Ambulance driver arrested in north-east Thailand for being on drugs

A Covid-19 nasal swab test isn’t pleasant. Many will say the long stick inserted deep inside the nasal cavity feels like it’s hitting their brain. A method arguably much more discomforting is now being used in some cities in China… an anal swab test. And, they say, it’s more effective at detecting a coronavirus infection.

After a Covid-19 infection was detected at primary school in Beijing, more than 1,000 teachers, staff members and students were tested using the anal swab method as well as the usual nose and throat swab tests. For the anal test, a cotton swab is inserted around 3 to 5 centimetres into the anus and then gently rotated around.

Beijing officials say anal swab samples were also taken from people living in neighbourhoods with Covid-19 cases as well as those in quarantine facilities.

Since the virus is detectable on faecal samples for a longer time than the respiratory tract, the anal tests can “increase the detection rate,” according to respiratory and infectious disease doctor Li Tongzeng.

An official in the Weinan, a city in the northern Shaanxi province, says a 52 year old man whose symptoms of cough and appetite loss tested negative for Covid-19 in a throat test. He then tested positive using nose and anal swab tests, according to the city official.

SOURCES: Reuters | AFP

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Go out and grab a beer this weekend… but at a restaurant. Bars in “red zones” are still closed. Restaurants will be able to go back to serving alcohol and can offer dine-in services until 11pm. The restrictions on restaurants, put in place to limit gathering to potentially prevent the spread of Covid-19, are being eased in all provinces except for Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of the new wave of infections. The ease on restrictions will be approved by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on tomorrow.

While restaurants will be able to serve alcohol and host music performances, dancing is prohibited in provinces classified as “red zones” and “orange zones.” Restaurants must arrange place tables and chairs to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Bars, pubs and karaoke venues in “red zones,” which include Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, must remain closed.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s subcommittee on disease control restrictions agreed to adjust the measures in all provinces except Samut Sakhon where Covid-19 cases are still on the rise and health officials are rolling out a mass testing campaign.

Boxing matches will be allowed in “orange” and “red” zones, but without spectators. Meetings and seminars will be allowed, but with a limit of 100 attendees in “orange” and “red” zones. “Yellow” and “green” zones can have up to 300 attendees at conferences and boxing matches will be allowed to have limited spectators.

Public schools in Thailand, with the exception of Samut Sakhon, are allowed to reopen.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Ask The Thais” is a new segment on The Thaiger where we ask some of our Thai staff to explain some of the unusual and sometimes inexplicable little nuances of Thai culture. You have a question?

Send it in and we’ll get our MUCH BETTER LOOKING Thai staff to explain, from a Thai youth perspective, some of their culture and what they really think. Send us your questions below.

YouTube link to the Australian Transport Accident Commission video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8

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