CG1 Blue

From the evidence I've seen, the Omicron variant symptoms range from zilch to a heavy cold. If 250,000 per day test positive and have either no symptoms or a heavy cold, why is that a problem? It's only a problem if the government try to hospitalise all those who test positive.

I don't think the OP is afraid of catching Covid, but afraid of the Thai government rules that would have him locked up for most of his holiday even if asymptomatic or just for being near somebody who tested positive. We can all catch Covid anywhere in the world. The debate here is about the (non-medical) consequences which are different in different countries. If you go to the Canary Islands for example they don't capture you and put you in a jar until they're satisfied you don't have the plague. You're free to enjoy your long anticipated and hard earned holiday.

That's what I said. Two jabs are enough to prevent severe illness. The boosters are to slow infection rates.

Furthermore... Jüni added that the median age in South Africa is about 27, compared to 44 in Ontario. “Age is the most important risk factor,” he said. “So we need forget about wishful thinking here with mild disease. We simply don't know.” https://www.cp24.com/news/there-is-a-myth-out-there-that-it-s-mild-head-of-ontario-s-science-table-says-of-omicron-1.5704993 Age is the most important risk factor? So why is the Canadian government aiming to get 5 year olds jabbed? Too many contradictions from guys like him. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/world/canada/canada-pfizer-vaccine-kids.html

'There is a myth out there that it's mild,' So let me get this right. There is no scientific proof so far that Omicron is very deadly or even dangerous compared to previous mutations. But this guy is saying he believes Omicron is going to be dangerous and deadly. I think it's him who is creating a myth here!

Spot on. I was just about still with them up until the story about this mystery one death from Omicron. I don't like that kind of deceit, and it's given me second thoughts about getting the booster (I probably still will). Scare tactics don't go down well with the majority of Brits.

The 5 hour hospital queues and 500,000 bookings are probably made up of those who believe everything Boris says, and those who don't want to be stopped from going into night clubs. And if the world needs to be fully vaccinated, why aren't those 3rd booster vaccines going to poor countries with low supplies? Two jabs are enough to prevent severe illness from Covid for a long period. T cells and immune memory seem to be long lasting from the two jabs. The booster jabs are only needed to reduce infection rates. "Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is likely to be much lower than against earlier variants, but they may still offer substantial protection against severe disease, a new analysis suggests." https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/vaccines-appear-weak-blocking-omicron-infection-shots-may-reduce-long-covid-2021-12-13/

Lots more money to be made from Moderna and Pfizer jabs than the non-profit AZ jabs. Would be interesting to look through the full register of shareholders in those two companies. I want everyone to be vaccinated but there are so many things that arouse suspicion I think the number of anti-vaxers will rise. Including this mystery 'one person' who died with Omnicron in the UK with no details about his age and general health disclosed. We're weeks behind southern Africa on the Omicron curve, but we still managed to get an Omnicron death before them?

Absolutely. LBC used to be a good listen but 9 out of 10 of their hosts are now sheep, just regurgitating the same narrative. Maajid Nawaz is the exception. He delves deeper into the stories and questions the narrative. Asking questions such as why our governments' (paid) medical advisors won't acknowledge the apparent mildness of Omicron despite South Africa's medics shouting it from the roof tops. And why there is talk of jabbing healthy 5 year olds when the risk of heart complications from the vaccine is many times higher than the risk of getting sick from Covid for a 5 year old. It's now all about pushing the booster jabs. And of course the booster cannot be the (non-profit) AZ vaccine, it has to be Pfizer or Moderna who will get multi-billion dollar ongoing contracts out of this. It's no wonder scepticism is growing. The vast majority in the UK will go ahead with Christmas plans no matter what Boris says now. And he knows it.

Well said. The UK government is being economical with the truth, and this just arouses more suspicion. Sceptics might say it's quite convenient to say one person in the UK has died from Omicron just a day after Boris' emergency announcement. No details of this one person's age or state of health. Sceptics may even wonder if they just made it up.

I couldn't find anything in that article which relates to the severity of infection. Why is "the argument about mild cases is going down the drain."

Could be. Sorry, I'm useless with bar names

Ah now I know Red Hot. Never sat in there before. Will have to check it out. The one I was referring to had some pool tables at the back. I've played pool with staff at the end of the night a couple of times. The place was always more or less full at peak times, very popular. Have a good night tomorrow!

Lion, that's the one! Well it's a shame it closed, but these days we're lucky if any our favourite haunts have survived. Glad to hear a few of yours have. I don't think I've been to Red Hot, but I did sometimes go to another music bar on the same side as Lion but right at the other end of Bangla, Taipan end. Could that be Red Hot? And yes, no logic being applied by the authorities. No surprises there...

How sad. Reading through the last couple of pages my optimism was growing (many thanks to you and Xylo btw for your 'on the ground' reports). I started to picture myself sitting at my favourite live music bar on Bangla, which stupidly I don't know the name of after all these years. It's on the left if you walk up from the beach end, the first live music bar you come to. Is it New York? I should probably cut down on the beers/long islands in there... But then the hammer blow about bars closing down for covid outbreaks. One of the many reasons I don't want to risk going back to LOS at the moment, with things potentially changing for the worse at the drop of a hat, and the officials being even more officious than usual. Mind you, as the English winter sets in I might just have to bite the bullet...

The risk of testing positive on arrival and being sent to quarantine will put off most tourists. I don't think speeding up the arrival test would make a difference. Full vaccination plus a covid test before departure should be sufficient.

Not sure why your emphasis is on 'new infections'. Given that the UK tests more people than most countries in the world we're always going to get a high number of positive tests. Plus Covid isn't going away and we'll probably all get it. New infection numbers are becoming less relevant now. The important stats are deaths (down 11.7% in last 7 days) and hospital admissions (down 3.8% in last 7 days). Considering the UK is entering winter I'd say this is good news. https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

The big deal is if you test positive in Thailand you'll be whisked off in an ambulance and forced to quarantine for (insert guess of choice) days at a cost of thousands, symptoms or no symptoms.

Countries need to stop using infection rates as the headline. This number is all dependent on how many tests are being done. And the vast majority of people testing positive will have no ill effects. What's important now is death rates (UK is down 4.4% in last 7 days) and hospitalisations (UK down 10.8% in last 7 days). Positive news considering the UK is entering winter. https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

I heard the Black club on Samui is now open and selling alcohol, plus a few bars? The only thing at the moment that gives me any optimism is the speed at which the Thais can open / re-open / build a bar. Meaning that when (if) this government come to their senses and end the anti-tourism measures, the nightlife can be revived pretty quickly.

It seems to have escaped your notice that only a miniscule number of people who test positive will get any symptoms at all, let alone need any treatment. If I cut my knee should I be hospitalised for a couple of weeks in case I get Tetanus? It's insane blocking up hospitals with asymptomatic 'patients'!

You mean enjoying their lives? Yep, we're doing that in the UK. I'm off to the pub shortly actually to have a few beers. Eventually the rest of the world will realise the virus isn't going away and we just have to live with it. I'll go back to Thailand when they get to that point. I hope that's sooner rather than later, but not holding my breath. (P.S. I realise Thailand needs to catch up on vaccinations first)

Miller Kinge - is that a Spoonerism?

I'll be in Tenerife at the end of this month, and was in Spain last month and agree it's all pretty much business as usual. Living with the virus is the new norm across most of Europe. I can't wait to get back to Thailand, but I'll be spending my money elsewhere until all the ridiculous rules have been relaxed.

I'm fully vaccinated and I'm not too concerned what other people choose to do or not do. Life's too short to find other things to get riled up about