Rising deaths fail to toughen Govt approach

The Cabinet yesterday stopped short of approving tough, compulsory measures to check the country's rising fatalities from type-A (H1N1) influenza.

With the exception of a 16-day mandatory closure of tutorial schools, the government's directives have been voluntary so far.

But this new strain of flu has already claimed 24 lives in Thailand and is spreading quickly, with 147 new cases confirmed yesterday, taking total infections to more than 4,000.

The Cabinet resolved to seek further cooperation from the public in introducing more ways to help contain the flu.

However, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration took a more drastic approach by closing all of its 435 schools, 20 nurseries and 13 vocational-training centres from today until Sunday.

"The Cabinet discussed whether all schools nationwide should be shut down, but the Public Health Ministry insisted that was not necessary," said Deputy Government Spokesman Phumin Leetheeraprasert.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said only sick students should skip class, and if their parents needed to stay home to care for them, they should be allowed to do so.

Government officials can also take sick leave if they develop flulike symptoms, and their absence will not be deducted from their annual vacation leave.

"We're now trying to persuade all employers to let workers take leave without demanding a doctor's certificate or reducing their number of leave days," Witthaya said.

The ministry is understood to be considering whether more sweeping steps should be taken, such as suspending concerts, banning public gatherings and closing pubs and bars.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot urged all concert organisers to delay their events for two weeks voluntarily but said it remained unclear how many music and entertainment performances that would entail.

Only alumni and students of Khon Kaen University's Faculty of Medicine said they would indefinitely put off a charity concert set for July 25.

"Type-A (H1N1) influenza is worrying, so we think we should postpone the concert," said Chompilas Chongsomchai, dean of the faculty.

Ticket holders can receive a refund at the public-relations counter inside Srinakarin Hospital on campus between next Monday and July 31, she said.

 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said people should be aware of the new flu's danger when going into high-risk areas like concerts, buses or aircraft.

"In such places, they should wear face masks," he said.

The Public Health Ministry is consulting the World Health Organi-sation about a plan to stop reporting type-A (H1N1) cases, he said.

"Other countries that have reached our stage have stopped issuing the figures," he said.

The Cabinet approved Bt850 million for buying vaccines against type A (H1N1) and medicine for treating it.

Of that budget, Bt600 million will be for 2 million vaccine doses and the rest for 10 million oseltamivir tablets.