abrahamzvi

8 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Does anyone know about a rumor I heard?  Mandatory quarantine for those coming from the "red" provinces going into some provinces in Issan?

I haven't heard anything of this nature, but I sincerely hope it is true. The authorities should ban travelling from one province to another and any travelling from red zones. They should have done it 10 days ago and the numbers would be half by now and probably 10% of what they will be in 10 to 14 days. What a pity.

12 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I'm encouraged, four days ago it looked like we were at the start of a rapid (if not exactly exponential) growth in case numbers. Now it looks as if the control measures might be having an effect. This is three weeks after the four-day long-weekend we had in December, and there don't seem to be any clear signs yet that the nationwide travel during that period spread the virus in any serious manner. And don't forget that, three days ago, the disease control dept warned us that there were still a lot of test results in the pipeline and we would see these coming through over the next week, resulting in high case numbers. Hopefully, what we're seeing now is just that, and the underlying trend of what's actually happening in terms of falling case numbers is masked by the backlog of positive test results. Maybe I'm being over-optimistic, but I certainly hope not.

I sincerely hope and pray that you are right. Your words in God's ears! PLEASE!

4 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/health/covid-hospital-readmissions.html

He Was Hospitalized for Covid-19. Then Hospitalized Again. And Again.

 

Significant numbers of coronavirus patients experience long-term symptoms that send them back to the hospital, taxing an already overburdened health system.

And still one reads comments by readers of TV saying that COVID-19!9 is no more than a Flu. When criticizing the restrictions, some say that motor cars are not banned, although thousands die in motor accidents. Quite frankly, if people don't stop being so stupid and selfish, the plague will not go away, even with the vaccines.

11 hours ago, rasmus5150 said:

But let's celebrate New Year first, and the worry about the consequences later.......

It‘s because of people like you, and few other commentators, who belittle the dangers of this“flu“, as well as people acting in such a nonsensical manner, pretending to defend „civil liberties“ world wide, that many millions of people either died or have been maimed by this „flu“. All I can say to such clever, selfish people, is, if you wish to endanger yourselves, don‘t act in a way endangering others.

18 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Expect a bad hangover. 

If the warned of, expected spike of cases, like the one in Europe and the US, a complete ban on traveling between provinces and a nationwide stricter ban on entertainment venues, possibly with a night curfew, should be imposed. If this does not take place, immediately, what we have to expect is a complete nationwide lock up, which we all hope can be avoided.

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Government needs to hike budget for vaccine to prevent economy taking bigger hit 

By The Nation

 

Anusorn Tamajai

 

The Thai stock market is expected to face sell-offs in the final week of the year, as new cases of coronavirus infections soar, Anusorn Tamajai, former dean of Rangsit University’s Economics Faculty, has warned.

 

People who pay respects at the Hindu shrine outside Isetan department store in Bangkok have to stay in the marked space as a precaution against virus infection.

 

A new round of coronavirus infections globally and the threat of new virus variants may force many countries to impose ban on foreign arrivals, and such restrictions would disrupt recovery of the global economy, he said.

 

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) may plunge below 1,400 from Friday’s close of 1,486.31, he predicted.

 

The SET's new barrier may be at 1,380. The baht will not change much in the final week of the year but it could have a tendency to appreciate in the first quarter of next year due to large contraction in imports, he said.

 

Investors may shift their funds to more secure asset classes, such as gold and government bonds, as Thailand and other Asian countries are facing a new round of infections which threatens economic recovery. The threat of a US government shutdown could also make global stock markets jittery, as incumbent President Donald Trump has not yet signed the virus relief package into law. That would also adversely affect US stocks and the dollar, said Anusorn.

 

The Thai government reported 121 new Covid-10 cases on Sunday and authorised partial lockdowns in several provinces.

“The challenge for the government is how to prevent multiple clusters and superspreading events in the next two months,” he said.

 

If the government can do that, then the virus will be contained as it was in the first round of infection, therefore any large gathering of people must be avoided over the next two months, he noted.

 

He said the government's budget of Bt6 billion to buy vaccines is not adequate. The Bt6 billion will buy just 26 million doses of vaccine and only 13 million people will get shots as everyone needs two shots.

 

Thailand needs to vaccinate at least 53 to 54 million people, including migrant workers, to control the virus and pave the way for reopening of the economy in the third quarter next year, he suggested.

 

So the government needs Bt18.69 billion more for vaccine sourcing, as the country needs to import at least 107 million vaccine doses, he said.

 

“If Thailand cannot reopen the economy in the third quarter of next year, more people will lose their jobs, more small businesses will go bankrupt and financial institutions will face serious trouble,” he warned.

 

The government has to go ahead with its plan to collect land and building tax in order to get more revenue from wealthy people who have the capacity to pay more taxes, he said.

 

He also urged the government to allow private hospitals to provide vaccinations to high-income groups in order to reduce government spending.

 

The Bank of Thailand on Wednesday cut its economic growth projection for next year to 3.2 per cent, down from the previous projection of 3.6 per cent, due to the impact of the new round of Covid infections worldwide.

 

The central bank, however, revised upward its forecast for this year's growth, predicting a contraction of 6.6 per cent compared with the 7.8 per cent contraction predicted previously.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30400308

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

This gentleman is really making sense. His warnings are real and his suggestions regarding the vaccine sound very appropriate. It also makes sense to allow private hospitals to charge for the vaccine. One should keep in mind that Thailand used to be a medical hub for foreigners. They will come again if they can get vaccinated here and there is no doubt that they will be prepared to pay for it. Why should Thailand pay for the vaccines for rich Thais and foreigners? 

8 hours ago, Bender Rodriguez said:

 

can reduce ???

But when is Thailand getting the vaccine? The faster, the better. Tourists are not going to come to Thailand without knowing that it is safe from infections, even if they are vaccinated. It really is of UTMOST importance for Thailand to try to get approved vaccines SOONEST!!!!

On 12/27/2020 at 4:45 PM, Neeranam said:

I'm travelling domestically this week and am now a member of the first class lounges. 

Some are closed but some still open. 

I'm not sure if I can use the following if it is in the international departures Airside - International Departures. Level 3 (West Side).

Does anyone know? 

 

I can use the Domestic one but the miracle looks better. 

 

 

What is  "the membership of the First Class Lounges"? How does it operate? How do you become a member and what are the costs? Many thanks for your information.

3 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

That's really like asking "how long is a piece of string?". With no indication of actual usage (like our OP gave) it's nigh on impossible. Start off by letting us know your monthly power usage (from your bill).

 

Do you want totally off-grid, off-grid with mains backup (both will need batteries) or on-grid to supplement your power usage (no batteries so cheaper).

 

Do you intend going DIY or paying a contractor?

Many thanks, Crossy. The answers are: 1) usage - app. 150 units per month

                                                        2) Totally off-grid

                                                        3) I would use a reliable contractor

All I am looking for are approximate costs.

Thanks again.

20 hours ago, Crossy said:

A quick and dirty response:-

 

500 units a month comes down to about 17 units a day, let's say 20 for round numbers. One "unit" is 1 kWh (kilowatt-hour).

 

Our panels make useful power for about 8 hours per day, but that's not all at full output of course.

 

Real life numbers (from our own installation) have the standard 300W-350W panels generating between 1 and 1.3 units each per day.

 

So for a simple calculation that's about 20 panels.

 

You'll need to store that energy for use at night. Let's assume you only use power at night so you need to store 20,000 Watt hours (Wh) of energy, that translates as about 420Ah of battery at 48V.

A LiFePO4 battery of that magnitude is going to cost you around 4.5 grand US$ (although prices are falling) and you'll need charge controllers and inverters too as well as your panels.

 

Still interested?

 

The above is the absolute minimum and takes no account of miserable dull days. For example we have 5.8kW of panels which can produce as much as 32kWh or as little as 6kWh in a day and of course, like buses and bananas, miserable days come in bunches.

 

If you actually have and retain a grid connection you can use that with a hybrid inverter to bridge over the dull days, otherwise you will need a lot more panels and batteries (say double) or a genset (use the genset to charge the batteries too so you don't have to run it all night).

 

It really depends what you want to do, go truly off-grid, mostly off-grid (but with a backup mains supply), or stay on-grid and offset your power consumption. The latter is what we do, the solar provides for 50-60% of our energy usage the rest coming from PEA as and when it's needed.

 

Do you intend going DIY (have a look at the Solar Car Port thread) or paying a solar contractor to do the job?

 

What is the approximate costs to have  a system that would safely provide cover for a house of app.120 Sq. M. , including all equipment necessary?

20 hours ago, keith101 said:

I think the Government is waiting to develop its own vaccine so they dont have to pay another country for theirs and while there is no deaths as of yet they will more than likely keep waiting .

I wouldn't know if the Thai vaccine will be ready by April/May, as far as I know not even the first stage of the trial has not been completed. I really believe that Thailand, which is not a poor country, should use its best efforts to get the two approved vaccines, before its own is ready. It would be cheaper that supporting economically most of the nation. May I say PLEASE!!?? This appeal is addressed to the authorities. Hopefully they read it.

From my own experience, which goes back some years, my answer is definitely YES. However, it may take some time (even weeks) until the check is cleared and credited to your account. Wouldn't it be better to have the funds transferred in another way?

7 hours ago, i Phad said:

Not sure where to post this Mods. Please move where you think best.

 

I want to bring a cashier's check from my American credit union, to deposit in my Bangkok Bank account when I return in January.

 

Will Bangkok Bank accept it?

 

Please no comments about other transfer of funds methods. This is a yes or no question based on factual knowledge.

 

Thanks.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

No vaccine, no entry – the next challenge of Covid-19
The Thaiger
 

OPINION

 

 

With the announcements this week about several vaccine candidate trials, either being completed or at the end of their Phase 3 testings, and the applications to government bodies for ‘emergency approval’, we now have to face the next question.

 

What restrictions will be imposed on those people who don’t have the vaccine, or even actively choose not to have the vaccine?

And more locally…

 

Will Thailand allow people to enter Thailand without first having the Covid-19 vaccine?

 

Given the Thai Government’s low-risk strategy, well almost zero-risk strategy, and reluctance to take any chances with a second wave of Covid 19, it is highly likely there will be a stipulation that anyone entering Thailand will need a vaccine certificate or stamp in their passports.

Couple this with the Thai population’s continued fear of allowing foreigners back into the country at this time, in poll after poll, and it’s a safe bet there will be a “no vaccine, no entry” restriction imposed.

 

On a positive note, the Thai government may drop the 14 day quarantine for people that have had the vaccine (but not in the early days).

 

At this stage we know that most of the vaccine trials have had a 95% efficacy. We also know that the leading BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine needs an original jab plus a booster and has to be transported at extremely low temperature.

To complicate matters, there is not yet sufficient evidence that having had a bout of Covid-19, whether asymptomatic or not, guarantees you immunity. Or, if it does, for how long?

 

All these factors will mean that some level of quarantine will probably be in force as the Thai government slowly re-opens its borders to a wider groups of vaccinated travellers. This would remain in force until the world has a better knowledge of both the proven efficacy of the vaccine, or vaccines, and the re-infection rates.

 

So, even if we start getting groups of the world’s populations vaccinated before the end of the year, and that’s still a very big IF, there’s a lot more water to pass under the bridge until a coherent, reliable vaccine strategy can be understood and implemented.

 

Then there will be a rump of people, either hard core anti-vaxxers, or others who are at least skeptical of a new vaccine, who will want to wait or not want the vaccine at all. Public education, some strong science and a successful roll out of the early vaccines will be a key to winning over a lot of the world’s population.

 

Somehow governments and health authorities are going to have to wind back much of the disinformation floating around the internet about vaccines that is so factually out of whack with reality, it’s going to be one of the greatest public health challenges of all time, to reassure people about the science of vaccines and vaccination.

 

All this, in the middle of a pandemic that, for now, is still on the ascendency as far as new cases and deaths are concerned.

 

But there is little doubt rejoining the world of international travel, even local travel, could become restricted to only those who are vaccinated. The rest will be stuck roaming around their own countries, or states, for… years with a raft of restrictions on their lives. Who knows.

 

Will shopping centres or public buildings also impose a “no vaccine, no entry” policy? Hotels? Public buildings? Job applications?

 

On top of the economic stress which has fallen on a lot of the world, with so many governments now facing the headwinds of deep recession, the vaccine ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ will add even more public disquiet.

 

At this stage nobody is sure how the vaccine will be rolled out in Thailand. The Thai government has already signed up for several of the leading vaccine candidates and will most likely provide the vaccine for free to citizens under its public health system.

 

What does that mean for foreigners living here? If you are covered, with a work permit, under the country’s public health, are you able to get the vaccine for free too? Will the thousands of foreigners on private health insurance be covered?

 

Surely the insurers will want its customers to be vaccinated. Sick customers cost them money. So, will insurance renewals be limited to only people who have been vaccinated? Will visas be renewed only if you have been vaccinated?

 

At this stage there are no firm answers to any of these questions.

 

And then there is the SARS Cov2 virus (Covid-19) itself, a living virus which has the ability to mutate and adapt. Will these new vaccines be effective against all mutations? Again, this is all ahead of us.

 

We’re certainly now entering a new phase of this pandemic. New challenges, new questions. The rising numbers of cases throughout 2020 is only the first chapter of a book that will be many more years in the making.

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/no-vaccine-no-entry-the-next-challenge-of-covid-19

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2020-11-24

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thank you for an excellent article. It says all and mentioned the pertinent questions surrounding the questions of vaccines. I am sure that the authorities will find the correct answers for Thailand.

46 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It's never appropriate to kill another member of humanity, it could be considered inhumane. 

 

That said, some have proven themselves beyond any doubt to be inhuman. Removing those who’ve committed the most heinous of crimes from humanity could be considered to be in the interest of society. 

 

A legal system which protects the general public from the moral dilemma of this issue is also in the interests of society. 

 

 

 

 

I am sorry I am unable to agree. Although removing those who have committed most heinous crimes would protect society, this inhumane method of executing human beings is absolutely wrong. It is no more than legal murder. Is stealing from a thief legal? The same principle applies here. Is it legal to kill a murderer? NO! 

To me the decision is quite obvious and that is the pure Medical Aid Insurance with Aetna, or any other pure Medical Aid Insurance. I would shop around (maybe through a broker) as Aetna may not offer the best quotation. However, what I would not do, is a life Assurance combined with Medical Aid, as it always turns out more expensive. Try and get a quotation of two separate covers Life Assurance and separately Medical Aid. I bet that with exactly the same amounts of cover (you should note on the life cover, if it is on a cover with profits, or life only, which means that only you inheritors will benefit if you pass during the currency of the policy and you get nothing at the end of the currency) two separte covers are going to be cheaper than one combined

On 10/14/2020 at 1:57 PM, lust said:

I find that many of the westerners I come across have some quirks about them, or are total nutcases to be honest... Not all, but many... Thailand is a place for many misfits..

How right you are, all you have to do is to read some (NOT ALL) comments on this medium. Apart from this. I can report on  a recent sad case. I was with my daughter, in a pharmacy in Chiang Mai waiting to be served. A foreigner, probably English, came in and simply asked the attendant for a certain medicine and was told in broken English that as he had been told earlier, the particular medicine is not available in that pharmacy. He then asked where he could get it, and the attendant didn't seem to understand him. To be helpful I tried to translate his question to Thai and that "nice" man attcked me verbally telling me to f... off, and he doesn't need assistance as he speaks Thai himself. I would have answered him, but my daughter stopped me as she was afraid that that rude person would revert to a physical attack.

3 hours ago, Mak25 said:

I can't tell you about TH and New Zealand. However, in my case, I am Czech and had my permanent residency in Germany. The German government said that I am Czech and don't need to military service. The Czech government said that I live in Germany so don't have to do military service. The German government would only conscribe until the maximum age of 24 at that time.

 

Your habitual residence is in New Zealand. 

Germany has no conscription. It was cancelled some 6 years ago.