Bluetongue

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

The numbers have been nice news in recent times. Hard to phantom why places such as Vietnam are so out of step with Thailand.

Here is a paragraph from ABC news Australia, today.....

 

"There were 6,288 new COVID-19 infections recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.

The state recorded no deaths, with 388 patients in hospital with the virus.

There are 52 people currently in intensive care, one less than the previous day.

NSW has also reported 95 per cent of residents aged 16 and over have got their first vaccine shot".

 

What stands out to me is a state such as NSW (population ~ 8 mil) records over 6k new cases and has a high vaccination rate.

Again very much out of step with Thailand.

All eyes on the situation in early 2022. 

Unrelated observation..... currently on Koh Samet and there are tourists here. In chatting with a few of them surprised that some have come for 3-4 weeks.

Also that two separate groups had arrived unvaccinated and went through the 10 day quarantine. 

Had very strong views about vaccination. I skipped the chat pretty quickly.

 

I think NSW has had a very quick explosion of numbers due to Omicron, a couple of nightclub clusters and it's away. All over Australia the numbers have increased rapidly this week. Bodes well for my trip in less than 3 weeks. Still quarantine free into Sydney, long may it last.

OK I now have a statement that shows another account with ample funds to make up the shortfall, I'll keep that in reserve

16 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

Wrong. 2 Months before.

 

Ok got that, thanks

1 hour ago, Digitalbanana said:

Why have a card for an account used for retirement extensions with a balance so close to limit? Just open a second account for immigration only with no card so no annual fees or unexpected deductions all year long?

Yes, good point, originally didn't set the account up for that purpose but I'm going into the bank to cancel the card (and the fee) on that account

25 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

The Omicron wave is steep but seems to reside fairly quickly. At least thats whats happening so far in SA, Norway and Denmark. If this holds true for all countries then it should be over quicker than we think?

 

In the UK as of the 22nd Dec there were 300 Omicron hospital cases and 24 deaths. Israel reported first Omicron death as did Germany

 

Ourworldindata

Its been said that the SA experience is different due to demographics and pattern of previous infections. So it's early days, but good to see the same curve in more highly vaccinated countries with probably older populations. A previous poster alluded to Delta still being around in Denmark, is there clear evidence that Delta disappears after being displaced?

It looks like it's become a numbers game. Will the increased numbers of infections be so great as to increase the hospitalizations to the point where they can't cope. Some estimates (aka modelling) say yes. One thing is certain, waves peak, then trough, quickly or slowly. For our sake I hope the peak is quick. Huge numbers around the world, new global record etc

4 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Well you had better update the book and get photocopies of it then.

 

I may have to get a statement as the book will update in bulk and will not give the details of the rolling balance

8 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Why does the money have to be there all year for retirement extension, but only two months for marriage/family extension?

 

Strange.

Weird yes. Actually only 400k has to be there all year, 800 has to be there 3months before and after extension. I just leave it there rather than stuff around with it

20 hours ago, Paulaew said:

Really sorry to hear about your problem, a mere 22 baht, geez.

 

Here is my advice to you:

 

I think it's a very high probability that the immigration officers will detect the shortfall, and they may refuse your extension as a result. If you can give them some Covid-related excuse they might have mercy on you.

 

Do not offer a bribe to the immigration officer. I say it with some reason, because I use that particular immigration office, and my regular officer contacted me a while back requesting that I be a character witness for him since his senior officer was doing a general review of bribery issues among his staff.

 

If you can leave the country prior to your extension, it's really not that big of a deal to apply for a new retirement visa when you return, the paperwork is about the same. That would be the safest course of action, but you might get lucky with your current extension.

 

My recent experience with that office is that there are signs of leniency during the Covid period. In September I was 2 weeks late with a 90 day report and they didn't fine me, much to my surprise.

 

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

Paul Laew

 

I think this is sound advice. And as a bonus it's actually true. I wouldn't normally travel outbound at that time, because of Covid, I'd had flight cancellations and been bumped, I was stressed out and quite literally in the air when this happened. So I'll go with that. I wouldn't have offered a bribe, but sort of poked around a bit. I thought about actually owning up to it straight off, but then thats a very Western thing to do, probably better to let them "catch it" and then beg Covid and ignorance etc. Thanks.

6 minutes ago, tgw said:

couldn't this be sorted by the bank by just cancelling the charge and re-charging it now?

then they issue a corrected statement and it's like the charge never happened.

I like the way you think, I'll ask them when I'm in getting the letter

21 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

They could refuse your extension if they notice it. In that case they could suggest a 60 day extension to get your bank record back on track. Did you leave the 800K in the bank for the rest of the year?

 

"perhaps a small present."

Be very careful here! If, as a last resort, you could ask if you are able to pay a fine/penalty to right things.

 

In future, keep an extra 10 grand in the bank on top of the 800K!

Yes the 800 has been there all year. I was hoping they wouldn't notice, ie the passbook update would be one of those block ones where each transaction isn't printed, however alas I didn't have enough transactions for that. No point "losing" the passbook and getting a statement as the opening balance would be 799977.5. I am leaving the country on 14/1 so I'm not sure an extension does it for me. My current one expires 18/1 a 2 month extension would be 18/3, they probably wouldn't do a retirement extension before I left. I should say regarding asking about a fine or penalty, my frugal instincts probably don't extend to giving them 5k for such a tiny mistake I'd have to think about that if it was the final option.

OK going in on Tuesday to Chantaburi to renew retirement extension and get reentry permit. The bank took out a 300baht card fee and that left me 22 baht short for a month. This was January.  As soon as I noticed I put 1000 in. I wouldn't have got the text reminder anyway as I was out of the country so please don't bang on about that.

I could leave the country without doing it as my flight is before the extension expires, but I would have to start again and I don't really want to do that, other possible issues etc. I get on pretty well with them and I expect that I'll be able to work it out reasonably, perhaps a small present. But forewarned is forearmed, whats the worst they can do. Any thoughts.

Add this proposal to reinstate quarantine, with the ongoing hesitancy to reopen schools and an incompetent unpopular Government, recipe for another disastrous year coming for Thailand. Let alone the rest of the world. I hope at least some Government's can hold the line.

9 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Add in the millions of booster jabs given to those who had sinovac....

Yes a few million of those, boosters etc, plus expats, I've heard of droves of Cambodians around here getting jabbed so presumably in all the border areas and migrant encampments. Starting to get in the ball park.

5 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

These quoted numbers just dont add up.

61.4 % of the population  ( Pop 70 M ) has 2 Jabs = roughly 42 Million people x 2 Doses each = 84 Million Doses

There is no way that 70 % of the population has been vaccinated with the remaining 15 Million doses

Total B######s

The 61.4% are all part of the 70%. I would put it thus; 70% of 12 and over say roughly 60 million = 42 million. 61.4% of the same 60 million = 37 million total 79 million. That's 20 million left over so you are right the figures don't look correct but on the opposite side to what you say, if I've read your post correctly.

Thailand's numbers have dropped to a point where we start to discuss other Covid stuff. The ASEAN numbers are quite interesting, some of the other nations are doing very well. I recall when Vietnam was the outlier on the bottom. In fact the whole way it has fluctuated in different places and times has been a feature of the pandemic. Probably reasons for most of it, but I'm already suffering Covid brain overload. I was on edge this time last year before travelling to Australia and I find myself in exactly the same position this year. Not because I thought I'd get it, but the uncertainties due to Governments and personalities running the response, lockdowns, border closures etc

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

You truly believe there's been no deaths in South Africa due to Omicron despite the official deaths happening there daily including a 60% weekly trend increase 

 

However seeing as you've already resorted to sarcasm I'll leave it there with you..............

So not commenting on the comments. But some context for those SA figures. Deaths are indeed up, weekly trend over 100% between Nov 22 and now. Cases however are up about 350% between Nov 8 and Dec 3. The jury is still out I reckon as to exactly how much more or less serious the variant is. So too early to argue that one in my opinion, have seen some experts say it's worse and some not.

They can actually condone violent village arrests of thieves and druggies, usually one and the same. The issue with the land height in our village on a block I bought meant that an old lady living next door complained to him and I had to put in a cheap low wall on her side. Another time a different official told me that I had to pay 1000bt for approval to "tom din" or put dirt down. I told the wife to cancel it and I'll do it again soon, Covid means they have other worries.

I have heard it said over the loud speaker that he, "poo yai", knows who is stealing the motorbikes, he recovered two from Cambodian buyers, and that if it happened again the culprit would be taking a long one way walk into the forest.

So 3 things

I checked both WHO and Worldometer this morning and counted 610 deaths in SA since the week starting 8 November which is actually before the wave started and Omicron was sequenced. So the expert quoting 640 is probably using the same/ish figure. Would they all be Omicron? The 7 day average death rate has gone up a bit.

What's the take on UK repealing SA travel quarantine requirement, I notice Australia has done so also, their public health officials would not be acting prematurely would they? Or have they decided its arrived already anyway, no point?

Lastly its disappointing that this variant seems to have given a bit of second wind to anti vaxxers, particularly the relatively early adaption of the rapid booster, before for instance the determination on how bad the variant is

I use pay wave in Australia on a card that attracts points, which I have zillions of, and one day will try and redeem them for a new teapot or something. Its usually fast and you can use your phone for it too. People pay in my taxi by numerous means, cash is still 20/30%. So I spend that or bring it here as well rather than bank it. I try to keep aware of developments but never knew of the QR code payment. I will add it to my repertoire and continue to use whatever is fastest and most convenient for me. Here I use cash, I cant be bothered carrying my phone around in the market or the shops either, usually leave it in the car.  I would be very sorry to see cash disappear as seems eventually likely, when the Government and big tech know everything will the world be better?

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

A lack of testing is also an issue.  Many around us believe the crisis is over and are wandering around without masks. The kids are playing outside in Lumpini Park on the equipment without masks or adhering to the posted signs. Complacency again.....

Yet here in the sticks, mask compliance is still very, very high. No sign of any of the local schools reopening, the teachers are still handing out homework once a week. Yesterday they apparently said moves are afoot to reopen. Rinse and repeat. I'd say the vaccination rate has gone up, but still nowhere near where it needs to be, many of the older ones around here without smartphones etc, haven't had it yet. Only anecdotal, but we had an out break in Chantaburi, about 2 months ago, seems to have died off now, yesterday's markets were very busy. Lots of Cambodians around.

19 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

A bump upwards in both cases and deaths.  Let's hope it was an anomaly. However on comparison to prior weeks the graph looks very similar.

I wouldn't make too much of it. The number seems to fluctuate within a range, generally climbing a bit at the end of the week. Hospitalization data isn't much good for analyzing anything probably ICU and ventilator numbers are the go.

17 hours ago, kennw said:

Yes currently you must "self isolate for 72hrs on arrival" Also make sure you make an "Australia Travel Declaration" can do on line within 7 days before travel. Without this you may be delayed on arrival. Applies to Aus citizens and permanent residents.

Yes up to speed on that one thanks, I had to do one of those last year, twice in fact, once at checkin Bangkok and once in the transit lounge at Auckland