Chiang Mai Bill

8 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It's just a new strain of the virus that was first identified in the UK, hence the name.  This new strain will develop (and now has developed) anywhere. It doesn't have to be imported from the UK.  

And few people realise that!

Countries (like France) make political accusations to cover their own inadequacies and make a big noise. macron called the Kent strain ''the British variant''! It could have originated anywhere -- with transport links between the UK and the EU there is no way in telling how that variant spread.

It's like the British guy who was accused of being the first to introduce covid into Europe: who left Singapore and then travelled to France, and then on to the UK -- who knows who was the first -- but the naming of each variant in the country it was found is not necessarily where it originated.

5 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Covid cases are on the rise! Where?

France, Germany, Italy, Spain -- they are currently experiencing their third wave. 

Do they really think that submarines, high-tech, and space technology will stop the country being classed as a third-world country? 

No vaccines, poor education, corrupt police, corrupt public workers, corrupt politicians, inadequate health service, no social care, one of the world's most polluted countries, terrible road carnage -- and now we hear one motorcycle death every 35 seconds.

Priorities?

"Now nearly two are dying every hour - one per 35 minutes. 

She said that between 2011 and 2019 26,126 children and young people died.

In the next eleven years the death toll among youth could be expected to be 40,000 if nothing is done.

Drowning used to be the number one death toll for under 15s - now it is on a par with bike deaths."

Corr, there must be more drowning going on than I ever dreamed of! Why hasn't it been reported?

5 hours ago, shy coconut said:

Going on holiday has been illegal for Brits for a couple of months now. 

 

I think it was brought in early January, I think business and hospital appointments 

are the exception, I'm not sure how much scrutiny is done at departure though.

It was February!

As the number of covid infections are extremely (miraculously) low in Thailand, very few deaths -- and those are all contributed to foreigners or returning Thais from foreign lands -- the fact that all entrants to the Kingdom have to undergo quarantine -- there is little reason to cancel this silly water-throwing festival. The only danger is accidents caused by water thrown at motorbikes and thus causing accidents, and filthy water being thrown in eyes and mouths -- which has never caused concern previously.

That is, of course, that the Thai covid figures are accurate!

I wonder where and how these hospitals will be able to obtain the vaccines? The EU is in turmoil trying to obtain bulk consignments, they stopped a consignment being shipped to Australia earlier this week. Africa is in desparate need of vaccines -- but Thai hospital chains will be able to buy quantities and keep in stock 5 or 6 different 'varieties' to give customers a choice!

I assume that each vaccine will have a different price tag -- the Sinovac surely will be cheaper than the Pfizer.

Perhaps those clever Chinese could even provide the Sinovac in 'different packagings'? Cheap to print labels with Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AZ, etc.  A good moneymaker!

There are some who are unscrupulous enough to see a lucrative opportunity here!

18 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

Is this the vaccine that’s just 50% effective?

52 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

UK  doesn't issue vaccination certificates (as far as I know), so she'll be required to do it again in Thailand.

i certainly object to paying 10x-20x the price.

Well, I've had a vaccination certificate given to me!

5 hours ago, George Bowman said:

I've lived here for years and have noticed that Thailand's officialdom is not much different than my home country. Neither government has ever given me anything for free...

My Thai wife in the UK will be getting her ''free'' vaccine -- thanks to the UK Government's desire to vaccinate ''all'' in order to stop the spread of the virus!

Many non-Thai may baulk at paying for the vaccine -- of course, depending on the decided cost -- should this situation occur!

I wonder what the redundancy package will be on the 'unlucky' 240 -- and what benefits will they retain with Thai Airways?

In many other countries in the world these statistics (which we read of year after year) would not be tolerated. Thai Governments seem to disregard these deaths and injuries without making any attempt to reduce them to figures of an acceptable normality!

Speed cameras, drunk drivers prosecuted, vehicles confiscated, speed bumps could all be installed -- the biggest problem is the corruption within the police! However, perhaps dismissing all found of taking bribes and cancelling all pension payments would be a start!

But Life is cheap in some eyes.

The EU and UK -- and I'm sure other countries also -- have ordered and paid massive sums for vaccines in advance from the various manufacturers. They have gone into massive debt to do this -- and also to support their people and businesses. Cost was not their determining factor! Protecting the 'People' and the Economy was.

It is unbelievable! But Thailand fears to "risk the country paying more for the shots and facing uncertainty about delivery times."

It is unbelievable!

23 hours ago, keith101 said:

This vaccine has been rendered pretty much useless against the new variants especially the South African one where its only helpful against very mild cases . If this gets into Thailand then they should maybe forget about their order 

Well, after recent tests (announced yesterday) the AstraZenica vaccine has been proven to protect against the new strains to a degree where those vaccinated will suffer a milder infection that, in the majority of cases, would not need hospitalisation. That is not ''useless''!

I'd feel safer having it than not having it!  And it would be a foolish man to suggest that the other vaccines will protect against all the variants that are now circulating!  Viruses ''will'' mutate -- that is inevitable.

Perhaps sceptics will refuse any vaccine available now -- or in the future -- because they ''may'' not give 100% protection of future mutations now or in the future?

10 hours ago, sirineou said:

So I am scanning the news on Google news:

The US Government is considering it.

"On his full first day in office, President Biden revealed his 200-page national pandemic strategy with seven goals aimed at ending the Covid-19 pandemic. Buried deep in the report, on page 181, is a directive for multiple government agencies to work together to “assess the feasibility” of linking Covid-19 vaccinations to international vaccination certificates and producing electronic versions of them. "

 

"The United Kingdom is preparing a certification system that would allow inoculated citizens to travel abroad this summer, reported the London Times "

 

" Last month, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union Commission, said that she supports creating a common EU-established vaccination certificate that can be issued by member states to their citizens"

 

" While they wait for an EU-wide vaccination certificate to become available, some European Union member states are already or will soon be issuing their own certificates to citizens who have been vaccinated against Covid-19."

 

"Iceland, Denmark , Sweden, Spain,Cyprus, Poland, Estonia,Greece are some of the countries that will be issuing and accepting covid passports "

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2021/02/05/these-european-countries-are-launching-vaccine-passports/?sh=6176a6b677a5

 

"Greece agrees vaccine passport deal with Israel as ‘trial run’  "

https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-agrees-coronavirus-vaccine-passport-deal-with-israel-as-trial-run/

 

I am sure there are many other countries working on this proposal. As you can see the proposal is gaining speed  around the world. Thailand being a major tourist destination can't be far behind.

Of course everyone is monitoring Covid 19 developments and I am sure  will modify their position in the next few months depending on the data. 

 

Hmmmm. So the USA, UK, EU, Iceland, Israel and others will have their certification. I wonder if there will be any compatability --- or comparability -- with each? Will they all be in the language of their origin? Will, say in the case of Thailand, there be an infrastructure to detect forgeries and the Immigration officers have a knowledge of the different languages? I doubt that the French will want their certificates be in English!

In the first week of the UK demanding covid tests on all arrivals numerous forgeries were detected!

No doubt they will be available on the internet for $50.

11 hours ago, Petey11 said:

I was to believe the AstraZ was sold at cost price, no profit, so you cant get it much cheaper than that. 

Only to poor third-world countries. Would thailand wish to state it was a poor third-world country? Loss of face?

Opening bars and restaurants to 'act' as bars would be highly negligent and foolish! People congregate in bars. People drink and mix and ignore social distancing!

No, the manufacturers' product cannot be blamed on the virus -- but the use of their products can be!

11 hours ago, Olivie said:

They started to understand that no tourists will come to quarantine in Thailand. It took time but they finally get it.

But they don't seem to understand that having ''a'' vaccine does not mean they cannot be infected still and/or spread the virus!

It seems hard to comprehend that all/majority of the Police filled in a questionnaire and disclosed their debts! Too many questions would be raised as to how they lived in such a lifestyle!

So I wonder how he obtained this information?

Vaccines: Some will have the Sino, or Sputnik, or Oxford Astra Zeneca, or Pfizer, or Modena. Are all as effective as each other?

Even after vaccination covid can be caught and carried. Many take 2-3 weeks to kick in -- I expect the Sino and Sputnik are immediate!

Tests: Covid tests are all different. There is no international standard. Are the tests all done under the correct conditions? Are conditions and skilled personnel the same in London as Jakarta? Udon Thani as Berlin?

It is generally accepted by the 'educated' world that the virus will remain with us throughout 2021 -- and beyond. However, Thai politicians and officials consider it ok to plan for part of 2021 to bring about a great revival of tourists!

And I wonder if the 'no quarantine for those vaccinated' will mean that they have no need to buy medical insurance from a Thai company still?

On 1/20/2021 at 8:06 PM, AlexRich said:

The Astra/Oxford vaccine is easier to store and distribute, so makes sense to roll it out quickly. 

And it's cheaper!  The UK government are selling it to 'poor' countries at cost -- is Thailand a poor country?  Will they sell it at 'a price' to wealthy Thais so they can get it first?  Will the 'people' be vaccinated after 1 the rich, 2 the politicians, 3 the police, 4 the health workers, then the 5 key workers?

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Thailand has authorized importation of approved vaccine by private hospitals (when there is an approval) so it should be available for those who can afford.

Yes. As there are a significant number of non-Thais in the country, to allow non-Thais to mix freely would certainly encourage the virus to spread -- vaccination for the ''chosen'' people will not be completed in a couple of weeks -- it will take many months!  During this period the ''non-chosen'' people will still be ''mingling''!

The vaccine should be made available to non-Thais in private clinics or hospitals -- for a price!

In the meantime, all visitors to the Kingdom should only be permitted to enter if they prove they have had a valid vaccination (the 2 required shots) evidence taken under the time-effectiveness of that particular virus thus avoiding the quarantine requirement.