Trip Hop

I never said they do but it’s a fact that different types of PCR Assay detect different strains more effectively. Just check a medical suppliers catalogue for yourself and you will see that I am correct? Genome sequencing is used for confirmation and detecting any possible mutations/new strains? Not that I am an expert but I did have a lot of money in Novacyt up until about 15 months ago, so did a fair amount of reading on the subject? So no apology for sarcastically trying to ridicule me about how I knew about what CT value they run my PCR test, only for me to justify my claims and prove you wrong? Just think yourself lucky that we wasn’t in a bar together when you shot your mouth off, otherwise I’d be carrying out a bit of attitude adjustment on you myself? C@ck!

Err, no? It was stated on my test results! FYI, there are different types of PCR test available from the manufacturers depending on which variant they are looking for? If you cast your mind back to around this time, you will remember a news article on here from the good doctor about how amazing they were by running samples through two different tests to try and identify Omicron? P.S. Think you owe me an apology smart <deleted>?

At Xmas they ran my sample through 2 different tests. One at a CT of 40 and the other at a CT of 45??? Think they were checking for different variants?

I’d be more than happy if they kept that and it’s the sensible approach which would be accepted by most? No fear of being scammed the other end by over amplified PCR tests or false positive antigen tests. If you’re positive, just don’t get on the plane?

Pretty sure that myself and 3 other mates who met up with each other over Xmas/New Year, all came down with it at different times whilst out there? Considering I’d gone to work everyday in the UK since the start of the pandemic and had avoided it up until then, I’d agree with you?

I disagree somewhat? Most people book their flights way in advance, to take advantage of cheaper prices, especially with the limited service offered by airlines at present? Most will also resist paying for a fully flexible ticket, which means it will cost more to change the ticket than the pre-flight PCR itself? TBH, whilst there is still any form of testing on arrival, I’ll still be taking a pre-flight PCR.

True to a certain extent as it was only applicable to travellers from countries that were on the red list? The main difference to Thailand being that you knew what you were in for and not sprung on you upon arrival by a PCR test that was amplified way more than the rest of the civilised world, possibly picking up previous infections whilst you were no longer a danger?

Good luck with that? They’ll take your passport, tell you to get your relatives to pay and lock you up until you do! Do you honestly think that you’ll be the first one to try that? ????????????????

I tell you what, hard man? Why don’t don’t you go and call them a bunch of choirboys to their face? Or call me princess to mine whilst we’re on the subject? You won’t because you’re a sad, pathetic nobody who doesn’t even have a pair of balls to his name, let alone any honour? You keep trolling, it’s all that you’ve got in your sad life!

An approach like that would end up with you being told in no uncertain terms to <deleted> off? If you didn’t heed that polite warning it would most probably end up with you getting a severe kicking? I suggest that you stop watching so much Sons of Anarchy and thinking that you know about the 1% sub-culture before you get yourself and possibly others in a lot of trouble with your wild suggestions?

I suggest that you read up on Interpol Red Notices?

Might have been shot even earlier as I passed through about 10 days ago and there was no longer any sign of the testers? Perhaps someone local can confirm? You’ve got to laugh at the amount and type of PPE they wear though? Mind you there were quite a few travelers dressed exactly the same at the airport on the way home?

As stated I think it depends who you are with when it comes to travel insurance? My bill at the Bangkok Samui some years ago was a shade over £500, so was settled direct as described. The experience was not the best though as despite them having the policy and the insurance agent’s confirmation that they would pay, until the money was in the bank, I was made to feel like a criminal and even tailed by a security guard every time that I went outside for a smoke. Because of this I just went to one of the local hospitals for my follow up jabs. Excellent treatment at the Bangkok Samui but their attitude just stank!

Not always. My experience is that decent insurance will have a threshold of say £500, up to which you settle yourself and claim back. If over this, it’s normally settled direct with the hospital via local agents that they have around the world? However, I emphasize the word “decent”!

My preference is the Aerox but too big for her and lacks the practicality of the flat step through floor that’s good for bags. The Click 150i is a good bike and easier to park in town.

I’ve just been through the process and bought one for the G/F to use on short trips instead of her pick-up and for me to use whilst I’m out here. As someone who’s ridden bikes on and off road for over 45 years and can rebuild engines, my advice if you’re planning to keep it a while would always be to buy new, preferably cash if you can because finance deals here are not that inviting? Second hand prices are also extremely high here compared to the west and I’ve seen some shops asking silly money for what is basically a high mileage ex-rental bike? Plenty of these often pose as private sellers but if you click on their other items for sale on websites such as BahtSold, they somehow have a fleet of bikes? The majority of Thais by nature are somewhat adverse to maintenance and have the attitude that if it’s not broke why worry? Therefore you don’t really know what you’re buying and the same applies for auctions if you don’t know what you’re doing? If you’re not too big physically and can get the 3 of you on a Click, I’d go for the 150i model which has the same power as the old PCX? As other posters have said, maintenance is cheap here, so keep it serviced when due and keep the receipts or get the book stamped? Honda engines are one of the toughest in the world so if you follow this, the bike will last you a long time. Additionally, if it’s looked after maintenance wise, if ever you want to sell, you shouldn’t have any problems and will get a decent price back?

I wonder who they would try to blame if Thailand had its own mutation? Most probably keep quiet until they allow it to transmit outside then blame them?

The extra cost was neither here nor there for me due to not having a holiday for 2 years. However as you say, the ball ache of having to schedule it all and the stress of waiting for your results will put a lot of people off coming. I was lucky that there was a lab within 30 minutes of work and I could slip away for an hour but not all people can do this, so it could be another day off their holiday entitlement? I’m aware of certain companies in the UK developing their own type of Covid pass app combined with high accuracy LFTs. This might be the way forward if it was to be accepted by the authorities and airlines around the world as the test could be taken say before going to the airport and your status immediately uploaded to the app prior to check-in?

Give it up FF$, you’re not even there, living it on a daily basis but somehow you talk as if you’re an expert? You haven’t got a clue of the reality of it all full stop and are only commenting based on what you can find on the internet to make yourself sound interesting? The words clueless and clown come in mind?

The UK uses mainly the LAMP test and LFTs for general mass screening as PCR takes too long and is too expensive. This has been the case for obout 12 months now. If you try to book a PCR, the first thing that they ask you is as to whether you have any symptoms? If you have no symptoms they’ll refuse you a PCR and tell you to do a few LFTs first and if you test positive on these, only then will they give you a PCR to confirm. The only general exception to this is if your doctor or hospital requests a PCR prior to an appointment? I have plenty of experience of the booking system due to my father being in ill health and requiring regular visits to the doctor. Also, despite working continually throughout this pandemic on a series of large high profile civil engineering projects with associated large workforces in both England & Wales, not once has myself or anyone I worked with, been asked to attend mass screening despite cases occurring within the workforce? This is because generally they only carry out mass screening locally in areas that are experiencing high numbers of a new mutation. This is my experience and assessment of the testing in the UK over the last 2 years. Unless you live there yourself and can tell me different?

Yep, there are a lot of bars closed, some even with signs up saying that it’s because of Covid?

Drove past Treetown in Pattaya last night and the mobile testing station wasn’t even there? Didn’t notice any bars open in the complex either but wasn’t paying too much attention?

And do something with the forced hospital isolation if found positive?

Depends on the manufacturer but there are some good ones out there? There’s also a lot of bad ones too!

I agree that for liability purposes, labs may be reluctant to do the tests with a more realistic CT threshold. However your comments regarding the correlation of a positive PCR and the subsequent onset of symptoms are a bit baffling? Excepting Thailand’s entry requirements, where in the world are people being given a PCR test before having symptoms? It’s normally the other way around, you get the symptoms and you go for a PCR to confirm? Unless they’re paranoid or a hypochondriac, why on earth would people clog up their countries’ state medical/testing facilities if you you have no symptoms?