettakij 

Others

• Anusorn Thammajai, the former Dean of Rangsit University’s Economic Faculty estimated that the current lockdown enforced since 12 July will incur less economic loss than last year’s.  Economic loss for the current lockdown is estimated at 3.5-4.5 million Baht per day at the minimum and around 49 – 63 billion Baht in two weeks.  He suggests the government launches remedial measures that specifically target those who have yet to recover from previous outbreaks, such as daily labourers and SMEs to retain employment.  However, the remedial measures would be useless if the government does not procure mRNA vaccines to inoculate the medical workers within the next 2 weeks and Pfizer for children and youths to curb the outbreak.   He said countries that are reporting high rates of COVID-9 infection are those whose population is inoculated with Chinese vaccines wherein the efficacy is lower.  Source:  Thansettakij  Post Today
• In the best case scenario, COVID-19 infection in Thailand could fall below 100 cases per day at the start of October 2021 if the outbreak could be controlled as effectively as last year, according to Krungsri Research.  In the base-case scenario, the infection would continue spreading fast similarly to the past 2 months, for which infection number will peak at the end of July and will decrease to below 100 in mid-October.  In the prolonged-case scenario, Thailand could face the same situation as Brazil and Italy where it faces recurring waves of infection as the lockdown is lifted too soon.  In this case, infection rate will remain high past October.  As for the Thai economy, Krungsri Research noted that the drop in consumption will continue to weigh down on the economy despite the rise of export in May.  Source:  Siam Rath
• TDRI published a research paper that evaluated the efficiency of PM Prayut’s regime in managing the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.  The paper hails the government’s outstanding achievement in containing the outbreak last year, but slams the regime this year for making a series of wrong moves in controlling the outbreak and in vaccine management.  This inevitably steered the country into a public health and economic crisis, resulting in the country missing any chance for recovery.  TDRI suggests that an independent committee be appointed to investigate the government’s misdoings and prevent the same mishap from recurring.  Source:  Post Today
• Thais’ investment in foreign stocks rose exponentially as they rush to buy high-growth stocks in global markets after recently being allowed to do so through local brokers.  Revenues from global stock trading through local brokers for the first half of 2021 grew more than 200 percent YoY, according to Securities and Stock Exchange of Thailand.  European, US and Chinese stock markets are expected to continue growing this year as their economies recover, while emerging markets including Thailand will still suffer setbacks from the pandemic.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is to build a new industrial estate called APEX Industrial Park in the EEC’s Chachoengsao province, to be completed in 2 years.  This new industrial estate is a joint venture between the IEAT and Apex Industrial Park to serve targeted industries such as metal, machinery, logistics equipment, electronics and agricultural products and high-tech products.  Source:  Bangkok Post
• An online seminar held by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand focused on the lack of transparency and fair competition in the bidding process for the two double-track-railway projects worth 128 billion Baht.  The projects comprised the 323-km northern section from Nakhon Ratchasima Prae’s Den Chai district to Chaing Rai’s Chiang Kong province and the 355 km northeastern section between Khon Kaen’s Ban Phai and Nakhon Phanom.  Source:  Bangkok Post