DLock

...actually, I meant Thailand. If you test positive for Omicron, it's like an inquisition of who, where, what, when...and then they do that trace as far as they can... I would not volunteer my positive ATK test if my symptoms were manageable and self isolate and play video games for 14 days...

Not in Chiang Mai - all tests had to be sent to BKK for Omicron testing - and took 3 days. ...and test numbers is probably at a reasonable currently, and when the testing needs grow, I think they will just assume everyone is Omicron...

My experience is that Omicron confirmed testing takes 3 days, as Bangkok is the only place that has the labs to do the testing, so today they are reporting Omicron infections from 3 days ago, that were confirmed today. In 3 days from now, we will know the numbers from today, and it will be significantly higher than 1,000... ...and that does not count the asymptomatic, and those that test positive with ATK and self isolate Thai style and infect more people...

I guess time will tell.

...and this the lesson I have learnt. People who test positive with an ATK, self isolate, do not get a PCR test. Knowing what I know now, assuming my symptoms were manageable, there is no way I would put myself in the system with a PCR test.

It was farcical to be honest. The guy had the very insurance they forced him to get for his Thai Pass, from a reputable Insurance company and they refused to accept it as payment or deposit. It made absolutely no sense. The Thai's keep complaining that foreigners don't have insurance and don't pay hospital bills, and they would not take his Insurance to pay that hospital bill. It really felt like a money grab and that they just did not trust any Insurance.

One missing comma changes everything. "Thais urged not to drink drive this year". Yeah, because it tastes terrible...sorry, I couldn't help myself.

I can understand your thinking, but I'm just not sure what will happen where you are. We tried that logic as well... It was a stressful time for this guy at the time when they refused his Insurance - the same Insurance that they insisted and accepted as part of his Thai Pass with $50,000 cover...which turned out to be just a check box and worthless in Thailand. They insisted on 150,000 "deposit" for his hospital admission...meaning it may go higher. It was at that point things got pretty heated and we tried to hold the line that he did not have access to 150,000, but he did have the Insurance that the Thai Pass insisted on. Use that, as that is what you insisted on. But they refused, but would not let him leave - the CDC seem quite all powerful, so there was really no options. The stand off went nowhere. Not only did that large hospital refuse the insurance, but we called 5 other hospitals in Chiang Mai and they refused without really considering the actual policy. I looked at the policy and it certainly was COVID cover for $50,000 but the hospital refused to accept and refused to contact the Insurance provider. His insurance company accepted that they will reimburse when he gets home. He was lucky he had access to 150,000 - many people wouldn't. And that is the question that remains unanswered. No one can answer me what happens if the person, who has insurance but does not have 150,000 (or whatever amount) and no one could answer that. We requested from the hospital which insurance company policy that they would accept at face value, so we could inform people considering Thailand, they said that they did not have that information. Didn't have...or didn't want to give? It was pretty disappointing for the person getting the news that he tested positive, and then that his insurance was useless...

No problem. I don't recall all the meds, but I know that the biggest medication cost was 12,000 baht and was Favipiravir. Some of the other costs were "medical supplies" and "diagnostic imaging" on top of the "packaged medical charge" of 3,800 which was the COVID test - and I assume that covers the BKK lab tests to determine the strain, but I am not sure. They may add that on the bill at exit. I questioned that he had not tested positive yet, so why all the meds. Doctor responded that they are certain he has COVID so best to start meds. I said, then why send him back for the rest of the day to potentially infect others if you are certain....no response.

There is that, bit I think the biggest risk is the people who contract Omicron with minimal or no symptoms and spread it without knowing. ...and the 3 jabs that my staff received...did not seem to help much. The speed that these infections went from mild symptom to very sick was a day.

I mean the Omicron strain testing that happens in BKK, which took 3 days to return the result. If they get thousands of cases in the next few weeks, and want to Omicron test each case, I think they will be overwhelmed. At some point soon, they will just declare every case likely Omicron. The PCR test wait was already 8 hours, then 3 more days for Omicron results - that's just not realistic given the speed that Omicron travels.

No, he arrived on the 22nd into Thailand and traveled to Chiang Mai by plane on the 23rd. Was ATK tested negative on 24th as standard protocol. On 25th, was showing symptoms of sore throat, cough and general lethargy - was put in isolation on the 25th. Tested positive on morning of 26th. Had to arrange specialty transport to hospital for PCR testing (2,000 baht each way). Despite having significant symptoms, was sent back to await tests, but with 18,000 baht of medication. This was an unnecessary risk IMO. Staff also tested positive on ATK test and went for PCR test's with symptoms and tested positive. Admitted to hospital that evening - a family member of staff tested positive and now admitted to hospital. PCR test was 3,800 baht for the foreigner and 800 baht for Thai. PCR test came back positive for COVID at 6.30pm, and person was shipped back to hospital again. Interesting that despite having good Insurance, person had to pay 150,000 baht upfront to be admitted. Hospital would not accept Insurance as a form of payment, and person will have to claim when they get home. Omicron confirmation came back on 29th after being sent to BKK. - 3 days later. The 2 Thai staff member are both still in hospital and they are fully paid for by the Government. Now the fun begins. Because it has tested as Omicron, the CDC are demanding every staff do a PCR test and anyone that came in contact with that person isolate at home, and they are doing contact tracing. Yes, it's very possible that this person was infected on the flight, as I saw how fast it spread to my staff, so do not believe they could have travelled and past BKK PCR test with Omicron. ...and that's where we are today.

They are at least 3 or 4 days behind the true numbers. My staff (2) tested positive on Sunday in Chiang Mai and put into hospital same day - they received confirmation that they have Omicron strain only this evening. One is ok, the other has been on oxygen for 2 days and quite sick. They both had double jabs and boosters (not sure what booster was but 2 shots were Sinopharm). They both started with a scratchy throat and a sniffle and cough and within 1 day were both feeling really bad. They had tested negative with ATK on the previous Friday morning. They know who they got infected (inbound tourist who tested negative in home country, BKK hotel and ATK) from and that person is also in hospital. I have seen how fast this variant infects, and the infections were not trivial. Personally, I think this is going to rip through Thailand. Maybe less sick people, but could overwhelm testing and hospital. 4th January re-opening will not happen in my opinion.

Really. Just yesterday... https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cloth-face-masks-not-recommended-against-omicron/

I don't need to read any links. Time will tell who's opinion is correct.

Facts don't lie there, Scooter. But keep telling yourself Omicron is nothing...time will show.

There you go Champ..."plenty of sources"...enjoy. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-15/omicron-infects-70-times-faster-but-is-less-severe-study-says https://www.timesofisrael.com/omicron-variant-found-to-grow-70-times-faster-than-delta-in-respiratory-tissue/ https://nypost.com/2021/12/16/omicron-infects-70-times-faster-than-delta-but-likely-less-severe-study/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/12/16/covid-sports-leagues-vaccinations-omicron-variant/8917732002/

A video of him walking out the front door of the hotel and receiving a Wai from the security guy is hardly worth posting...

They will certainly reconsider it on the 4th January...and extend the current quarantine for another month or 2, and close all the bars and stop serving alcohol in "restaurants". Omicron will rip through Thailand worse than any previous variant. If you can sell your bar today...sell it.

He just gamed the inept system, "escaped" (walked out the front door) and got caught... Now he doesn't have COVID, he has Delta and he has Omicron...but only a little bit. And his penalty will reflect the embarrassment and loss of face he has created.

I have a distinct feeling he is going to regret these statements, much like this gem... https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/01/27/its-just-a-flu-health-min-insists-coronavirus-under-control/

I concur. I also found the Filipino Barong made from pineapple leaf fibers equally uncomfortable.

Not if Anutin shuts the borders again he won't. I wonder if he has to get Insurance and a Thai Pass?

...followed closely by the "fat special needs guy" and that extra chromosomes health minister. Hardly a fair competition.

Anutin has an extra chromosome and is not highly regarded. I would bet that the TAT and Tourism related business will push back pretty hard on this and will be rejected for the moment. Just him announcing this will cost the country millions or dollars. Fail.