chaihot

On 4/16/2021 at 12:32 PM, expatjustice said:

Matter of fact is, if everyone stays at home for one year, and nobody goes out, it is virtually impossible for the virus to spread, period. 

And how is that working out for you?

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has vaccinated less than 0.4% of its population, trailing neighbours including Malaysia, with 1.5%, and 14.6% in Singapore, a Reuters estimate found.

 

The government's main vaccination strategy relies on locally-produced AstraZeneca shots, which are expected to start being delivered in June, with the aim of inoculating half of the adult population by the end of the year.

There is one of the answers to the million dollar question.

Thailand did not want to pay for a "foreigner" vaccine.  Until they can produce it in Thailand (and control the bribes), vaccines aren't going to happen.

Did anyone see the article that said the government is allowing private hospitals to begin importing vaccines?  ... PROVIDED for every 3 vaccines they imported, they give one to the government??

18 hours ago, expatjustice said:

 

It's not 1 year lockdown if they remove it whenever the number of cases improves slightly and then put it back whenever the number of cases rises exponentially yet again. 

And when it wasn't a "lockdown" officially, it was an ECQ, or MCQ, or EMCQ, or some other abbreviation that kept people from being able to work, move around, and have a life.  

They may not have called it a "lockdown" between official lockdown declarations, but it was.  

FROM WIKI

The "enhanced community quarantine" (ECQ) is the strictest of these measures and is effectively a total lockdown.

Even during all this craziness, people of certain ages were NOT allowed out of their homes.  This was especially true in small barangays with power-crazy barangay captains.

It was a lockdown.  For a Year.  If it quacks like a duck ..

13 hours ago, brucegoniners said:

They should have done this before the holiday!

 

Nobody wants a lockdown, but at least it will avoid further sickness and death!

You think so?  Ask the Philippines how their 1 year lockdown has worked for them.

On 4/7/2021 at 6:48 PM, Jeffr2 said:

It's doing nothing for the rising numbers because too many are ignoring the lockdown, not wearing masks and not social distancing.

How familiar are you with the Philippines living conditions?

Barangay officials are fining 3000php and more for not wearing a mask; and taking some to city jails.  In resettlement camps (there are A BUNCH OF THEM) ... 10-20 people live per 400 sf attached "house".  Social Distancing??

If you can get through the checkpoints, the designated buyer of the household will be denied entry to the grocery store if your temp is up (it is HOT AS HELL in Philippines right now); or if you are under 20 or over 60 - or any other reason chosen at random.

Anyone with a job must have a COMPANY ID or will be refused entry at the checkpoints.  Only problem is many companies have shut down so fewer people need to go to work.  And fewer people have money for food.

I have very close friends who haven't ventured more than 50 feet from their house in a YEAR.  One person from the household does grocery and supply buying as needed.  

We aren't talking about a "new" lockdown.  We are talking about the lockdown that started March or April of 2020!
https://time.com/5945616/covid-philippines-pandemic-lockdown/

It is not as clear cut as you think it is.  And now, an estimated 50% won't take the vaccine if offered.  Which is probably good since the government only bought enough vaccinations for 1% of its population.

PS:  Not only masks are required in public -- but FACE SHIELDS also.  

Please don't blame the Filipinos ... They have been dealt a harsh card.

17 hours ago, jossthaifarang said:

I think it's time we all just carried on about our business, if you need to get tested to find out you have it then how bad is it really? Is it worth closing down the world?

The Philippines is suffering through the worst lock-down in the world -- and it is doing nothing for the rising numbers.

22 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Tagged like a criminal they won't be coming anyway.

Could be worse ... Thailand could copy China and require ANAL SWABS of all foreigners.  That would be apropos.

12 hours ago, bigupandchill said:

So I can retire to a proper country (Portugal) for only 40k more than here?

What I found strange is Philippines was only a few thousand less than Thailand.  I would not have guessed that.

8 hours ago, lee68 said:

The government needs to vaccinate the whole country first and thats going to take time! 

That is NOT going to happen in my lifetime.

12 hours ago, Crossy said:

Didn't they "mull" this idea last week too?

 

Yes, but it was a different author.  NOT same-same.  ????

2 hours ago, JackGats said:

If I must download it to my smartphone I would try to keep it on a short leash. Anyone knows which authorisations I can deny the app without it malfunctioning?

Install it on your previous (older) phone if you still have it.  

14 hours ago, donnacha said:

So, they no longer ask why you are sending it out, and her bank allows her to do it via their app, but a transfer to the same name will be prevented.

Thanks!  I never knew that.

18 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Already the buzz the world over - passports that have been certified in this manner. 

 

Can already imagine the bureaucratic clusterphuck that might incur among some circles that won't get it or accept such "officialdom".

HI

I think the word you were looking for was "official-DUMB" ... LOL

My wife's father was in the hospital in BURIRAM and was getting better but the doctor was going to keep him a few more days for observation.

Then, all of a sudden, he and many others were discharged because the hospital "needed room for Covid patients."

Which is rather strange since there are no documented cases in Buriram Province TTBOMK .... and it is not listed on the restrictions issued by the PM.

Hmmmmmm.

On 12/10/2020 at 11:34 PM, Walker88 said:

Out of curiosity, of the 39 million tourists to Thailand in 2019, how many stayed more than 2 weeks?

That would be an interesting statistic.  

18 hours ago, fangless said:

And not a mask in site or social distancing in the photo above.

Only foreigners need masks - Thai's are safe.

"Anutin - famous for his rants against non-mask wearing foreigners early in the pandemic"

11 hours ago, 4reaL said:

wonder if the visa laws will become more favorable, nah that would be too logical......  

The only people who complain about Visa laws are expats who want to stay long-time.

That is NOT the group of people the government wants, so there is NO way Visa laws will be more relaxed.

IMO, Thai people who are not supported through tourism, WANT this lockdown to continue and have no qualms with "waiting out" a vaccine.  My wife tells me in the village, people want this to continue "for their safety".  As for food and money, they "will get by", just like before.

9 hours ago, robsamui said:

This is a disaster entirely of their own making and, with the predictable utter lack of foresight (a quality unheard of in Thailand) they have been brainlessly sowing the seeds of their own downfall for more than a decade.  ... (more)

Now THAT was an enjoyable read -- and IMO, quite accurate.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

In fact Thapanee Kiatphaibool said Thailand would be lucky to get 7 million visitors. 

 

And more than 6 million of those had already come and gone in the first three months of the year before the pandemic and its economic effect took hold during the lockdown of the country. 

I think that is one of the more realistic and honest statements I have read.  Someone is finally admitting Thailand will be lucky to get 1 million tourists between now and the end of 2020.

12 hours ago, Oldie said:

Not so long ago they tried a bus system. Perhaps the monorail can use the signs for the bus stops that are often still standing around...

TTBOMK, this is the second aircon bus program they tried as long as I have been in Thailand.  The first one was great -- aircon, comfortable seating -- for almost nothing (I don't remember what we paid).  Baht Bus drivers HATED them and would intentionally slow them down and block them when possible.

3 hours ago, torturedsole said:

They are but such is the limited space in Pattaya that a monorail isn't a bad idea, in principle, as it maintains the ground level roads for traffic.

 

Have you considered the support structure that is required for a monorail -- as well as the stairs necessary to access?  How do you you think that will affect the space for cars on the road?

2 hours ago, Winniej said:

There will be no way they will have an app ready in October unless it’s copied from someone else . Who is going to go on a holiday in the  next 6 months even if you can get out of your country which I think will be nearly impossible then come back  for two weeks isolation . I for one and I’m not the only one wouldn’t go on a plane load of people even if the holiday was free . 

There are two questions I have ... 

1.  Who is going to fly right now? and

2.  HOW are they going to fly?  HOW are they going to get into Thailand?

There is a pilot that I follow on social media.  He is a "plane repo" guy for when airlines say they are surrendering planes.  It took him 3 full days to get from LA to Malaysia; and that included a private charter from Phnom Penh to Malasia.  This was last week. 

How is the average person going to get to Thailand right now -- and at what cost?

15 minutes ago, AndresSP said:

Below are top 10 countries for December 2019 filtered by “Receipts”. 

I just can't figure out how they know how much I spent and tipped on the Soi.  Even I don't know those numbers!

1 hour ago, GAZZPA said:

The last thing they will be thinking about is a holiday on beach somewhere. So no I dont think anyone is realistically looking at holidays, and they wont be for a long time yet and Thailand opening it's borders will mean diddly to almost everyone.

I think this is the best part of your post.  

I multi-quoted a few posts I wanted to comment on and then lost them. Oh well.

Quote

One person talked about how stupid it was to decimate the economy for years when the number of people who died is less than one day of road carnage.  

I couldn't agree more, and that has been one of my arguments.  But, ask a Thai that is not dependent on Tourism what they think -- my wife included -- and the answer is we must prevent the spread at all costs.

Quote

Another post commented that it wasn't the current deaths, but what would happen with uncontrolled spreading and an overwhelmed medical system.

That is something I have wondered about; as well as all economists vs scientists.  Interestingly (to me), Thaksin (in the Nation) came out and said the close down was a bad idea.  Fitting I guess, because he is known to be more of a capitalist/business person who would lean away from the shut down.

Brazil is the fastest growing Covid hotspot (#2 under USA).  Unofficially, it appears that their policy is "<deleted> it, whatever happens, happens".  History will show whether that was a good idea or not - and whether they are the first to hit herd immunity or not.

Another person talked about other things affecting Thailand that doesn't seem to get any traction.

"Officials reported a total of 128,964 dengue fever cases from all 77 provinces in 2019"

" The Department of Disease Control (DDC) ... has revealed the latest number of influenza patients in Thailand from 1st January to 30th November 2019 at 363,837 cases"

I realize these are "cases" and not "deaths", but the sheer volume compared to the Covid cases gives pause to wonder whether the shutdowns are really in the best interest of the country.  At least, in my opinion.

And finally, back to Thailand tourism.

US citizens can travel right now.  But are they??  Of course, we aren't a blip on the radar of Thailand for number of tourists anymore.

High season is approaching,  They must do something.  I can't them letting the season pass with no tourism.  But I could be so wrong .... 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Film crews will need to have medical certificates and other documentation and quarantine for 14 days. 

This is the funniest part of the post.