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What concerns me with these spikes in numbers is the hospitals' ICU and CCU's capacity to handle patients, not just with serious COVID symptoms (that require intubation, oxygen and other labor intensive treatments to survive), but also the usual influx of serious and critical patients. During the large outbreak COVID periods, hospitals were forced to triage more than usual and forced to make difficult decisions to turn away seriously ill patients, who died, both with and without COVID related issues. I recall the footage worldwide of freezer trucks filled up with bodies as morgue were at capacity. And traumatized hospital staff who had to turn away people they knew would die. Since the period of 'normalization', resources such as temporary hospital wards for COVID and additional staff, I am sure have been greatly reduced in capacity. I hope the current 258 daily admissions (just for COVID patients) is nearing the maximum peak in infection rates. Death rates are relatively low so far. Hoping there are still enough people who if unwell will do the decent thing and avoid coughing on people, wearing a mask and isolating. Still quite a few self entitled deranged idiots out there who will refuse to care and spread it, and kill off vulnerable people.

"Call out to all those foreign owned cannabis stores who didn't contribution to the fight, and are just free-loading on the backs of those who are, those who are bad actors importing in illegal cannabis, buy and sell illegal imports." From her words, she has addressed the alleged illegal importation of foreign sourced cannabis strains. This would be facilitated by organised criminal gangs and individual criminals. There are plenty of illegally grown cannabis crops around the world whereby organised syndicates are chafing at the bit to get into the Thai market (if they haven't already - I even overheard an Aussie tourist recently talking of exporting to Thailand from his clandestine cannabis crop in regional NSW). If foreigners who own cannabis shops are selling illegally imported strains, then it's a valid point. Foreigners are not citizens of Thailand and don't have an instant right to stay and run a business, particularly if breaking the law. Of course this would be frowned on and seen as a slap in the face of Thai people, by foreigners disrespecting their laws when only visitors of their country. Remember we are only ever deemed as visitors (except for the very rare few who are granted citizenship). Are Thai owned shops doing the same? For sure. Both are profiteering off illegal imports. Nothing new there. But it is a point that the whole idea with the new Thai cannabis decriminalization, was to help provide new ways for Thai farmers to get involved and make money from locally grown produce. Illegal imports is shutting down a lot of that opportunity. Just like so many other produce made in Thailand, they have bans or significant tarrifs to help support that which is domestically grown. Is she xenophobic? I don't feel she is. She's obviously frustrated at the uneven playing field and those who she believes don't care and just come to Thailand to profiteer without respecting laws.

Social media influencers being paid for and/or pro CCP influencers (CCP shills) have been saturating social media sites with the 'De-dollarisation' narrative. It is being heavily promoted of course by CCP and Russia (surprise surprise). Chinese Yen is currently only 2.6% of global currency trade. Even the Aussie dollar has a higher exchange at 3.38%! USD is over 44%. So, despite the Chinese economy being the second largest in the world by GDP, the Yuan only makes up 2.6% of global currency trade. The vast majority of commodities are traded in USD. USD is still preferred as a safe haven over Chinese Yuan. The Chinese propaganda machine is at play here IMO and the opinion of many others. If you say something enough, then people start to believe it's true, even if it isn't. (Pro CCP or the usual anti-US posters I expect some vitriolic outburst here from you, maybe a 'Sheeple' comment LOL). I'd rather keep and trade via USD than trust it in a currency where it's governed by a rogue, non-transparent, communist government, where they shut down overly successful businesses, where there has been a mass exodus of foreign companies since COVID. And look at their ghost cities, collapsing buildings, bankrupted construction companies. Smoke and mirrors. US is far from perfect. But at least it is democratically run and more transparent. If Thailand want to follow in footsteps of developing nations like Brazil, then so be it. I am hoping if it does that I will benefit from a better exchange rate in the future. Interesting perspective on YouTube Laowhy86.

He was hit with a stray bullet round. So not the intended target, hence the issue of 'intent' versus recklessness comes into play. One would have to study and understand the nuances of the Thai legal system and what charges are possible. I am hoping the bodily harm charge can potentially incur a significant maximum jail term. Often, additional charges are added when further evidence is gathered/clarified.

Yeah, there seems to be a definite disturbing trend of disproportionatly high male jealousy/rage killings, that perhaps leans toward a causal link with inappropriate, dysfunctional upbringing, rampant drug & alcohol abuse, the lack of mental health access, diagnosis and treatment for such conditions like BPD, etc. Add a culture of 'losing face' retaliations and it's no surprise that Thailand has some really serious issues it should be grappling with. How do you fix it?

Sounding like a broken record, but yet again another case of someone not sufficiently insured (under-insured), albeit at least he had partial cover. And yet another plea for financial help to be bailed out of this predicament. Many expats here have insufficient or no insurance at all and usually not enough personal funds to cover costs. I have had chats with guys who admit they aren't sufficiently covered/not at all, but just don't really want to think about it. The cheap policies that often expats opt for, are capped at low-end amounts that won't cover most ICU, critical care and complex issues. I feel pity for the guy, but I won't be contributing as I need my money to pay for my own proper insurance cover, which, yes is bloody expensive.

"A few weeks later, 109 Uyghur men and women were deported back to China." I fear for the lives of those 109 men. Sent back to China for definite imprisonment, torture and murder for organ harvesting. That organ transplant delivery express lane at the airport in Xinjiang will be a bit busier with 109 extra body parts to keep the elite mainland Chinese alive.

"Susan said that Richardson’s insurance didn’t pay out because anyone who rents a motorbike above 50cc must have completed a bike competency test in the UK, which he didn’t know because the shop that rented him the bike only asked for his money and driving license." So, from this logic, he therefore assumed that because a motorbike rental shop rents him a bike, he is covered by his travel insurance and the rental shop knows about a UK bike competency test requirement! Responsibility for this mess rests on the shoulders of this young man, who now faces partial blindness and other issues. And yet I see every day here in Pattaya, foreigners of all ages riding around with no helmet, thinking (or blissfully ignorant/careless) they will be fine and nothing will happen to them. Many also speeding, drunk as well. I won't be forking out cash to help fund a repatriation or hospital costs to these people, with their brains half hanging out their head, guts ripped open, crumpled broken bodies bleeding all over the road. Bad luck.

Bloody idiot. I don't buy the excuse he didn't know the tradition when on Songkran is going on everywhere. Unless he walks around with his head down all the time (not). Just anituer brain dead hot-headed loser who potentially has ruined another person's life.

Acid throwers - their goal is to cause permanent disfigurement, blindness, a life of suffering. Attempting to disfigure an ex-girlfriend, it almost guarantees she would be too grotesque and disabled looking for anyone to ever want her after. A mindset of "If I can't have her, I'll make her so ugly that nobody will want her". An evil psychopath to do such a thing to another human. Now the poor man who stepped in front faces blindness and disfigurement instead, but a very brave and heroic action nonetheless.

Better if CCP can agree to prosecute them in absentia under their local regime laws. That way the accused can have their organs ripped out in China for transplanting and then cremate them. Done.

Well, well, well, what do we have here? A lovely bunch of coconuts! "Get your hands off my breasts officer"!

Hard call to say not to intervene when you see a woman being dragged into a toilet with a group of men. Instinct says she was likely going to be gang raped and bashed. Who knows what badness they were going to inflict. Hard call to just walk away from that. Even if she may be a karaoke hooker. She doesn't deserve that. Sure, intervening can have dire consequences. All I can say is the Swedish man is a real man with balls. Definitely not a coward. Bravery medal for him. The cowards of course are the Thai men who fight in packs, like wild dogs. Primitive behaviour. Evil mindsets.

Poor wretched souls. Discarded, poverty stricken immigrant workers who are treated like cheap and insignificant commodities. Rest in Peace. So sad. Horrific for all involved. Shame on authorities for allowing this to continue.

Sad because Uighir 're-education' camps in China as they coin it, appear to be harboring some hideous human rights atrocities, particularly the organ transplant business, where there is even an organ transplant express lane at Xinjiang Airport. Uighirs and anyone else incarcerated are to supply the elite Chinese with spare body parts. Estimated 25,000 - 50,000 executed a year. Falung Gong have copped it for decades. CCP do not like religious practices. They want citizens to worship Communism and Xi Jing Ping.

Bizarre behaviour. The look on the young man's face, his mannerism, definitely something amiss going on upstairs in his head. I'd throw a wild guess at a schizophrenic relapse. Mix of alcohol and/or drugs perhaps with someone who has a mental illness. Maybe off his meds for the vacation? Outcome for him likely going to be very unfavorable.

RIP to the Aussie expat businessman. Condolences to his family. A violent death. Question is whether the idiotic Thai criminal attended with or without a knife. With a knife = more intent. Without a knife = possibly momentary blind rage. Either way he's taken a life, traumatized a now grieving family who will suffer for life. And he will spend likely a decade or more in prison. I always shake my head in wonder as to why people who do these sort of crimes never think through the consequences of their actions. The logic part of their brains completely shuts down and they become as primitive as an ape.

Thanks Sheryl for your extensive input to this post. Agree on your points. I was told by my friend that he gave up seeing a cardiologist on the day as he was physically suffering (dizzy/faint spells, very high blood pressure symptoms) and was getting very stressed to the point of fearing a heart attack. His coping abilities seem very low. His partner stayed with him but she's not Thai (cannot read Thai but can speak some of it) and paperwork was also getting confusing and stressful. He's very frail. It appeared he could not see the cardiologist on the day after long hours waiting. Travelling distances seems to be a stressful ordeal and therefore why he's now considering local again (Jomtien), to avoid what he obviously felt was an overwhelming ordeal to go through again. The gentleman is considerably old, has a degree of cognitive decline added to it too, which includes considerable confusion. Logical reasoning that you and me see as obvious isn't as clear for people with these issues. I have a parent just like this. In respect to ECG report, what was relayed to me I expressed in my words and his general summary. I never saw the report. So low heart 'function' or whatever terms used may not be completely accurate. I will see if he us willing to give me a copy of the report. Yes, returning to the UK I feel is the most sensible option, even with the accommodation issues, but this is overwhelming and insurmountable for my friend. What can we do? I think this thread has exhausted options for now and hoping my friend will get to see a cardiologist soon and get some type of treatment (if deemed suitable). I don't want to bash his decison making. Not my role and will respect what he decides.

Thanks for info. My friend relayed to me he went to Red Cross, got ECG and report and went home. He did not get to consult with cardiologist. He mentioned a blockage detected, low heart function. That's all I know. He is possibly going to try Jomtien Hospital, which someone he knows recommended. Travelling distances for him at moment is too much. He won't be returning to Red Cross. He really needs to see a cardiologist ASAP of course. He said he will save up as much as he can to pay for appointment. He's from England. But no connections back there anymore = no accommodation and prohibitive costs. He stated that he also cannot afford flights. I had suggested he should go back there and get NHS cover. Enresto med - would be too much for him anyway after seeing now the costs involved. I appreciate feedback from everyone. It's in God's hands pretty much from here on.

Was a Thai woman in front of me riding a scooter last night on Pattaya Tai, had a toddler on her lap and she was at the same time using her mobile phone. Head down looking at phone and distracted with heavy traffic. I thought she's going to be dead soon along with her kid. Stupid dumb fools.

Any idea where to get Entresto? How much is it? My friend is interested in seeking a doctor that may determine whether this as an appropriate medication for him. Private hospitals too expensive. Public is only option for him. We are talking very little funds to spare. He won't travel to Bangkok due to costs and the stress of travelling too far. Thanks again.

So instead of building a case of multiple fraud, prosecuting and potentially sending him to prison for several years of hard time before deportation, this conman criminal just gets booted out. He has plenty of other countries to choose from, to start afresh, to set up his fraudulent, swindling ways and start fleecing others again. The ban on re-entering Thailand not a huge punishment. Just means a change of location. Seems the easiest way to get rid of a problem quickly here, is just to boot these criminals out, just means moving the problem (him) elsewhere and new victims. Kick the can down the road. If I was the conman, I'd be chuckling to myself and rubbing my hands together to scheme where to go next.

Partially wrong 555. Not 'their' for both phrases. They're flying to their deaths.

Thank you all posters. My friend attended Red Cross hospital Sri Racha and managed to get ECG and report outlining heart condition. Unfortunately, due to finances, that's as far as he can proceed.

It's a rinse-repeat of what the Russians are doing in Bali. They are causing a lot of angst over there, defiant of any labor laws that are not convenient for them.