TallGuyJohninBKK

ya, like this projection from the Thai MoPH on Friday that daily COVID deaths could increase to between about 140 and more than 250 per day in the coming weeks, up from their current level of about 80. https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/524336239184705/?type=3 A lot of people are potentially going to be "moving on"...

Wearing a quality face mask when you're indoors and in proximity to other people has clearly been proven to reduce the risk of spreading COVID.... Good if you're at least wearing a quality mask. Better if all those around you are as well. Outdoors and in open spaces, if you're not close surrounded by others, less of a concern. As an age 60 plus person, I wouldn't be caught dead in Thailand right now indoors in a restaurant or bar surrounded by other people, wearing a mask or not. And the fact people are allowed to congregate like that is just asking to spead the virus. In case anyone was paying attention today, Thailand set another new record for the year with 80 COVID deaths for the most recent day, and the most new "official" daily cases for 2022 at more than 27,000. And the government's predictions are both numbers are likely to increase substantially during at least the coming month.

At the moment, Thailand's kinda lucky when it comes to COVID, because it's getting crowded out of the international COVID headlines by other Asian hotspot countries including South Korea, Hong Kong and (finally) China.

And an update on so-called Long COVID symptoms: "An online UK study finds that about 70% of 181 adult COVID survivors had memory and concentration problems several months after infection, 75% reported persistent symptoms so severe that they couldn't work, and 50% said that medical professionals didn't take their symptoms seriously. In the ongoing COVID and Cognition study, published as two papers today in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, a team led by University of Cambridge researchers report on the baseline characteristics and cognitive test performance of 181 long COVID patients and 185 never-infected peers. ... Long COVID can be debilitating, affecting multiple organ systems, including the brain, and causing highly individual symptoms in the months after infection. Neurologic symptoms may include "brain fog," disorientation, headache, and forgetfulness." (more) https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/03/70-covid-survivors-uk-study-had-impaired-memory-focus

And for the Asian region, this update from yesterday: COVID-19 cases soar in Asian hot spots --South Korea reported its highest single-day total, which at 621,328, was up sharply from 400,714 the previous day. Officials also reported a daily high for deaths, with 429 more fatalities. --In Hong Kong, the pace of new infections and deaths continued at a very high level, with 21,650 new cases and 202 more deaths. The country is experiencing one of the world's highest death rates, partly linked to vaccine gaps in vulnerable older groups. --China—experiencing its biggest spike in 2 years—reported 2,462 new cases, which include 1,206 people with asymptomatic infections. (more) https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/03/covid-19-cases-soar-asian-hot-spots-us-gets-new-covid-czar

Related for the day:

I think the government restrictions have some effect, but it probably in the overall sense comes down more to what each individual chooses to do with their lifestyle and actions. The government supposed rules here often seem to be ignored or not enforced as much as otherwise. As you noted -- each person getting fully vaccinated and boosted, maintaining social distancing when out and around, limiting social interactions, wearing a good quality, tight-fitting face mask when around others, etc etc.

"To encourage more tourists, all travellers will no longer require an RT-PRC test 72 hours before departure to #Thailand, starting April 1, the CCSA said on Friday. The number of tourist sandboxes has also been increased from 8 to 10 provinces." https://www.facebook.com/ThaiEnquirer/posts/509825040505034 Also: Thailand to lift pretravel testing requirement for international arrivals from 1 April 2022 Travellers will be allowed to enter the kingdom without the need to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel Source link Also, the government spokesman also announced that there will be a reduced quarantine period for incoming international travelers arriving thru the quarantine program of only 5 days starting April 1, regardless of being vaccinated or unvaccinated. Those periods had been 7 or 10 days previously. Testing requirement Two tests remain in place for the TEST & GO and Sandbox travellers: RT-PCR test upon arrival (Day 0) and an antigen self-test on Day 5. Sandbox staying period Reduced to 5 days from currently 7 days. After completing five days within the Sandbox destinations, travellers will be allowed to travel domestically within Thailand. AQ requirement Quarantine reduced to 5 days and an RT-PCR test on Day 4-5.

MoPH also had this interesting chart today on the COVID death rates for senior citizens (ages 60 and up) in Thailand since the start of 2022 by their vaccination status: Source link

Song Kran rules:

There was an EN language video briefing today on the government's latest COVID actions, which including extending its emergency COVID declaration until the end of May. https://fb.watch/bPZEFZxmHa/ the red colors above indicate rising numbers of cases, green indicates lessening cases from the prior day.

I think the more telling comparison would be per capita testing rates among the various countries.... since the raw totals aren't a basis for country to country comparisons.

I haven't seen yet what the government is going to decide about changing COVID restrictions at their meeting today. But MoPH's briefing packet today included an updated projection of how high the country's daily numbers of COVID cases could go in the coming months, depending on different scenarios. If I'm reading and translating the chart correctly, it seems to be saying: --if they reduce current COVID restrictions (the red scenario), daily cases could peak at more than 100,000 by mid April. --if they maintain current restrictions (the yellow level), daily cases could hit around 50,000 by mid April. --and if they tighten current restrictions and increase the daily vaccinations rate (the green scenario), it could bring daily cases below the 20,000 mark by mid April and keep them below that level. Source link And a similar projections chart for serious COVID hospitalizations (with pneumonia): Source link And hospitalized COVID cases requiring intubation: Source link And their future projections of daily COVID deaths peaking by early May: Source link

Thailand's daily COVID case counts and deaths are rising... but the country still is looking better than many of its Asian neighbors right now... The chart below shows the various countries ranked with the most total COVID cases for the past week. On a population-adjusted per capita basis, Thailand ranks the lowest among the Asian countries listed for per capita COVID cases in the past week, and second lowest (after only Vietnam) for per capita COVID deaths in the past week. The per capita comparisons of officially reported cases are likely skewed somewhat by Thailand's relatively low COVID testing rate compared to other countries. But the similar per capita COVID deaths comparison probably still is likely to be a more reflective indicator. https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/524286529189676/?type=3

MoPH update Friday with past two weeks trends on: --COVID serious hospitalizations and intubations (first column) --COVID daily deaths (second column) --14-day average new COVID case counts (third column) all for the period March 5-18. The footnote at the bottom of the second column appears to indicate that of the 80 new deaths reported Friday, 77 had not yet received a third-dose COVID booster vaccine dose, and likewise 77 were either age 60 and above or had any of 8 chronic condition comorbidities. https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/524286712522991/?type=3

MoPH breakdown of the 80 new COVID deaths reported on Friday: --39 males, 41 females --78 Thais, 1 "English," 1 Myanmar --Median age 74, with range from 30 to 101 years --67 or 87% were age 60 and above --8 or 10% were under age 60 with chronic conditions --2 or 3% were under age 60 with no known conditions (though the above breakdown tallies to 77 deaths and not the official 80 total deaths reported, for some unknown reason.) Among the risk factors in the reported deaths, the largest share involved 16 with kidney disease and 15 who were bedridden. Among the provinces, the most deaths occurred in Bangkok with 14, although almost half of Thailand's 77 provinces reported at least one COVID death on Friday. In a separate document, MoPH appeared to indicate that 77 of the 80 deaths had not been vaccinated with a third dose COVID vaccine booster (see the following post below). https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/524286772522985/?type=3

Dunno what exactly these three categories mean in real life (I can't keep up with their color-coded nonsense), but maybe others here can elaborate. News out of the MoPH today: "CCC adjusts the level of the situation throughout the kingdom, starting on March 18, 65 Orange: gatherings of under 500 allowed, schools can open with COVID prevention measures, restaurants can open until 11 p.m. but not serve alcohol, spas and massage parlors allowed to open until midnight. Yellow: gatherings of less than 1,000 people allowed, schools, spas and massage parlors can open, restaurants can open with alcohol served until 11 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/posts/524282625856733

Interesting, MoPH today seemingly has started to use a new, more detailed format for their daily COVID statistics graphic, with some useful information not previously made public on a daily basis. https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/posts/524115789206750 The new parts, posted in the graphic (that I've highlighted with a red circle) and the accompanying text that goes with it, are: "number of pneumonia patients 1,391 are hospitalized an average of 18 per province Bed occupancy rate 27.1%" The bed occupancy rate listed above is a nationwide average for all 77 provinces, which apparently is looking at the number of available beds suitable for handling COVID patients. However, about a week ago, MoPH put out a list of serious COVID case hospitalizations ranked by the 10 provinces with the highest number of cases, and a good share of those had considerably higher hospital bed occupancy rates at the time. MoPH as of March 10: As of Friday, the MoPH reported that Thailand had nearly 69,000 COVID cases being treated in regular hospitals (all cases, not just the most serious ones tallied above), and that's the highest number in the past week. And that's even with their considerable efforts to redirect less seriously ill COVID cases to either home quarantine or other alternate care arrangements.

Thailand on Friday set new year-high records for official new COVID cases at 27,071 and new COVID deaths at 80, more signs that the country's Omicron pandemic has yet to peak. Friday's update from the Ministry of Public Health surpassed the prior daily records for 2022 of both new cases, which had been 25,615 on Feb. 26, and new daily deaths, which had been 77 set just yesterday. Friday's report of new official COVID cases also was nearly 2,300 cases higher than the 24,792 tally from one week ago, and marked the third consecutive day of increases. Meanwhile, largely because of the high number of new COVID deaths, the number of COVID patients hospitalized in serious condition declined slightly from yesterday's year-high record of 1,402 to 1,391 today. But the additional number of seriously ill COVID patients hospitalized and requiring intubation to breathe rose again and set a new yearly record high of 511, surpassing Wednesday's prior high of 507. That number has now more than tripled since the start of the year. https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/?dashboard=main For added context, during the peak of the Delta wave last fall, Thailand's daily COVID case count topped out at 23,418, but the numbers of serious hospital cases and intubated patients peaked above 5,600 and 1,100 respectively, and daily deaths topped 300 for a brief period.

First, Thailand's official road deaths tally runs about 23,000+ per year, not the level your comment above suggests. That works out to an average of about 63 traffic deaths per day. Right now, Thailand is averaging more COVID deaths than that every day, with today's figure 77, and the past week running in the high 60s to 70s. So, your comment above is more than a bit off.

Thailand today reported its highest daily COVID death toll of the year, with 77 new fatalities, and also a new record for the year of more than 1,400 COVID patients hospitalized in serious condition. The day's tally of official new cases at 25,456 also was near the country's record high for the year. I've never thought requiring masks in public parks was a particularly necessary measure. But elsewhere and otherwise, Thailand is still in the COVID thick of things, and there's no sign as yet that the situation has peaked and started getting better. No matter how many people here complain they're "tired" of COVID.

When I read the headline, and SIGHED... I was thinking to ask... So did the grandfather agree marry the child he had allegedly sexually assaulted and impregnated? And then I read further into the article to realize the poor girl had died -- apparently from complications from the pregnancy.

Overall, the Moderna vaccine shows slightly better effectiveness than Pfizer in most studies that have been done. Side effect issues of any substance are very minimal with either of the two mRNA vaccines. Post vaccination cases of short-term heart inflammation have been one rare issue, though generally in younger adults. And have been more likely to occur from COVID itself than as a result of vaccination. Most mRNA COVID vaccine adverse events mild, transient The vast majority of adverse events (92%) recorded after people received the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during the first 6 months of the US vaccine rollout were mild and transient, according to an observational study published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. ... The study authors noted very slight increases in anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction, at 5.5 instances per million vaccine doses) and myopericarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle and sac surrounding the heart; 4.4 per million). https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/03/most-mrna-covid-vaccine-adverse-events-mild-transient

Pfizer, BioNTech seek authorization for second COVID booster in older adults "Pfizer (PFE -0.3%) and BioNTech (BNTX -5.0%) are seeking an Emergency Use Authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine [in the U.S.] for a second booster shot for adults 65 years and older. The submission included real-world data from Israel of people 60 and older who received a fourth booster of the companies' vaccine. An analysis showed that infections were two times lower and rates of severe illness were four times lower in those who received an additional booster dose compared to those who received only one booster." (more) https://seekingalpha.com/news/3813722-pfizer-biontech-to-seek-authorization-for-second-covid-booster-in-older-adults-wapo AND "Meanwhile, Stephen Hoge, President of the rival vaccine maker Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), predicted that only the elderly and the immunocompromised would probably need an additional booster shot, and the rest of the public could be more selective about it. “Is it necessary? I think that’s a strong word. I think it will provide a benefit to anyone who gets it.” Business Insider reported Monday quoting Hoge. ... According to Business Insider, Moderna (MRNA) is optimistic that a potential bivalent booster against Omicron as well as the original strain of the virus could be ready this year." (more) https://seekingalpha.com/news/3813487-pfizer-moderna-executives-offer-contrasting-views-on-additional-covid-19-shots

Broader view outside of Thailand: "After 5 weeks of declining cases, global COVID-19 cases rose last week, fueled by increasing cases in three regions, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in its latest weekly update. In the United States, levels of the more transmissible BA.2 subvariant showed more signs of rising, as the country grapples with funding the ongoing pandemic response. ... Roughly half of last week's cases were from the Western Pacific region, where surges are underway in hot spots such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and Vietnam. (more) https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/03/global-covid-cases-rising-again