wensiensheng

Fair to say that it’s a moveable feast. I often noticed that the figures quoted in that graphic and the ones reported locally, don’t tally. Usually it’s because the ones in the graphic exclude actual sandbox cases, but maybe now antigen test results are causing bigger variances, or maybe it’s a misprint or maybe they are starting to lose track a bit. so many variances to reported numbers these days, it’s hard to say.

It’s a surprise, that’s for sure. I wonder if the methods used are playing a part. In Thailand I often see big crowds gathered outside of vaccination centres due to a large number of people being given the same appointment time. They gather together in a Covid spreading huddle and then get squeezed one by one into a “holding”hall, vetted, and then one by one go to desks for a jab. Rather like a sheep dip process of funneling everybody through. the UK never did anything like that I don’t think. The Covid spreading huddle outside the vaccination centre, doctors surgery or whatever, simply wouldn’t have been allowed. More likely they made appointments at 10 or 15 minute intervals to keep everybody separated. In which case the Thai method would have squeezed a lot of people through in a 10 or 15 minute spell. More recently I think there have been pop up vaccination centres in the UK that don’t need appointments, but I know my sister was vaccinated earlier than expected because there was a no show for an appointment at her doctors surgery and since she lived nearby, they called her in. Thailand doesn’t have that kind of individual appointment system. just a guess, or maybe the numbers are BS.

Lol, she has done pretty well for herself overall. thanks for the info, the only things I would add are: 1. Noting, rather than discovering, is a little bit splitting of hairs. Noting such an obvious and well known fact is a bit like saying kids shouldn’t play on busy roads. They make themselves look foolish by stating such obvious facts in the context of justifying a new strategy to accelerate the vaccination of those over 50 as a matter of urgency. 2. In addition to prioritizing Bangkok, a few hundred thousand doses of vaccine were sent to Phuket and Samui to be administered, irrespective of the age of the recipients. A conscious decision similar to the Bangkok one. 3. From the very start of the vaccination program, the authorities have said that the elderly and at risk, are a priority. But in reality they weren’t. So this “new” strategy that they suddenly decided to “note” isn’t really new at all. And since Phuket is now aiming for kids as young as 12 to be vaccinated and booster shots to be provided for those who received sinovac early on, it’s hard to see that the reality of the “new” strategy will be any different to that of the old strategy. Namely that elderly are a priority……after economically important tourism areas. 4. A disproportionate number of vaccine doses are still going to have to be sent to Bangkok in the near future. That’s simply because so many people have received a first dose and very soon they will have to be second dosed. So elderly and at risk people elsewhere will still rank behind healthy young people in Bangkok unless there is sufficient vaccine doses to amply supply both segments. at the end of the day, everyone in Thailand who wants to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated. The road followed has been somewhat twisting and winding and it probably will be all the way to the end. Whether it’s a good job done depends on your point of view I suppose.

My comment was off the back of various medical studies of the past year or so, nothing in particular. any stats on your anecdotal reliable news reports? ???? I’m guessing it varies, depending on not just severity of symptoms, but also standard of medical care provided and how early said medical care is received. But for sure deaths lag cases numbers. Pick your own average time frame. So no surprise that cases might drop, while cases rise, just after a peak each reached.

My comment was off the back of various medical studies of the past year or so, nothing in particular. any stats on your anecdotal reliable news reports? ???? I’m guessing it varies, depending on not just severity of symptoms, but also standard of medical care provided and how early said medical care is received. But for sure deaths lag cases numbers. Pick your own average time frame. So no surprise that cases might drop, while cases rise, just after a peak each reached.

No proof? What about the hidden prison cases? What about the bubble and seal cases identified by antigen, but not included in official numbers? there is proof. It’s just no one knows how deep it goes. That causes mistrust and before you know it, everything looks suspect whether it actually is, or not.

From speaking to relatives in the UK, they don’t seem to care about Covid case numbers. They are used to living in a Covid environment. They have been double jabbed and feel they are as protected as can reasonably be expected. Whether Phuket has 2, 20 or 200 cases doesn’t seem to faze them. they do care about having a good holiday without restrictions. Having lived with them for so long in the UK, they really don’t want to swap what they have now, for a country that has more restrictions. testing doesn’t seem to be an issue for them. They are used to it, almost as a facet of everyday life. Phuket needs to refocus. It should do what is right for the population of the island, based on its current data, vis a vis vaccinations, hospitalizations etc. if that means continued restrictions, so be it. If it means normal life, so be it. seeking to eradicate virus cases probably won’t automatically result in tourists if the island is heavily restricted. Just my opinion.

This was in Phuketnews round up today. I think I’ve read it right? Happy to be corrected though. ????

I’ve no idea what caused the spike. Phuket doesn’t really publish where clusters are found. I did read that the sea gypsies village had been proactively tested and was found to be clear, but I’m not sure if that is as a result of recent testing or a restatement of the result of proactive tests done a month or so ago. Another sea village in the north had a 40% positive rate and 100 cases, but they aren’t in the Rawai numbers of course. it’s all rather opaque. Rawai is quite a small area, lots of mixing at the beach and in popular restaurants. Cases could go high very quickly, but then fall very quickly again because the population isn’t very big.

A lot of people have been vaccinated for sure. There seems to be some discrepancy over what percentage. Reports from the central government were that 77% have had two jabs. But on Thaiger today there was a report that it’s 77 percent of the 70 percent target. So a bit different if that is the case. but in any case, whatever percentage has been vaccinated, there will still be Covid cases. The focal point should be hospitalizations of symptomatic people. If that is manageable, then cases don’t really matter and life can be normal because the lockdown phase should be over and the vaccination phase well advanced. the caveat is that it’s quite hard to get a clear picture. As evidenced by the governors statement that no quarantine prisoners had escaped, when in fact two had. My confidence that all of the authorities are on the same page with the same information, is quite low.

Nothing. The deaths reflect the high cases of 2/3 weeks ago.

I live in Rawai. According to Thaiger, Tambon Rawai now has had a total of 182 cases since the pandemic began, an increase of 64 cases from the day before. So a 50% increase in one day, assuming I read the numbers correctly. restrictions are pretty loosely followed here, so I’m not surprised.

“The news comes as Public Health officials will accelerate the vaccination of people aged over 50 as a matter of urgency, after it was discovered that 80% COVID-19 related fatalities were people aged 50 and over, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).” It’s statements like this that make me wonder whether half the CCSA have been unconscious for the last 12 months. I mean, haven’t they been paying attention?

40% positivity rate at one group of sea gypsies is pretty scary. No mention of which variant, so I assume delta. and now Phuket is to be given the luxury of booster jabs? It does seem they are trying to eradicate the virus from Phuket. An impossible target from the experience of other countries with higher vaccination rates.

The article doesn’t really provide any comparative yardsticks. Versus countries like Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia, I could see a score just above 60%, looking quite good. Against Singapore and HK, it probably looks miserable. the best I can say is that at least it improved. But imho, a score of 61% is nothing to shout about.

I’m not sure he admitted any mistake. At least not that can be read in the article. He simply gave a correct statement, that conflicted with the previous days incorrect statement. so he’s probably safe in his job for now.

Possibly the crowd who claimed a cure for cancer a few years back?

Once Covid has been around as long as the flu I doubt very much that there will be any surveillance whatsoever. Vaccines will be more effective and hospitalizations less and everybody will be bored with the whole thing.

“Schools will also be allowed to open without restrictions from Wednesday with teaching, training and testing for large groups allowed.” what on earth is going on? In Bangkok, a deep red province, schools can open, but in Phuket, the most heavily vaccinated place in Thailand, it’s just been confirmed that they must stay closed for another two weeks. another day in la la land.

Certainly the educational needs of their children hasn’t panicked them. No signs of those opening, even in Phuket!

Typical. In another thread, 7 more provinces set to open. In Phuket, kids can’t even go to school. Nonsensical.

But you do have a drivers license, right? You do wear a seatbelt, right? If in a civilized country, you do wear a motorbike helmet, right? You do stop at red traffic lights when driving, right. personal freedoms, pffiff. Totally imaginary.

So long as I can get vaccinated and have the ability to show I am vaccinated, I’m not bothered at all.

Don’t you mean, how often?

I just don’t get it. 70% plus of Phuket is double jabbed. Is the current scenario in Phuket the one that the rest of Thailand is striving to achieve? Schools closed, bars closed, no alcohol in restaurants, no public gatherings, now maybe restricted to your own Tambon. Is that the life people will live once 70% fully vaccinated levels are reached across the country? I am a big proponent of lockdowns at the right time and implemented in the right way. I believe them to be absolutely essential in serving a particular purpose at a moment in time. This ain’t that time and trying to eliminate all cases to save tourism ain’t the purpose.