Elkski

I hope things miraculous improve. 

25 minutes ago, GrandPapillon said:

if you are living in Thailand, I suggest you get out ASAP if you have the opportunity or the means to

 

you don't want a European style lockdown like we had,

Really is sound advice.  Take your family on a vacation, get vaccinated and ride this out living a normal life.   The facts are plain to see Thailand's case numbers are about to go sky high.  if they tested more it would already look real grim as if 11,000/day isn't bad enough.  

Government deliver food for 7 million Bangkokians? With army that had sinovac?   Oh boy.   

It's plain to see Thailand won't begin real vaccines until May 2021.  Won't hit 70% until 2023 if the hesitancy levels are like Canada and USA. 

Life pretty normal here in my part of the USA.  But I do worry about the current rise in case numbers and the concerts and community celebrations going on like covid is gone.  Just as the Delta gains momentum. 

Why do they call this a booster shot?  What they mean is that HCW'ers want a cax with proven effectiveness.   But they know 1 " booster" shot doesn't provide much protection.   But it's a way to get #1. Then they can start asking for 2 nd booster and finally be vaccinated.    

While 10 years to get wings maybe true 20 years means you have lost touch with the real World and modern times.   So while you may brag about being a Thai expert you have no cred in real life. 

National security if public sees the Australian AZ contracts.   That doesn't pass my smell test.   Maybe the virus is an alien decency test on us humans. 

10 days in prison will surely get him covid.   I would think the risk of going to prison carries more umph now. 

As far as penalties for not getting the jab.   I think there should be a point where anti vaxers must agree to pay out of pocket for any covid related health care plus they should be open to civil lawsuits if they feel ill but still go out in public and infect others.  

Many small eateries had a big takeout business  pre covid.  In January 2020 I sat in a small 2-3 table eatery on Ekimai and there were 4-5 takeout drivers in there continuously while I ate my lunch.   It is crazy that these food delivery services can charge 30+% of the order.  It seems like it should be based on package size, weight and distance.   

Reading the news on covid in Thailand is like watching a propane can tossed in the fire.   Expansion of testing now would only make the PM look worse.  They did do a good job at hiding the fact that inaction from greed at letting songkran go on caused most of this.   Crackdowns on the porous borders are only for show because I think some higher ups have a stake in the border trade.   Drug and gambling busts to distract. 

Yes all tourist visas are  issued for 10 years.  The shorter visas were creating a backlog.  

I had 3 Thai women get a B2 (tourist visa) to visit me. All 3 pre trump.  Then my last gf , now wife didn't get it in 2018. Waste  165$.   Our K1 started 3/6/2020 took 421 days. The delay of 170 days was due to  covid but also the last administration embassy appointment person held back 10 months of  K1  visas at NVC   normally NVC is a simple 2 week stopover of approved I-129's. You can read about the class action lawsuit that started processing of K1 visas the day after it was filed.    At our application time the average was 250-270 days based on visa journeys website members input.  We married in May.     

Big difference between the 3 and wife was #1 beauty, no kids, no property, no bank account over 300 k baht.    3 had 20+ year careers including the wifey .   All didn't mention they knew a single male in USA.   The wife only had 100 k in the bank.   The word on the street is they need 300 k in savings.  Or how else could they be a tourist? Any USA trip would cost 3-5 k USD.

I did make mistake on future wife's application.  I personally went to a BKK bank and paid the 165$ so my gringo signiture  was on the receipt you bring to the interview.   It was that or she was to good looking.  I really think their looks or how eager men would be to pay is #1 reason for most denials.   I'm sticking to this theory from my personal data set of 4. 

Prior work as a sex worker is a certain No!   No record of paying taxes? Lives in Phuket?  Best bet is visit her and get married and then do a CR1 visa. 

I think some of the only visitors we go will come are the ones who fly to Phuket and usually spend 90% of their stay at one of the well heeled resorts.   It is a start but also a very big risk.   As workers return, supply chain workers make deliveries, etc the virus will have more chance to spread in the local unvaccinated population.  I will be generous and count 2 sinovac jabs as vaccinated until we see how it fares with the Delta variant

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

It is sad.  So far I have seen photos of J&J being  offered at International Arrivals at LAX-free to anyone. Entrance to Dodgers Stadium before a game.  At this site Pfizer, Moderna and J&J were offered.  Again shots available to anyone.  I have checked with many of the pharmacies located near my hometown and most have Covid 19 Vaccination appointments wide open for the next 7 days(0900 to 1700 and in some cases up to 2000).  After this latest news about Moderna at hospitals and the fact one has to pay upfront without guarantees, I just completed my travel plans from BKK to LAX(airlines, hotel, rental car and now the pre departure PCR test).  I have serious doubts anyone will get vaccinated with Moderna on October 1 2021(maybe in 2022).  

A trip to USA would cost 2000$ if you have friends to stay with.  Could be the best investment you ever made.  We will never know.   The way I see it Thailand is at a crisis crossroad.   They should be shutting down more travel and focusing on jabs. Not opening the sandbox.    100 mil to go Thailand for 70% .  You can do it!  In 2022 at best.  When the Delta variant gets deep roots Thailand is "censored-ed"

Even this article uses one shot as vaccinated in his math.    9 million total so far, just under 6 mil is first shot.   Saying that means 44 mil more shots to reach PM's goal of 50 million by October?   <deleted>.   I see it as 3.x mil are fully vaccinated, 6 mil first shot.   Means 35 mil need 2 jabs and 6 mil need 2 nd jab or 75+ million more needed by October.    It should be criminal to count 1 jab of any vaccine as a vaccinated person.   Never understood the parks closing except mall owners have influence.  Wouldn't want people in the fre parks when they could be in the malls.   Oh and closing at 9 rather than 10:30 is really putting your thinking cap on.   Testing has been a joke.    Glad it got my gal out in May.  4 weeks or less she had both pfizer Jabs.   Life seems normal in USA but I'm worried 4/10 people walking around are unvaccinated and worse most are mindless antivaxers

7 hours ago, phills2k1 said:

Just think of how bigoted you have to be to go out of your way to call this the Wuhan virus, over a year and a half after the fact

As far as I'm concerned the alpha virus originated in China.  Have you read about the miners several years ago who were collecting bat guano for the bat doctor, fell sick with respiratory illness, oldest died first, several died?   Have you read about the 3 Wuhan lab workers who went to hospital in December 2019?  Have you read about the Wuhan lab safely lapses that were documented.   Several parts of the lab had safety levels equal to a USA dentist office.   And that not much.   Open room with multiple work stations and even reception allowed.  1 air source, no filtering, carpet allowed. 

9 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

They messed up already and now they have the consequences. Not enough vaccines, to late started with the vaccination, back working vaccines, delaying of more effective vaccines, the allowed travelling with Songkran, refuse to lockdown, as in Europe there was almost a lockdown for 6 months, Not serious ill people in quarantine in hospitals taking beds for ones who need them,  An Incompetent government , they think they are gods and know everything, making false statements to keep the people quiet, like reopen the Phuket Sandbox, which will be doomed to death,  and so on and so. We are standing at the beginning. It will be far more worse.. 

You forgot the flip flopping and denying vaccine procurement by the private sector, and not listening to medical experts.   Lying about the % GDP from tourism, no support for the out of work gals that made Thailand famous.  Of course they don't exist.   When the sand boxes fail I think people will be <deleted> that all those shots went to Phuket rather than the at risk people.  Using  Sinovac and calling 1 shot numbers as vaccinated just to rush in the sandbox.   The hate exists.   I'm just glad I saw and felt it my first few trips. 

Just another area where the government fell short in support. 

It was so obvious song kran was going to be the blast of air on the ember that was already glowing brightly. so now hiso bday parties on IG can only have 19 attendees. BKK

hospitals stoping testing so they can send sick people home. sounds like the Dr's were correct, the sky is falling.  

I enjoy off the beaten path walks.    Did you notice the flower baskets all along that one stretch.   I'm afraid my nose is to sensitive to live in places like that.  

Well It is either going to go ok or it will not as far as covid is concerned. 

If they actually do get some visitors you know a portion will find the ex bar girls on tinder or such and to bad they  don't have 2 doses yet.  No reason not to surmise that vaccinated tourists can spread from one spinner to the next.   I predict chaos.   

Sad thing is back in January 80% of Thai people had their normal life back.   But greed reared it head again. 

Songkran 2021.   Why did they let this occur.  

1) cancel again-. Healthy but mad people.  Youth healthy with more  support than ever. 

2). Let songkran happen.  My buddy gets to open his new tollway. My other buddy sells lots of gas and snacks at his highway stores. 

Thai people happy.  Lockdowns will prevent any uprising because we can extend the emergency orders.   

Can't really blame a virus on me. 

Everyone will be dependent on the government for vaccine.  We won't even let private sector bring in vaccines.   Thailand will be saved by it's local production of shots.  

So less than 15% first jab.  Pathetic.  

However I heard on NPR today USA has 50% fully vaxed but 40% haven't taken 1 shot.   The anti vaxers or countries like Thailand are going to allow the  super deadly variant to emerge. What if the current vaccines have zero efficacy on some new variant?

Hotels 20% booked.  Of the 30% compared to 2019 that are open?   Hard to believe this.  I will wait to read about how they issue an  admission of this failed idea.  

If it does fail after sending all the shots to Phuket rather than HCW, and at risk people the minions may be like a  kicked hornets nest

Seems to be wide range of salary's some of you guys pay.   Wish I could get a do it all , Cook ng, cleaning, massage lady for 10 I baht in the US.   Low cost house staff and gardeners is it be benifit of Thailand living. 

Good thing the compressor had enough gas.  Maybe the government will make a new rule where certain tasks require a observer and Levi big fines for breaking the rules.