Shut country down for 21 days, doctor advises

By The Nation

 

Dr. Teerawat Hemajutha

 

The doctor in charge of Chulalongkorn University’s Information Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases believes all public activity in Thailand should be shut down for 21 days to halt the spread of Covid-19.

 

Dr Teerawat Hemajutha posted on Facebook that merely closing specific venues and barring public events will have little effect because people continue to behave as usual, going to their workplaces and using public transportation.

 

Even though the number of daily confirmations of new infections has slowed, a large-scale outbreak is still possible, he said, and hospitals could be overwhelmed because personnel and equipment would likely prove insufficient.

 

Even bringing the country to a standstill would not be the final measure, Teerawat said. Still more would be needed.

 

He cited as an example the Chinese government enforcing a regulation requiring individuals to maintain a certain distance among themselves and carefully monitoring groups that had a high potential of becoming infected.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384320

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-18

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Here it comes. 

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Even though the number of daily confirmations of new infections has slowed,

 

I don't think so!!!  In fact, just the opposite...

 

This was from just this past Sunday:

 

Quote

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand reported 32 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday in the largest daily jump in infections since the outbreak began, 

 

And then today's announcement of another 35 new cases broke that record, with today being described as the largest single day increase yet.

 

Has the good doctor been smoking a bit too much of the medical marijuana???

Edited March 18, 20206 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

In typical Thai fashion which this country always learn the hard way for some reason and is one step behind the world taken drastic measures to combat this virus. It will eventually shut down and lock down the country, closing all boarders and not letting anyone in or out of the country just like in China and most of Europe.

 

They are just waiting until they get those infections and death numbers before they pull the plug and do so.

It will be most interesting to see what Thailand's immigration department is going to do when visas or extensions of stay expire of potentially tens of thousands of foreigners who cannot get home if there is a complete shut-down.

 

Will they all be rounded up and crammed in those famously hygienic immigration detention center mass cells? And will they all be fleeced for "overstay"? 

Lockdown the Country for minimum 21 days. Preferably 30 days would be what other countries do. Look at Malaysia, Philipines and European Countries. That is what have to be done. Only go out for food, and NOT in Restaurants or Bars. Make home, or call Grab, or one of the others.

The good doctor would still get paid and basically have a 21 day vacation. 

 

However, most Thais must work daily to put food on the table, pay bills, etc...if they don't work they don't get paid.   And the govt surely isn't going to make-up for loss wages....pay a person's bills....or put food on the table.

 

'DR' trumps 'PM'

 

this decision always did and will require smarts

maybe it's best to close all airports, borders, close as much as possible.  no overstays in the world (less panic), and simply take a month off.  there will be people working to get food on shelves, hospitals, the necessities... 

 

something like this will happen.  you might still get it next year, but then it won't stress the system as much.  you can die today or next year, but if 1000 die at once it hurts the country (any country).  

 

of all my strange life scenarios, this was not one of them.  

 

in a few years, we will all have shots.  and we will likely think of the Wuhan virus for the rest of our life.  

 

on a comical note:  I wish athletes were immune, i do miss sports

 

 

33 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

It will be most interesting to see what Thailand's immigration department is going to do when visas or extensions of stay expire of potentially tens of thousands of foreigners who cannot get home if there is a complete shut-down.

 

Will they all be rounded up and crammed in those famously hygienic immigration detention center mass cells? And will they all be fleeced for "overstay"? 

The virus is probably already in the Immigration jail at Soi Suan Plu.

Day late and a dollar short

They should Legalize Ganja and everybody stay home and smoke  

once again, in a country of nearly 70,000,000 there has been ONE death and supposedly 212 infected. So what if the number of infections are more - people have been getting sick from influenza since forever, and it sucks to be sick with the flu. The important, most important number is those that haven't recovered as in died.

 

A lot more people die daily from a thousand other reasons and the reaction from govt and the general public was that it's too bad but life goes on as normal.

 

Would it be reasonable to shut down a country if the death rate was 1%, how about 1/2% ? Maybe it would? Suppose the deaths are really 100 rather than 1, no - let's say that 1000 have died - now divide that number by 70M. My calculator just went blue screen.

 

Estimated infected, projected, govt estimates, I think it will be lots because I'm scared, our data suggests - these are all statements that are guesses. Guesses. Some might be well meaning, others not so. Most that suggest huge numbers and suggest radical actions be taken therefore, these are dangerous and ignorant of the consequences.

 

There's been ONE death. If you choose to believe there have been 1000x more, go ahead and calculate that number against the total population, of which you are one of, and that's your chances of dying from CV. Better you bet the lottery because you'll have thousands of percent better chance of winning.

 

If you think shutting down the country and all the economic and political consequences that follow makes sense, be very careful of what you wish for because you may not like the results.

 

 

Yes. Shut it down. Should have happened several weeks ago. 

The junta must be loving this. They can delay the student protest indefinitely and avoid a new Hong Kong.

 

That said, yes it's needed, but education in forms of posters in every soi corner is needed even more. Act now and educate. Information is best antidote for panic.

1 hour ago, Snuller21 said:

Lockdown the Country for minimum 21 days. Preferably 30 days would be what other countries do. Look at Malaysia, Philipines and European Countries. That is what have to be done. Only go out for food, and NOT in Restaurants or Bars. Make home, or call Grab, or one of the others.

Sounds like you have much faith that there will be plenty of take-out food service available, and that grocery stores and markets will remain not only open but sufficiently stocked. Have you considered that the farms that produce the food will be limited and not producing so much? Have you considered that the supply chain that goes from the farms to the distributors to the markets would be adversely affected if the country was on lockdown? Think the markets and supermarkets will be well staffed? Fuel for your vehicle to get to the store?

 

Snuller, you need to think this one through a bit more.

27 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

They should Legalize Ganja and everybody stay home and smoke  

thank you ...at long last someone with a reasonable solution to the problem

39 minutes ago, glennb6 said:

Sounds like you have much faith that there will be plenty of take-out food service available, and that grocery stores and markets will remain not only open but sufficiently stocked. Have you considered that the farms that produce the food will be limited and not producing so much? Have you considered that the supply chain that goes from the farms to the distributors to the markets would be adversely affected if the country was on lockdown? Think the markets and supermarkets will be well staffed? Fuel for your vehicle to get to the store?

 

Snuller, you need to think this one through a bit more.

Sounds like you are incapable of just buying enough food for 3 weeks.

 

2x packs of mama noodles

10x packs of spaghetti and pesto plus parmesan.

 

There, sorted that for you. 

53 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yes. Shut it down. Should have happened several weeks ago. 

..... can not use that word DPM,  was upset when some reporter used the "shutdown" word on a news report... better say it's halted/not available/closed and many more 555

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The doctor in charge of Chulalongkorn University’s Information Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases believes all public activity in Thailand should be shut down for 21 days to halt the spread of Covid-19.

the doctor will be in trouble with DPM because he used the incorrect word.....

Covid-19: "Bangkok is not shutdown" says DPM as he gives language lesson

I'm scared is that ok? 

2 minutes ago, bestie said:

I'm scared is that ok? 

scared it's ok, the majority here, they keep joking about it but, they also are.... not scared would not be ok, that would meant not facing reality.....reports/seeing what's happening all around the word, sure it's scary

3 minutes ago, bestie said:

I'm scared is that ok? 

Is scared a form of fear, is fear contagious, can contagion spread, does commonsense go out the window, if the answer is yes to any of these questions no wonder you are scared, so am I now! Onward and Upwards - Eyes Open - No fear! ????

Selfish I know, but please hold off on a France style lock down scenario for a week or so. My original flight home was cancelled by my airline and I've only just secured another leaving in just over a week. Many many visitors like me won't have freezers to stock up for a shutdown, most won't even have a kitchen. Most will just have a basic bedroom with shower and a tiny fridge. Yes I suppose I could get by on instant noodles and cornflakes, but I'd rather not during the last week of what will highly likely be my last visit to Thailand after having visited here since the late 1990s. It is not because of this virus, it is being done with prices  approaching that of Western Europe, and smaller portions for it than ever before, at that. I'd rather not my last memory of years of visits to this country, eating spicy instant noodles in my room. 

1 hour ago, glennb6 said:

once again, in a country of nearly 70,000,000 there has been ONE death and supposedly 212 infected. So what if the number of infections are more - people have been getting sick from influenza since forever, and it sucks to be sick with the flu.

 

Common sense has been thrown under the bus. And it's a worldwide phenomenon.

 

How is that possible ?

 

-very low level governements/civil servants. That's a common problem all over the world, in this 21th century. People are getting dumb and dumber. It's a turbo for inane policies.

 

It's idiocracy, nothing less, nothing more.

 

-so called "experts" dictatorship. Again, it's a common disease of "modernity". Those experts are in a race... They must overdo/overbid their peers. In every subject, in order to simply exist.

 

So If one expert says "1 million deaths because of the virus"... Another one will say "10 millions". And he will win.

 

-social networks. Instant communication. People do not think anymore.

They have emotions.

 

Add to this already horrible soup... the special touch of our thai friends... And you get even more weird, absurd, surreal reactions.

 

So this thai "doctor", who arrived after the war (why he didn't talk 2 months ago ? To ask to cut all links with China ?)... is just good enough to repeat the chinese textbook.

 

His 15 minutes of fame.

Let their Chinese cousins help them. 

 

I care nothing for these people and they feel the same about all of us. 

 

No sympathy at all. 

6 minutes ago, Lissos said:

Selfish I know, but please hold off on a France style lock down scenario for a week or so. My original flight home was cancelled by my airline and I've only just secured another leaving in just over a week. Many many visitors like me won't have freezers to stock up for a shutdown, most won't even have a kitchen. Most will just have a basic bedroom with shower and a tiny fridge. Yes I suppose I could get by on instant noodles and cornflakes, but I'd rather not during the last week of what will highly likely be my last visit to Thailand after having visited here since the late 1990s. It is not because of this virus, it is being done with prices  approaching that of Western Europe, and smaller portions for it than ever before, at that. I'd rather not my last memory of years of visits to this country, eating spicy instant noodles in my room. 

Well, if today is anything to go by, there seems to be just as many planes travelling in and out of CNX as normal. Maybe a few reductions and probably lesser crowds, but it seems a lockdown of all services including food supplies could be a couple of weeks off, IMO.

 

So you should be okay. 

 

 

"Will they all be rounded up and crammed in those famously hygienic immigration detention center mass cells? And will they all be fleeced for "overstay"? "

 

My money is on yet another opportunity to smooth out visa problems in exchange for a generous donation...

3 hours ago, time2093 said:

In typical Thai fashion which this country always learn the hard way for some reason and is one step behind the world taken drastic measures to combat this virus. It will eventually shut down and lock down the country, closing all boarders and not letting anyone in or out of the country just like in China and most of Europe.

 

They are just waiting until they get those infections and death numbers before they pull the plug and do so.

And then they will do it extra good, knee-jerk reactions...which will cause loads of new problems.

14 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Sounds like you are incapable of just buying enough food for 3 weeks.

 

2x packs of mama noodles

10x packs of spaghetti and pesto plus parmesan.

 

There, sorted that for you. 

thomas, I don't know if Snuller is a prepper or not. Not to say that mama noodles won't run out, but I doubt the thais will clean out the spaghetti and parmesan cheese... 

 

So what if the gas stations start closing? Not everyone stocks up 50 gallons of drinking water now do they? Think all will go well if the stores start running out of food just because YOU have enough stored up? Fn ignorant of you to be frank - sounds like you'll be happy sitting back and chuckling while others are in tough times.