THREAD: Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) will procure Sinopharm #COVID19 vaccines as a supplementary option to the govt’s vaccine rollout, which is more and more criticized for being chaotic. But even more chaotic was the news of a company claiming to supply to them…
1) Background: CRA consists of medical research centers and is chaired by Princess Chulabhorn. Royal Gazette announced this week that it can procure #COIVD19 vaccines. It’s seen as a slight against the govt’s increasingly messy mass vaccine policy, set to start Jun 7.
2) Observers also wondered if the royal decree would cut through any red tape, but officials quickly pointed out that whoever is importing #COVID19 vaccines still have to stick the rules, incl. of the @fdathai.
3) On Thursday, a company called “ACAP Assets” claims that it’s a distributor of Sinopharm #COVID19 vaccines and offered the CRA 20m doses after they couldn’t reach anyone in the govt. This is where things start to get weird…
4) Naturally, people started looking up the company. Their DBD database entry shows that “ACAP Assets” is actually a real estate company with no apparent expertise in pharmaceutics or pharmaceutical logistics.
5) “Tellus Agrotech” was also named in ACAP Assets’ statement and is stated to be the company that has procured said Sinopharm #COVID19 vaccines. Their DBD database entry shows they’re actually a “Manufacturer of grain mill products”.
6) Then the @fdathai pointed out that while it has received the paperwork for the approval request for Sinopharm’s #COVID19 vaccine, it was NOT by “ACAP Assets” but by “Bio Gentech”, an actual pharmaceutical company.
7) Prof. Nithi Mahanonda, the CRA’s sec-gen, posted on Facebook essentially refuting ACAP Assets’ claim, saying that it’s not possible that this company would be eligible to import vaccines and has never contacted him either.
8) Govt spokesperson Anucha also come out with a statement, essentially blasting every claim by ACAP Assets. He says that neither is the company qualified to sell #COVID19 vaccines, nor has it ever contacted the govt.
9) Conclusion: 2 companies, with no apparent links to the pharmaceutical world, claim they’re offering 20m doses of Sinopharm #COVID19 vaccines to the CRA after couldn’t reach the govt. But they didn’t request FDA approval. CRA, FDA, govt are all calling their claims nonsense.
10) This all just adds to an already confusing #COVID19 vaccine situation in #Thailand, beset by mixed messages about availability, timeline and logistics, adding further pressure on the govt. But the claim the govt passed on 20m doses of Sinopharm seems to be not true. (END)
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THREAD: So here’s where the rumor came from that @pfizer’s #COVID19 vaccine is already in #Thailand even though @fdathai has not received any paperwork for approval yet and just rebuked this.
1) It all started with self-exiled fmr Thai PM @ThaksinLive claiming in a live stream on Tuesday night that a small amount of @pfizer’s #COVID19 vaccine is already in #Thailand and given to a “probably a small group”.
THREAD: Thai PM will hold a televised address at 6pm local on the recent surge of #COVID19 cases, as over 1,000 cases have been linked to a seafood market in Samut Sakorn and migrant workers there.
Follow next tweets for details.
PM @prayutofficial: Recent outbreak in Samut Sakon was dealt "with urgent and strong measures", serves as an "important reminder how serious of a threat #COVID19 still is for the nation."
PM @prayutofficial: The declining #COVID19 situation worldwide has consequences for Thailand: it’ll take the world economy "longer to recover" and "biggest risk is people, brining the disease in our country". But many foreigners arriving here say they’re "impressed" with measures
- 382* new confirmed #COVID19 cases (5,289 total)
- 17 discharged (4,053)
- 1,176 in hospital
- no new deaths (60)
*360 new cases found in migrant worker dorm in Samut Sakon (over 90% asymptomatic). “More confirmed cases there are expected.”
On top of the 360 migrant workers tested positive for #COVID19, 12 out of 14 local transmissions have been traced back to the Same Sakon seafood market where the current cluster is.
As for the migrant workers in Samut Sakon, they’ll be all quarantined in the same facility since the majority is asymptomatic, taking cues from a similar situation in SG. “This will take a few weeks to resolve,” says Dr Taweesin spokesman of the govt’s #COVID19 task force.
#BREAKING: @pr_moph says 516 (!) more are tested positive in Samut Sakon province, following a positive case involving a shrimp wholesaler there, bringing the total of this cluster 548. Most of the new cases are migrant workers and asymptomatic. This is the biggest jump in months
Officials are announcing a practical locking in Samut Sakon province, with many activities and localities being ordered to cancel and to shut down until Jan 3. People are also asked to cease non-essential travel. #COVID19
Local elections on Sunday for the Provincial Administrative Organization will go ahead in Samut Sakon province, but health officials urge to wear masks and maintain safe distancing. #covid19
THREAD: #Thailand is mulling plans for "phase 4" of relaxations of #COVID19 restrictions and re-openings of businesses and activities aimed for June 15.
These places were deemed "high-risk", hence they why come last. Details in the next tweets.
Draft plan of relaxations of #COVID19 restrictions in "phase 4" (potentially on June 15)
- International schools can reopen already
- Restaurants, food courts, hotel can serve alcohol
- Pubs, bars, karaoke venues are still NOT allowed to serve alcohol
(cont.)
(cont.)
- daycare facilities (e.g. kindergarten) can reopen
- events (incl. sports), conferences, concerts can take place (but with safe distancing)
THREAD: The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has proposed 8 types of places re-open again - but stops short of giving out an actual date, because that's pending a discussion with the @ddc_riskcom tomorrow.
See next tweets for list and detailed notes.
The 8 places the BMA is proposing to reopen:
1. restaurants & bars 2. non-food markets 3. barber shops, salons 4. clinics 5. golf courses 6. some sports venues where distancing is possible 7. vets, pet salons 8. public parks
(see next tweet for additional notes)
Additional notes
1. restaurants and bars could open for dining-in again, but with safe distancing. No alcohol can be sold in store, but takeaway is possible
2. there was no mention of malls
3. limited services at barbers and salons, no walk-ins