BANGKOK: Covid-19 cases in Thailand surged to 33,030 last week with at least 6,000 infections reported in Bangkok, according to the Thailand Department of Disease Control.
The department said the cases, recorded between May 11 and 17, more than doubled from the 16,000 cases reported the previous week.
Bangkok reported the highest number of cases at 6,290, followed by Chon Buri (2,573), Rayong (1,680), Nonthaburi (1,482), and Samut Prakan (1,442).
Most infections were among individuals aged 30 to 39. The public has been advised to wear face masks and use an antigen test kit (ATK) immediately if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or fatigue. - Bernama
KLUANG (May 20): Gas Malaysia Bhd said it has yet to resume full gas supply to all affected customers, citing limitations with the alternative supply from Thailand that was activated following a disruption in domestic transmission after the Putra Heights fire.
President and group chief executive officer Ahmad Hashimi Abdul Manap said while operations for the majority of its clients have stabilised, a handful remain impacted due to quality and pressure requirements.
“Some of the remaining customers cannot accept the quality of gas coming from Thailand, and others require high pressure, which we are unable to supply due to being at the end-point of the distribution line,” Ahmad Hashimi told The Edge after the launch of a centralised biomethane injection station in Kluang, Johor.
The gas shipper and distributor confirmed that there are still about eight to 10 companies affected by the supply disruption, despite the earlier rerouting of gas via the Trans Thailand-Malaysia (TTM) gas pipeline.
Minimal financial impact expected
Although the financial impact of the disruption is still being assessed, Ahmad Hashimi reiterated that "it will not significantly affect the group’s full-year performance", despite affecting nearly 300 customers in the Klang Valley at its peak.
“Although we have not completed the calculation, at the moment it does not significantly impact our overall volume and revenue for the year — subject to the stability of the situation. [Even] Petronas Gas Bhd has not completed its restoration and repair,” he said.
He added that any losses incurred will likely be reflected in the group’s second-quarter results.
“If it’s based on the last two to three weeks of interruption to us, yes, it does impact [our operations] in the Klang Valley, but overall, for Gas Malaysia, I wouldn’t say it is significant,” he added.
Ahmad Hashimi stressed that the company would wait for the full restoration of supply by Petronas Gas before offering a complete financial assessment. “If I say a number today, and then tomorrow Petronas Gas says they are going to curtail further, I will have to redo the entire computation again,” he explained.
The disruption, which began on April 1, was caused by a pipeline issue involving Petronas Gas, resulting in the closure of five city gates — key distribution points for the Klang Valley.
“When the incident happened, we had to shut down five city gates. Immediately, almost 300 customers were shut down,” said Ahmad Hashimi.
“Then, after things became more stable, Petronas Gas was able to bring in gas from the TTM [pipeline], and we resumed supply progressively,” he added.
Petronas Gas had earlier stated that gas supply in Putra Heights is expected to be fully restored no earlier than July 1, pending investigations, regulatory approvals, and actual site progress.
MAKKAH - Jemaah haji dinasihatkan supaya memakai pelitup muka berikutan pencemaran debu yang melanda Makkah ketika ini.
Ketua Rombongan Haji Malaysia, Mohd Hisham Harun berkata, Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) direkodkan mencecah 180 pada Isnin.
“Cuaca di Makkah ketika ini berdebu. Bacaan IPU semalam (Isnin) agak tinggi, hari ini (Selasa) pun tinggi. Ini berlaku kerana penukaran cuaca ke arah lebih panas.
“Jemaah haji disyor menggunakan pelitup muka apabila keluar ke mana-mana. Perlu berhati-hati dan jaga kesihatan menjelang wukuf nanti,” katanya pada sidang akhbar di Abraj Al Tayseer di sini pada Selasa.
Mohd Hisham berkata, suhu di Makkah ketika ini antara 30 hingga 44 darjah Celsius dan dijangka meningkat kepada 50 darjah Celsius dalam masa terdekat.
Katanya, suhu yang tinggi boleh menjejaskan kesihatan jemaah, oleh itu mereka diminta bersedia dari segi mental dan fizikal.
“Jemaah dinasihatkan untuk mengelakkan pendedahan berpanjangan kepada cuaca panas dan sentiasa menjaga kesihatan diri,” katanya.
Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, seramai 141 jemaah sedang menjalani rawatan di Pusat Rawatan Tabung Haji (TH) dan hospital Arab Saudi.
Ujarnya, 97 jemaah dirawat di Makkah dan 44 di Madinah, manakala 12 jemaah sedang dirawat di hospital Arab Saudi.
“Kes-kes yang dirawat melibatkan masalah salur pernafasan, sakit telinga, hidung dan tekak (ENT), penyakit tulang dan otot, penyakit kulit serta masalah gastrointestinal (sakit perut),” katanya.
Menurut Mohd Hisham, Pusat Rawatan TH di Madinah telah mendapat kelulusan permit (tasrih) daripada Kementerian Kesihatan Arab Saudi yang diselaraskan oleh pihak Saudi German Hospital.
Tambahnya, Malaysia merupakan negara ketiga yang menerima kelulusan beroperasi di sektor Madinah.
“Kerjasama strategik dengan Saudi German Hospital adalah untuk memenuhi syarat yang digariskan oleh Kerajaan Arab Saudi, yang mewajibkan semua Rombongan Rasmi Haji melantik syarikat penyedia perkhidmatan kesihatan swasta tempatan.
“Ia bagi membolehkan pusat rawatan perubatan TH beroperasi sepenuhnya,” katanya.
Beliau sebelum itu memaklumkan bahawa operasi haji bagi musim ini, sama ada di tanah air mahupun di Tanah Suci, berjalan dengan baik.
Menurutnya, seramai 18,453 jemaah telah tiba di Tanah Suci menerusi 62 penerbangan, dengan 17,053 berada di Makkah dan 1,400 lagi di Madinah.
Beliau turut melahirkan rasa dukacita terhadap dua kes kematian jemaah haji Malaysia yang berlaku pada Jumaat dan Isnin lalu.
“Terdapat dua kematian di Makkah. Kedua-dua jenazah telah selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Syariee, Makkah.
“Tabung Haji akan melaksanakan badal haji untuk kedua-dua arwah pada musim haji tahun ini,” katanya.
BANGKOK: Kes COVID-19 di Thailand meningkat kepada 33,030 minggu lalu, dengan lebih 6,000 kes dilaporkan di Bangkok, menurut Jabatan Kawalan Penyakit Thailand.
Jabatan itu memaklumkan bahawa kes dicatat antara 11 hingga 17 Mei adalah lebih dua kali ganda berbanding 16,000 kes yang direkodkan pada minggu sebelumnya.
Daripada jumlah itu, seramai 1,918 individu dimasukkan ke hospital, manakala dua kematian direkodkan masing-masing di wilayah Sukhothai dan Kanchanaburi, menurut media tempatan.
Bangkok mencatat jumlah kes tertinggi iaitu 6,290, diikuti Chon Buri (2,573), Rayong (1,680), Nonthaburi (1,482), dan Samut Prakan (1,442).
Orang ramai dinasihatkan supaya memakai pelitup muka dan menjalani ujian kendiri (kit ATK) sekiranya mengalami gejala seperti demam, batuk, sakit tekak atau keletihan.