Jonathan Swift

4 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Sir the odds of catching covid are almost none and the recovery rate if you do catch it is well over 99% as reported by the mainstream press.....

People like you should be jailed for endangering the public health by making blatantly false public statements about this deadly pandemic. 

17 hours ago, audaciousnomad said:

It's RESIDENTS ONLY.  If you do not possess a Thai ID, you are not eligible.  You can only go the private route, which at the moment the hospitals have yet to receive any stocks of vaccine. 

Nowhere has it been stated by any authority that a Thai ID is required of expats, except by you. You're making stuff up or disseminating false information. Stop already. Or quote your source.

17 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

I hope it is not mandatory. 

I hope deportation is mandatory for anyone who refuses the vaccine. If you're not willing to do your part then you don't deserve to stay here. Which are you more afraid of? The vaccine, or dying miserably from Covid? Or do you think Covid is a hoax/conspiracy?

On 4/28/2021 at 4:35 PM, richard_smith237 said:

I think a lockdown is inevitable. 

 

But, lets not panic - the numbers in Thailand are still far far less than exist in our home countries. 

 

That said, the ‘whole numbers’ are somewhat irrelevant and simply depend on the amount of people tested. 

If Thailand were to test 100,000 random cases per day, how many of those would be positive. 

400,000 per day? how many of those?

Testing 3000 people per day who have symptoms or been exposed to someone with symptoms or have tested positive is a highly misleading observation / metric of the true picture of the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand. 

 

 

Of far greater significance is: 

1) Number of People who have died because of Covid-19

2) Number of People in ICU because of Covid-19 (and available beds)

3) Number of serious Covid-19 cases (i.e. Number of people in hospitals requiring treatment for Covid-19)

 

 

Thailand still needs to concentrate on getting the Vaccines distributed as quickly as possible. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! Common sense! I'm impressed! Are you listening, silly people whose mouths are bigger than your brains? 

On 4/28/2021 at 4:27 PM, holy cow cm said:

Here we go again. time to go out and double up on some food and alcohol again.

Good thing some of us aren't alcoholics and thus can manage to find our way to food, which has never been locked down, and never will be. Never found it difficult to enjoy life here, never needed to get pi$$ed to do so. I didn't come to Thailand for the booze. Feeling very sad for all the sorry drunks who can't get theirs. Wahhhhh. So build a still in your backyard, pay a visit to your local hardware store. BTW, I used to do it, used to be like you, I just stopped, 13 years ago. Feeling very healthy now at age 64.

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I would also refuse treatment at one of those field hospitals.... 

 

I believe for those who are asymptomatic that isolating at home is more than sufficient. However, I also understand the government make the rules and I have to comply whether I like them or not. 

 

Thus: I would choose to go to a more comfortable hospital.... either pay myself or ‘try’ and get my insurance to pay for it.

 

There is another thread running which indicates insurance may not pay for ‘unnecessary hospitalisation’ for someone who’s tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 but shows no symptoms.

 

Thus: IF in the unlikely event that I have to take a Covid-19 test (i.e. because Wife was exposed in a Supermarket etc), and IF I test positive and am expected to isolate in a ‘field facility’ I would claim a headache, tight chest etc and ensure my Dr signs off on medically necessary treatment so that my insurance will provide cover. 

 

 

 

 

"I believe for those who are asymptomatic that isolating at home is more than sufficient. " What else do you believe? Covid is caused by evil spirits? The earth is flat? And you are a doctor of (?) and how many years of medical school have you attended? You would substitute your "beliefs" for the expertise of highly trained epidemiologists? I believe you are a victim of the stupidemic.

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

So tiring to see this and to know that the 4 deaths could have possibly been prevented had travel been stopped for Songkran.  The sad reality is that 2 were 78 years old, one was 86 and then one was only 30.  Sure the 30 year old was obese and ran with the Thonglor groups, but 30 is still way to young to die had preventive measures been adhered to by the clubs.

3 of the 4 were exposed long before Songkran, a positive test usually comes one week after exposure. The fourth was an 86 year old woman who was already bedridden with severe thyroid illness. Pretty unlikely that she was out partying for Songkran. Yeah it's tiring, but there is no way to eliminate all risk. Young men are going to go out and seek "Entertainment" no matter what. people are going to be stupid. Meanwhile, compare Thailand's numbers to the rest of the world. 600,000 dead in the US and people are still behaving recklessly egged on by the most vile and soulless "leaders". Thai leaders are virtual angels by comparison. Monday morning quarterbacking is not helpful. Nor are your baseless speculations. Nobody has a crystal ball, Thai leaders are trying to make the safest practical decisions without causing undue hardship. They are in a difficult position and I doubt you could do better if you were in their shoes. Clearly they thought banning the celebrations would be sufficient. Not unreasonable. I'm sure a majority of people thought that was sufficient. And I repeat, there is no established connection between the 4 deaths and Songkran travel. There are a range of choices from absolute lockdown to completely opening. The choices were made and now we are seeing the results. I would rather be here than anywhere else in the world. I know how to stay safe and use common sense. 

6 hours ago, happydays said:

Agreed. Unless the teachers had a negative test before going there is no proof. They could have been infected by the students.

Oh, you're talking about SCIENCE?! Not a language commonly spoken on this forum. I'm actually amazed at how many Brits I've met between Pattaya and Bangkok who think Covid is a made up story and therefore they will not be vaccinated. And these are otherwise likeable chaps. It horrified me. Literally. Jaw on the ground. I personally think that any foreigner who refuses the vaccine should be deported. But I digress. Kudos to you and anyone else here who still understands and subscribes to common sense. Ignorance is as much a public health menace as any virus. The Stupidemic.

6 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Not to be picky, but shouldn’t the headline read “ foreign teachers go to phuket entertainment venue and catch Covid from Thai people, then go home and infect students”.

 

I mean if we are going the route of the blame game.

Not to be picky, but how do you know the nationality and identity of the source of the infection? Did you see some video footage? Medical records? Contact tracing? I mean if we are going the route of the where's the evidence game. Sad to see so many people out to malign the people in whose country they are basically trespassing. 

On 4/12/2021 at 5:15 PM, thequietman said:

Blah blah blah, change .... blah blah blah boosing investment ..... blah blah blah ....... making it easier for foreigners.

 

Nothing will happen. Mark my words. ????

Noted

On 4/10/2021 at 11:06 AM, herfiehandbag said:

What is incorrect about my post then? The estimate of peoples income? The expectation that they will be unable to spend that much money? 

 

It was opinions not information. Don't presume to tell me and others what we can and can't post!

My my we certainly are touchy about criticism aren't we? The person was being helpful in discouraging misinformation. That you couldn't see that says a lot about the caliber of person you are. Post away, there's no law against ignorance, no law against being an ill tempered cuss. 

2 hours ago, phitsanulokjohn said:

And that's why I believe Thailand's figures to be highly inacurrate,as compared to the size of their population,hardly anyone has been tested and at 1500 Baht for the ordinary Thai,are unlikely to be either.

No matter what any of you, or we, may think about the Thai government, I do not believe that ordinary Thai citizens who cannot afford 1500 baht have been denied tests. The tracking of cases that has taken place would not have been possible if testing were thus limited by cost. it's just logic. As to figures and statistics, the methods used and the accuracy of reporting are simply not standardized nor is there much central management of information. And then there is an inherent inaccuracy to be found in any story that passes through several layers of translation and editorial interpretation. Some news sources are more dependable in their details than others. A lot of their writers are not as educated nor as motivated as others. But the bottom line is, Thailand remains one of the safest countries in the world, and that is no accident. And therefore, regardless of any criticism, we are more likely to all be OK in the end than citizens of other countries. We are in the home stretch, the end is in sight. Let's focus on that, shall we? Count our blessings.

On 4/10/2021 at 10:06 AM, Thaiwrath said:

Should be free ! That is a lot of money for some citizens.

But submarines are probably more important than the well being of your fellow people ? 

Should be free, yes. Making it so is not as easy as you might wish or expect. It doesn't mean that Thailand is choosing one priority over another. It is simply a matter of trying to effectively manage a crisis of heretofore unseen proportion. And do a little digging into how the process was administered here, and how this government differs from other countries, good and bad. In many ways this has thus far been handled in an exemplary way - just look at the numbers and compare to other countries. So let's be fair and reserve judgment. As a serious medical matter, 1500 baht to 3000 baht for such a test, compared to the same in other countries (meaning how much such a test would cost during non covid times) , is economically reasonable. It is the virus that is unreasonable and unrelenting. 1500 baht is about $50 US, 3000 baht is about $100 US. For me that is serious money, I live on about $1600 a month. But since Thailand is so inexpensive in so many ways and since I am quite frugal in my lifestyle, I am prepared to pay such a price if need be. I keep an emergency reserve fund which I don't touch EXCEPT for emergencies. In the past I have sold off personal possessions in order to maintain that reserve fund. I dipped into it for my arrival quarantine, for my insurance policy, and for the extra cost of one way airfare. If this cost is the same for Thai citizens, which I doubt, THAT would constitute a problem. And the most important thing is the availability and cost of the vaccine. I don't know for sure, so feel free to correct me, but I think the intent is for the vaccine to be free. I don't think vaccination can work any other way. Be grateful that there IS a vaccine, and that we live in an era where the science exists to have produced and distributed a vaccine in record time, as much as 10 times as fast as in previous health crises. 

4 hours ago, JackGats said:

Suan Plu, ie the IDC. Cramped conditions to say the least. Would have been a good idea to give everyone there a jab of Chinese vaccine some months ago. Now it's too late.

OK, chicken little, the sky isn't falling, the vaccine is here, it's not gonna be the end of the world. Monday morning quarterbacking doesn't help. Did you have the playbook for this before it happened? No one else did either, so people have mostly been doing the best they can with something the likes of which haven't been seen in 100 years or more. Accidents happen, mistakes get made. We're human beings, remember? Fallible. Count your blessings and be well

13 hours ago, champers said:

Sounds like the comrades are agents. Considering that many Russians do not speak Thai or English, agents would provide a very useful service. I think there is more to this "story" than meets the eye.

You are no doubt correct sir. There's always more to the story, due to limited police disclosure, and to the inherent lack of motivation of "reporters" who are likely little more than high school seniors writing for a school paper. If you're going to cheat, it pays to use experts with the established chain of brown envelopes. I suspect the Russians left someone out of that chain, or pi$$ed the wrong person off. Or they were rank amateurs painting targets on their own backs. No sympathy from me, the Russians are doing nothing for Thailand except taking up space and being generally unfriendly to everyone. 

4 hours ago, inThailand said:

Did they put fish sauce on it and eat it? 

I think that's how it got there in the first place. Incredible inedibles. they just keep going 'round, 55555

6 hours ago, Frank Abegnale said:

Of all the the pictures of Thais pointing at things, this is the "Thais pointing at things-est."

maybe there should be a gallery and a prize once a year for the Thai Pointingest Thing Photo. We could all vote. much more fun that all the grousing and complaining. 

I fail to see any value to this as "news". By the time any story about exchange rate is published the rate has changed again. Meanwhile we can all keep track quite nicely in real time on our own. Did they run out of stories or just get sick of the complainers?

On 3/19/2021 at 5:15 PM, tomazbodner said:

In related news - price of all imported stuff increases 50%

News update - people complaining in record numbers about things over which they have no control, little understanding. toxic self flaggellation leading to increased suicide rate. Reduced population expected to reverse current downward economic trend.

On 3/19/2021 at 5:15 PM, tomazbodner said:

In related news - price of all imported stuff increases 50%

News update - people complaining in record numbers about things over which they have no control, little understanding. toxic self flaggellation leading to increased suicide rate. Reduced population expected to reverse current downward economic trend.

On 3/19/2021 at 3:29 PM, KhunBENQ said:

A long way to go.
If one has the moderate hope to get back to the 10 year high, the following gains from current  value would be necessary (rounded):

USD 18%
EUR 23%
GBP 31%
AUD 39%

(with graphs from xe.com)

https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=THB&view=10Y
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=EUR&to=THB&view=10Y
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=GBP&to=THB&view=10Y
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=AUD&to=THB&view=10Y

A long way to go? Are we going somewhere? Is history expected to repeat itself, the "good old days" to return? Since in our reality time goes forward, not backward, it is pointless and futile to point to past events and circumstances and wring our hands and furrow our brows over whether we'll ever get back to some equivalent point. Now is the reality we have to accept and live with. If you've staked your life and future gambling that favorable exchange rates of the past would return and sustain you, you've made a very bad bet. Economic realities rarely cooperate with wishes and expectations. World economies will do whatever they do in spite of us, best to make peace with that fact and count our blessings accordingly. Since when has complaining done any good? 

On 3/20/2021 at 7:23 PM, bwpage3 said:

Perhaps during these poverty stricken times, Phuket needs to revisit poor treatment of tourists, scams and all the other bad things. 

mmmmmmm ya think? Hello, Phuket? You listening? . . . . . . . (silence). Unfortunately, I think that those kinds of issues exist on a different plane from the direct effects of the pandemic. Rooting them out would require some cohesive leadership which would HAVE to come from the local business leaders, who would HAVE to acknowledge that part of the problem  and be willing to tackle it head on. By its nature, mistreatment of tourism is a multi headed snake and to even acknowledge it is to lose face. Is there courage enough to look at it anyway? How about courage/business sense being on the same page? Very tough prospect indeed. Needs more publicity methinks

Having concluded that cynicism is toxic, I think tourism is an economic force that has been pressing against the closed doors ever since this began, and I think it will revive nicely, if slowly. I predict a welcome surge forward in the beginning. Just my own intuition. I think some measured optimism is justified. Also, yes this process will lurch along somewhat disorganizedly, and that is to be expected and not complained about.