Is it safe to travel to Thailand? Latest advice after deadly coronavirus kills 132

[wealthychef]

1 hour ago, neeray said:

I always find this line of logic (if it can be called that) to be completely irrelevant.

The road deaths go on regardless. Coronavirus deaths are in addition.

 

Actually I think it's totally valid.  This hysteria is almost entirely more internet click-bait fueled by fear of the unknown.   Boring old traffic deaths, which can be prevented by raising awareness, are largely neglected, because the main cause is the fact that police don't enforce basic traffic rules, and that would imply the government is doing something wrong.  Coronavirus hysteria does nothing to keep people safer, and the threat is actually low anyhow.  At this point only government actions would have an impact on the spread (banning Chinese tourists) but that's not going to happen because money money money, so as usual the government says "wear masks" instead of taking action.  So if you want to protect yourself from this virus, wash your hands and don't touch your face.  That's it, simple.  Boring, though, right?  My prediction is this passes away like ebola did.  

[malibukid]

just use common sense. but don't panic

[IAMHERE]

Got to feel sorry for the Chinese tourists that have to return. Maybe Thailand can give them a 90 day visa and subsidized living arrangements of some sort.

[Ketyo]

1 hour ago, DannyCarlton said:

No problem. I've already taken to my bed. Have smart TV, internet, en suite and a tray being pushed through my door, every couple of hours with copious amounts of food and drink. Unfortunately unable to help with washing up, gardening and shopping.

 

Life's tough but I'm determined to beat this.

Pick that tray up with your elbows and shoulders. Don't touch it with your hands.

 

[riverhigh]

"With the number of people infected now standing at 14, the country's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul has admitted the country “is not able to stop the spread” of the virus because there are so many Chinese travellers there."

 

What happened to "Thailand’s PM assures coronavirus situation is “100% under control”". Lets see who should I believe the health minister or the smiling Thai used car salesman. Need more time!

[FarFlungFalang]

55 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Are there any semi accurate numbers regarding percentage of case that are fatal? Thousands die from garden variety flu every year...

 Time for some binge watching, finally get around to Breaking Bad and the Wire.

“Anything that is done that increases social distancing can help decrease the spread of the virus, said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “If you do it right, it’s not impossible it will have positive impact.”
Dang! I was gonna work on being less obnoxious, opinionated, speaking my mind (what's left of it) grumpy old man, but turns out all that is a protective mechanism. Have to hone my "<deleted> off", "Sod off", and very 'Merican "<deleted> off" for openers

About 3%.A tad more than your average flu from what I’ve read.

[oslooskar]

1 hour ago, hrrecruiter said:

I rather pay a tiny amount for Masks for myself and the family even if it doesnt guaranteed 100% protection - got a batch w 10 for 599thb on lazada and they ship home in a couple days. Helps w pollution if nothing else. https://bit.ly/2U6vQ1L

Maybe I could wear my swimming mask and snorkel around town after tying a couple of filters over its open end. 

[mrfill]

7 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

"With the number of people infected now standing at 14, the country's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul has admitted the country “is not able to stop the spread” of the virus because there are so many Chinese travellers there."

 

What happened to "Thailand’s PM assures coronavirus situation is “100% under control”". Lets see who should I believe the health minister or the smiling Thai used car salesman. Need more time!

If it keeps increasing at this rate it might get over 100 by christmas

[Liverpudlian]

1 hour ago, DannyCarlton said:

No problem. I've already taken to my bed. Have smart TV, internet, en suite and a tray being pushed through my door, every couple of hours with copious amounts of food and drink. Unfortunately unable to help with washing up, gardening and shopping.

 

Life's tough but I'm determined to beat this.

Now all ya need to do is beat the pollution ey !!

[Jimbo2014]

With only 14 people confirmed infected at the moment I would say no problems.  In a month it may be a different matter.  So visit Thailand while you can before Corona Virus Takes hold (New TAT slogan). ????

[kwak250]

6 minutes ago, oslooskar said:

Maybe I could wear my swimming mask and snorkel around town after tying a couple of filters over its open end. 

Don't forget your speedo's

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Seen lots of people out there on the roads with facemask but no helmet. 

There was a 200 lb woman walking around tops yesterday with a mask - couldn't see the point myself

[DannyCarlton]

32 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

Advances in medicine.

What advances. Best prediction is that it'll take a year to develop a vaccine, otherwise, no known cure.

[DannyCarlton]

35 minutes ago, Chassa said:

Was she on Facebook?

No idea, not my post.

[Isaan sailor]

ACDC’s “Highway to Hell” comes to mind...

[Chrysaora]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai Airways has been forced to disinfect incoming planes //Credit: Reuters

What were they doing before the virus?  Did they send in some old woman with a putty scraper once a month?

[metisdead]

Some posts containing unsubstantiated content have been removed. Please provide a valid link to the source of information when posting.

 

Some troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

[Matzzon]

2 hours ago, hrrecruiter said:

I rather pay a tiny amount for Masks for myself and the family even if it doesnt guaranteed 100% protection - got a batch w 10 for 599thb on lazada and they ship home in a couple days. Helps w pollution if nothing else. https://bit.ly/2U6vQ1L

Good choice of place for buying stuff. Now you are really sure to get the genuine w10. ????????????

[NCC1701A]

Deuteronomy 28:59. Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, [even] great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

[khunpa]

Well, Thailand seems to getting behind on reporting their numbers. https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/situation.php

 

Wonder why..........?

[Wiggy]

20 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

What advances. Best prediction is that it'll take a year to develop a vaccine, otherwise, no known cure.

There was no vaccine at all for the Spanish flu. Now we'll have one within a year. That seems like an advance to me.

[Gecko123]

It's still early days and I think being cautious is advisable. The true number of cases, how easily it is transmitted, the mortality rate, how many people from Hubei province traveled before the travel restrictions were put in place isn't fully known. While I would be far more sanguine about the risks if I was in the US, living in rural Thailand and imagining how the hospitals and public health system would be able to cope with a possible pandemic, I think it is prudent to take precautionary steps, even at this early stage. People who are poo-pooing the risk may be forgetting the potential for the virus to be able to mutate and become far more virulent. I am avoiding close contact with people, have stocked up on food and water, cancelled a routine teeth cleaning dentist appt, topped up my gas tank, and tried to identify things I might need over the next several months so as to avoid the need for incidental contact. If anyone thinks this is fear mongering so be it, but in my book it's just prudent risk management. I'm definitely in the 'better to be safe than sorry' camp on this one.

[englishoak]

With the current data to suppose its going to subside in the near term is misguided let alone advise people to take an unnecessary risk, many whom might be retired.

 

It is hitting older people MUCH harder than young, we are over the entire 2 years of SARS of people infected already and near 200 dead already ... in ONE month. Its becoming pretty clear if your looking those death numbers are woefully under represented... they are literally nailing up people into their apartments if found to have a temperature or from Wuhan.

 

Experts projections are pretty accurate so far, thats bad because its projected to get a lot LOT worse... why would anyone advise anyone to go to a region likely to be one of the most infected outside China or consider it safe ?

 

Whilst I love Thailand and have family there I am advising friends very strongly to avoid the entire region for the time being.... just couldnt do it and sleep well knowing its a growing risk.

 

A note on the masks etc... N95 or P3 DO make a difference, nothing is a guaranteed protection of course but CDC and all services use them for nothing ? .. gloves are as important and so are eye protection and sanitisers and washing your hands and not touching your face or being in crowds, it all helps. 

 

Everyone there be smart and be safe, being brave and dismissive could cost you or those you love dear. 

[Almer]

1 hour ago, Wiggy said:

The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-20 infected an estimated 500 million people and killed 20-50 million. Now that was a virus to be worried about. 

And it started just like this one

[Tayaout]

20 minutes ago, khunpa said:

Well, Thailand seems to getting behind on reporting their numbers. https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/situation.php

 

Wonder why..........?

 Could have something to do with this:

 

"the Public Health Ministry had instructed provincial health offices to stop reporting the numbers of suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases" 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, rtco said:

The advice is that masks are next to useless

 

Your advice is WRONG, especially if one is using an N95 type mask in the proper way, and also practicing good hand cleaning hygiene.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, PremiumLane said:

Christ, it ain't the bubonic plague.... yes, it is dangerous for the elderly and those with serious health issues already. Yes, we should try to contain it and make sure we can create a vaccine for it. But, the scaremongering and hyperbole is getting stupid. 

 

It's not scaremongering or stupid to advise people in Thailand right now to practice good health hygiene by wearing N95 masks if they have them, and by regularly washing their hands with soap and/or an alcohol based gel.

 

And, if I wasn't already living in Thailand right now, I certainly wouldn't be voluntarily choosing to come here at the moment... Thailand isn't going anywhere, and will still be here once the virus outbreak calms down one way or another. Stay home and stay safe!

 

[hioctane]

2 hours ago, hrrecruiter said:

I rather pay a tiny amount for Masks for myself and the family even if it doesnt guaranteed 100% protection - got a batch w 10 for 599thb on lazada and they ship home in a couple days. Helps w pollution if nothing else. https://bit.ly/2U6vQ1L

If someone sneezes, germs spread to half the room. It will still enter your eyes and ears. However if you are sick, it will stop the spread and it does stop germs that you touch from getting to your mouth.

[448glb]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

some people would panic if a mouse farts. Corona is just influenza with a college education.

More like a GED...

[soistalker]

REMEMBER THAILAND: You chose this.