House meetings to continue despite 12 MPs catching Covid

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Speaker Chuan Leekpai today (Jan.30) decided against cancelling meetings scheduled for Feb. 2-4 despite 12 MPs having contracted Covid-19 as he has always maintained that parliamentary work should continue despite the pandemic, Naewna newspaper said.

Dr. Sukit Atthopakon, Chuan’s adviser, said the House speaker had stepped up preventive measures to an appropriate level.

Of the nine newly infected MPs eight are from to Bhumjaithai Party and one from Palang Pracharath Party.

Counting from Jan. 1 there is an addition of three infected MPs with two coming from the Democrat Party and one from Palang Pracharat Party.

All party leaders have been instructed to manage the spread of infection especially MPs in the risk group and all have agreed to do so.

All MPs will also undergo the ATK test before attending the meeting on Feb. 2.

The eight Bhumjaithai MPs who newly caught Covid are Mr. Jeset Thaiset, from Uthai Thani, Mr. Chakkrit Thongsri, from Buriram, Mr. Kongkrit Chatmaleerat, from Ranong, Mr. Amnat Wilawan, from Prachinburi, Mr. Yoswat Mapaisansin, from Kanchanaburi, Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, from Sisaket, Mr. Worasit Liengprasit, from Satun, and Mr. Thanayot Timsuwan, from Loei.

The Palang Pracharath Party MP who just got infected is Mr. Samrit Tansub, from Chaiyaphum.

The two Democrat Party MPs who earlier got infected are Mr. Desit Kaothong, from Songkhla, and Mr. Akradej Wongpitakrot, from Ratchaburi. Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn, Palang Pracharath Party’s MP, also had been infected earlier.

Over the 24 hours to this morning there were 8,444 Covid cases and 12 deaths with Bangkok continuing to top the list of 10 worst-hit provinces.

Today’s batch of cases raised the cumulative confirmed total since the start of the pandemic to 2,432,534.

Another 7,829 patients were cured taking total recoveries since the start of the pandemic to 2,325,835 while 84,542 are still undergoing treatment of whom 546 are in severe condition with 109 requiring oxygen.

The 12 fatalities raised the overall death toll to 22,157.

Today’s top 10 worst-hit provinces are as follows:

1) Bangkok, 1,271 cases;

2) Samut Prakan, 783 cases;

3) Chonburi, 408 cases;

4) Nonthaburi, 403 cases;

5) Phuket, 360 cases;

6) Sisaket, 224 cases;

7) Ubon Ratchathani, 216 cases;

8) Pathum Thani, 174 cases;

9) Nakhon Ratchasima, 166 cases;

10) Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Si Thammarat, 162 per province.