Kadilo

9 minutes ago, anchadian said:

All schools in #Kalasin municipality closed until December 30th over #Omicron concerns

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/all-schools-in-kalasin-municipality-closed-until-december-30th-over-omicron-concerns/

So from one couple being tested negative using T&G and allowed to roam infecting others, we now have over 100 new cases and all schools and educational institutions to close. 
 

Scary how quick the impact and damage one couple has caused when you consider the number arriving using the same method from countries like UK and USA, especially when you see photos at the airport such as the one posted above. 

2 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

well done to all involved including the gov, they got it done ????????

 

 

Indeed, great effort from all involved despite the usual negative predictable Thai bashing. 

1 hour ago, BEngBKK said:

If they god infected short before they return or in the plane the pcr test at the QA hotel will not show positive.

That is why the QA hotel give you a home test kit, so you can test your self 6 day after checking out of the hotel and send

a pic of the test result to the hotel...
 

Bit like shutting the door after the Omicron has bolted. Potentially 6 days of infecting others, as in this case. 

11 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

If in that group has few omicron infected one's ! Half of that group going to get that one, vaxxed or not! Already has said that normal surgical mask dont do sht against it! That mask leak from side's, its not sealed enough. But wellcome to Thailand, maybe they all smile under that mask! Also has said that everybody going to get it sooner or later. 

Seems not many needed to go hospital anyway.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-1-7-million-people-had-coronavirus-across-the-uk-last-week-most-since-autumn-2020-12503477

 

Thailand had about 20000 case same week! So what we can expect future in Thailand or Thailand has some kind "shield" against it!

 

 

Indeed, it was useful to see that photo to reinforce the message of how many will be entering in large uncontrolled groups such as that and go on to T&G where, if like the Kalasin couple, go on to be undetected and re infect. 

3 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

Test and go is nowhere near the risk that sandbox is, sandbox customers can be unvaccinated. If airlines only let on those fully vaccinated, any chance of transmission will be as low as it can get without stopping all international travel. 

No it’s not,  but 2 wrongs don’t make a right and the current situation in Kalasin shows the potential impact that could occur. 

7 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

Wow. You just won’t let go of that bone will you? Those 90,000 have all had at least 2 doses of quality vax and most have probably had a booster as well, the risk associated with that is much smaller than your constant diatribe would have us believe.

“Most have probably had a booster”. Who are you, Mystic Meg?

The risk to health may be smaller but the impact of one couple already slipping through T&G, in Kalasin, shutting down schools, bars, restaurants may be nothing to you. It may  mean something to those affected with kids and/or trying to earn a living, so maybe think of others people that matter before posting your own selfish diatribe. 

40 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Agreed. They should stop this grandfathered rule immediately. Anyone flying to an Omicron hotspot and then entering Thailand and taking a single test before going into the community is deeply irresponsible. The super spreader couple proved that. 

 

No matter how much they virtue signal or claim their first class ticket makes them immune from covid. 

Yes, I see from the other thread that they are now shutting re opened schools in Kalasin as a precaution as well as bars and restaurants so it’s already starting to affect the local community. Shutting schools again with more disruption to children’s education, the very thing people were trying to avoid. 

One couple slipping through the T&G process is already wreaking chaos in that province. Can you imagine what it will be like when another 90,000 exploit the loophole and visit from the covid hotspots. The potential is more schools shut and lockdowns re introduced if it gets out of control which using the Kalasin example wouldn’t take much to do. The very thing the Thai people dont need at this very time. 
 

This is not just about the health of Thai people, it’s about the further potential impact it will have on them. 
 

Yes, it’s already been shown how easily it is to catch covid while transferring through airports and flying irrespective of how careful you are or what class you claim to travel. Seems this couple may have been infected during this process. 
 

22 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

At least to date there are no reports of any Covid19-Omicron infections in Kalasin where the two returning from Belgium Thai couple had NOT visited.

Yes, strange coincidence eh for them not to be the original source, and now schools shut as a precaution. Doesn’t bode well for the future 90,000 visitors to Thailand under T&G

17 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

Care you must specify , Pfizer says it's booster may wane after 10 weeks, not the Moderna booster.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-booster-omicron-protection-wanes-within-10-weeks/

11 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

The original vaxes wane over time but a booster shot increases your immunity many times over the original shot. Can also mix the shots, take a different booster that trigers other area of immune system.

 

COVID vaccine cocktails: A guide to mixing and matching Pfizer, Moderna, J&J booster shots

https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-vaccine-cocktails-guide-mixing-110122959.html

……and now they are saying the boosters wane after 10 weeks so it’s a never ending cycle of jabs. 

14 minutes ago, anchadian said:

BANGKOK: The Omicron cluster in Kalasin appears to be expanding after local authorities diagnosed 64 more cases on Saturday (Dec 25).

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/kalasin-pub-cluster-expands-82511.php

Going by this report and the impact caused by having just one couple slip though the T&G undetected,  I would be surprised if they continue leaving open the loophole for another 90,000 grandfathered arrivals from omicron hotspots to exploit. 
 

If they do and their policy remains the same then there will be further lockdowns in no time. 
 

“Thailand’s health authorities confirmed that all of the cases have been linked to international travelers.”

Now that has been confirmed I  would be surprised if they continue to allow another 90,000 to arrive and return from Omicron hotspots under the T&G  grandfathering loophole, if they are genuinely concerned about the spread. 

10 minutes ago, Stubby said:

I give up!

Don’t worry too much. It’s pretty obvious where you are coming from for anyone who is capable of thinking for themselves. 

8 minutes ago, loong said:

"Belgian couple"? I thought that they were Thais that had returned from Belgium.

Belgian or Thai makes no odds as  they slipped through the T&G and went on to infect many others and is an example of what will happen if they allow the other 90,000 to do the same and exploit the loophole been left open 
 

1 minute ago, CG1 Blue said:

So thousands of key workers are sitting at home for 7 days with no symptoms causing staff shortages. It will surely come to a point where those staff are allowed to continue working (wearing medical grade masks etc), now that Omicron is proven to be no worse than a heavy cold. 

Don’t forget it’s the festive season so the levels of sickness will always rise too. 
 

They have already reduced it from 10 to 7 so hopefully common sense will reduce it further. 

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

 

I bung her 3kbht every month, as long as she doesn't come to stay with me.

 

????

Good news he is alive and well. He’s done well to evade everyone for all that time. Sounds like heaven. 

22 minutes ago, Petey11 said:

The blame game from government ministers will be in full swing rather than admit that woefully inadequate testing in Thailand's domestic population has let Omicron get a foot hold because they had no idea of true infection levels domestically.

 Fact is it has already been shown to have got a foot hold through T&G being inadequate and allowed to spread wildly as a result so to continue to allow another 90,000 to enter knowing that they will be entering from places such as the UK and USA, is only going to make matters worse.

If they continue this policy they only have themselves to blame for not reintroducing the 7 day quarantine and allowing people to exploit the existing  loophole which will potentially result in another lockdown situation. 
 

“If we go ahead with new year festivities and bring in foreign tourists at the same time, it could destroy all the hard work that we’ve worked towards in the last few months.”

Trouble is, by grandfathering over 90,000 visitors from Omicron hotspots, in effect that is exactly what they are doing, especially in light of today’s report of the Belgian couple in Kalasin who tested negative after 24 hours and went on to spread the virus to a cluster of potentially 100+. 
 

These half baked measures only penalise the Thai people. Either bring back the 7 day quarantine time if you’re that concerned of another songran situation or forget it and open up for all so the people that need the money reap the benefit. 

31 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

  Canceling the Test N Go scheme is not the answer. 

Well it wouldn’t be now would it as you’ve already got your T&G pass and eligible to travel back from the US omicron hotspot without quarantine. 
 

As has already been reported today, one couple returning positive from Belgium have now potentially infected 100+ others because the one test they did under the scheme never picked it up.

  Bearing in mind you were recently concerned about the spread from children playing and the public walking in open air parks and as you like to talk about “moving goalposts” it does seem that your position has somewhat shifted now you are a beneficiary of the loophole. 

“Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government spokesman, said the prime minister ordered health officials and police to intensify surveillance and observation on Thai and foreign arrivals to make sure that they complied with disease controlmeasures.

“The prime minister in his capacity as the director of CCSA (Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration) ordered all measures to contain the transmission ofCOVID-19, especially its Omicron variant.”

Bit pointless “intensifying surveillance and observation” when they have given the green light for 90,000 T&G holidaymakers to arrive from Omicron hotspots such as the UK and USA and allowed to roam after one test on arrival which has already resulted in this cluster outbreak of potentially 100 infections:

The only measures they can implement in  “order to contain the transmission of Omicron” is to go back to the 7 day quarantine which they have chosen to ignore for those already applied which ultimately may lead to another lockdown scenario if the above case is anything to go by. 
 

They are stuck in between a rock and a hard place in their decision making. If you’re that concerned then shut the door on the T&G loophole, if not then just open up and stop playing lip service.