The week that was in Thailand news: Why for most of us, this war is highly personal

[rooster59]

The week that was in Thailand news: Why for most of us, this war is highly personal

 

 

Politicians around the world have been telling us we are at war. Presidents have been pumping out their chests and chancellors have been getting out their war chests. This is going to be a fight and an ugly one at that, they tell us. Perhaps a long one. Perhaps a very long one! It's a struggle against a hidden enemy but one that is likely to affect the great majority of people on Earth in ways almost unprecedented in peacetime.

 

As regards one's own opinions, it appears the more outrageous they are the more likely they could turn out to be right! Skepticism and under-reaction - Rooster's usual weaponry in a war - are likely to be well short of reality!

 

I make no excuses for relating some of my own experiences in this week's round up of the news. Not that they are in any way special or astounding. It's just that this war on coronavirus, Covid-19 - call it what you will - is something that each and every one of us is feeling. This war is not some video game in Iraq where we might have marveled at precision bombing from the safety of our couches miles away. This war is right in your face.

 

This war is personal.

 

On the plus side new infections within China have, we are told, ground to a halt. Though there are fears of a resurgence. Many are looking for inspiration in the fight to Japan and South Korea where sensible policies and public reactions are being held up as  models for dealing with the virus. Scientists in many countries are working round the clock to find answers.

 

Those answers will come far too late for many unfortunate people, however. While it is natural to want to see hope many in Italy, especially in the health services, are staring at something different.

 

Right into the abyss.

 

Many hundreds have been dying there daily, more than the total in China. In other centers around the world the virus has taken hold or threatens to imminently. My column last week about the world holding its collective breath continues to be relevant this week as in other European countries including the United Kingdom, the United States and here in Thailand, we are bracing for our own unpredictable and uncertain future.

 

Many will be able to relate to Rooster's situation. You might not be a columnist, might not be someone who has to publicly admit that they got things wrong. But we all have families, friends, responsibilities, economic concerns. We all have worries. We all need to be strong and think clearly. We all need to act sensibly not just for the benefit of ourselves and our loved ones but for the good of our communities and the world as a whole.

 

For me the week began with a daughter stuck in Chile after the authorities there introduced a travel ban. Her mum had begged her not to travel but do children listen.....rhetorical question.

 

She managed to get out on the last flight (go Daddy's girl!) and got back to London where the full carnage on the markets became apparent. She is an equities trader for Barclays at Canary Wharf. She was told to borrow a laptop and go and work at home. She said the supermarkets were empty.

 

My son is in Liverpool at uni working in a bar at night to help pay for tuition. He was aghast that not only had the bar stayed open but was heaving with people. Uni has already shut for the semester along with all other schools in the UK as of Friday when the government changed tack.

 

On Tuesday my first wife called in a panic to blame me for visiting her on Monday with my two young children from my second marriage. We went swimming there and I had used a toilet that had also been frequented by one of the Pathum Thani infected people. He had caught the virus at a Lumpinee boxing tournament in March, along with many others. Cue me asking myself if I had used my knuckle to press the water on the urinal as I would normally do. Then imagining all sorts of scenarios, especially as the current Mrs R started to feel unwell!

 

We're all fine - just a little under the weather from the tiredness of having to amuse and educate three and seven year olds all day in voluntary self-isolation since the schools shut and holiday programs were cancelled. I can't see Thai school opening in May - this could be an even longer Songkran break than ever. Then the condo management put a sign up in the lift banning use of the pool - a twice daily activity that had kept us sane. Yikes!

 

Then the internet starting going on the blink probably because so many people are using it! Nooooo! Work, Netflix and YouTube! Why aren't I religious when I need to be!

 

Friday after watching one of my hitherto great investments tank continually for ten days I could take the stress no longer. I decided to bale and go back to the relative safety of fixed deposits. It took nearly two hours to get my righteous way at KBank but it was all smiles in the end. At SCB - where I went to update a passbook - the lady at the door had clearly been employed to ask foreigners where they'd been recently. Seeing me she said in Thai: "Oh you live in Thailand, I think, welcome!"

 

I decided it was unnecessary to add that I'd had a Siam Commercial account since before she was born.

 

My brother - an international school teacher in Hanoi who owns a condo in Bangkok - is off school and marooned there. His glee at starting online learning six weeks ago is wearing thin. He will retire in June at term's end but we both agreed he has taught his last face to face lesson. Other former colleagues in Bangkok are coming to terms with the closure of international schools in Thailand on Wednesday. Many spoke of the confusion over whether international exams would take place. Students in Years 11 and 13 are distraught. In the UK all exams were cancelled.

 

My 70 year old sister in England - hitherto tasked with grandparent duties - is a practical and resilient lady but even she worries about the coming days. She earns money doing odd jobs but will have to stay at home. Many of her close relatives were feeling unwell though not as yet with coronavirus. One is a state registered nurse, another a pharmacy assistant. My folks there are generally supportive of the government but like Thailand there is confusion and flip-flopping is adding to anxiety.

 

Here in Ratchayothin the reality of the holidays hit home. Mrs R won't be going for her six weeks in Loei at Songkran - there isn't even a Songkran this year! The risk to ailing parents who suffer diabetes and heart conditions is too much. Better to send them my money.....This all means spending huge amounts of time cooped up as husband and wife. So good so far, but we both had a laugh that "experts" in England were predicting more divorces! That's what usually happens at Christmas.

 

Friends all over the world shared their stories via social media and apps. Lots of clips made me "LOL" especially one of a man and wife in bed in Spain. He was coughing and spluttering all over her so she retreated under the covers. He then let rip......

 

John Oliver, commenting mostly on the situation in the United States, made the most sense to me especially his imploring people not to spread false rumors and to select their news sources carefully. He railed for 30 seconds on the prospect of his beloved Liverpool missing out on the EPL title saying everybody needs a little rant! On Thursday reading the BBC site I thought that every one of the top ten stories would be a "lead" under normal circumstances. But these are anything but normal times. About 70% of my Thaivisa translations this week were connected to the virus.

 

Here is a round up of some of the most notable events and stories of the last seven days:

 

The Thai government continued to make everything up as they went along. The number of infections began to increase rapidly until it sailed past 300. Entertainment was shut down in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. Some like Hua Hin resisted only to cave into pressure as Soi Bintabaht shut up shop until the end of the month. None of them are likely to open any time soon.

 

Complex English vocabulary like "social distancing", "quarantine" and "isolation" were bandied about as Thai words. Rooster's "Viral Vocabulary" went through the roof! Creepy government spokesman and DPM Wissanu tried to give a semantics lesson on the word "lockdown" and even told Thai reporters to be careful to explain the exact meaning of "pit" (closed).

 

Uncle Too - PM Prayut - looked remarkably frail behind his designer silk mask that was very pretty but probably as effective as his cabinet; Health Minister Anutin continued to behave like a simpleton while tourism minister Pipat gave up any pretense of having two brain cells to rub together. His comrades at the TAT revised tourist arrivals in 2020 down to 30 million.

 

They will be lucky to get anywhere near that even if the best case scenarios come about. Prayut wondered whether to go from Stage 2 to 3 as the economy in all sectors - not just tourism - crumbled around him. Mixed messages about borders being open and conflicting flight regulations vied with confusing visa notices that left everyone even more flummoxed. I'd love to state here some facts for you but I can't. Those of us in the media are as perplexed as anyone trying to make sense of it all.

 

Nutty plans to hold a public Buddhist prayer vigil were hurriedly cancelled. Had they learned nothing from the Malaysians who had an outbreak at a well attended Muslim festival in Kuala Lumpur? Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos started closing frontiers. Many visa runners got stuck between a rock and a hard place in Ranong. Going to a border is probably futile - it might be better to try your luck for an extension at an immigration office.

 

On the forum, potential travelers - both within the kingdom and worldwide - posted seeking advice. The answers showed such a variance in opinion that you might as well get out a pin or toss a coin. In most cases I'd advise staying put, staying home, not mixing with people. Though that's easy for me to say - that kind of mirrors my normal life.

 

Some who didn't were a group of what the Pattaya media said were 30 foreigners at a bar in Soi Bua Khao "getting merry" in the afternoon. Plod raided and the two lady owners were carted off. The foreigners were not to know their license did not say restaurant but "bar and disco". But should people - especially many who looked quite old - be congregating in public at this time? Posters screamed "xenophobia" at the implication that the visitors to Thailand were somehow to blame.

 

Post after post all over Thaivisa and wider social media pointed the finger of blame at one group, one nationality or another. A "tourist" spreading his saliva over the buttons in a BTS lift turned out to be a Thai with mental problems. A Chinese woman slammed for gobbing on a bus and a train later claimed someone had shot a spray in her mouth. Trump referred to "Chinese virus" and continued his scandalous harassment of journalists legitimately asking awkward questions while an aid mentioned "kung flu".

 

With public figures like that is it any wonder that idiots on social media feel so empowered to misbehave?

 

Worldwide the stock markets had some of their worst days in more than 30 years. When recoveries came they were largely short lived. People sought safety in the US dollar that rose on Trump's well-received trillion dollar plans. The UK pound consequently fell dramatically against the baht much to the chagrin of the kingdom's army of Brit pensioners who had sought solace in the crisis believing the local currency would plunge. While the new UK treasurer's own stimulus package failed to impress investors or the currency markets.

 

On Friday the pound rebounded, however, as stock markets rallied. But Superrich were still offering only 37.7 baht for a quid on Saturday. Australians were getting 18.9 for their dollar and Americans 32.55 for a greenback. Goodness knows what they'll be next week!

 

On Saturday Richard Barrow - followed by many foreigners and Thais in the kingdom - posted about his arrival at Suwannaphum (my spelling). "Deserted" and "Ghost Town" were among his words and phrases that were translated into Thai by a Facebook user so they would reach a wider audience.

 

The blogger's post was echoed (in the eerie silence of the airport no doubt!) by the deputy director who said that Thursday was the quietest day at "Swampy" since it opened in 2006. There were less than 10,000 passengers on 193 flights, some of which only had two fare paying clientele!

 

Finally, one of very few stories that was not virus related was a bridge collapse in Bang Khun Thian in the Bangkok area. The Thai source story referred to a temporary replacement bridge that looked like it came from the English word "barry".

 

So I Googled "barry bridges".

 

Apparently he played football for Chelsea, QPR and even four times for England.

 

At least I had one belly laugh this week.

 

Rooster

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-21

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Curt1591]

My mother-in-law managed a business that depended solely on tourists. She has worked there for over 30 years. 
 

Yesterday, they shuttered the place for good. The business owner could no longer make rent.
 

Besides her, there are close to 50 others now without income.

Edited March 21, 2020 by Curt1591

[Samui Bodoh]

26 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

They will be lucky to get anywhere near that even if the best case scenarios come about. Prayut wondered whether to go from Stage 2 to 3 as the economy in all sectors - not just tourism - crumbled around him. Mixed messages about borders being open and conflicting flight regulations vied with confusing visa notices that left everyone even more flummoxed. I'd love to state here some facts for you but I can't. Those of us in the media are as perplexed as anyone trying to make sense of it all.

An enjoyable read as always, even if the subject matter isn't too cheerful.

 

Few people loathe and despise Prayut, Prawit, and the rest of the cretins more than I; they are the epitome of two-faced scum and represent the true odiousness of humanity. That said, I can't bring myself to criticize them for these decisions and dithering. This is a case where it is as much an art as it is a science and they have greater information than I, you or anyone else. And, a gradual, slow, incremental approach is likely the best response even if I desperately want someone TO DO SOMETHING!

 

If Thailand decides to go 'full on' and close everything, then there are several potential problems which arise. 

 

First, the 'close everything' decision can only be sustained for so long; Thai people, normal Thai people that is, don't have a lot of savings and simply can't sit on the sidelines economically for too long. Any decision to close everything has to take that into account.

 

Secondly, Thai people aren't very good at following rules, orders, laws etc. Normally, that is a characteristic of the Thai people that I enjoy, especially compared with the rule-following hordes in Western cultures. However, a decision to close stuff down too soon will only be obeyed for a relatively short time without clear, unarguable proof of necessity, and that proof is not likely to be seen until a few more people die. Forgive my bluntness, but if you want the Thai people to follow the government's orders, more than mere words and good intentions will be required as the government blew their credibility a long time ago.

 

Third, if you close everything down and then Thailand finds itself back in the same situation a few weeks later, it is unlikely that you would be able to close everything again. So, once things are closed, there must be the resources, knowledge and will to do whatever needs to be done. If I may paraphrase; when you strike at Covid-19, you'd better kill it!

 

Finally, the cure can't be worse than the disease. I was in Indonesia during the H5N1(?) bird flu a few years back, and the 'proper' response to it was simply to slaughter the chicken population outright and immediately. Then, a serious nutritional study on Indonesian eating habits and general nutrition made the point that actually, on a macro-level, it was better and less-damaging to let the Bird Flu spread as mass culling would do more damage to the Indonesian populace. It got cleared up before that decision had to be made, but it is worth considering.

 

On the other hand, wait too long to close some things/everything and the virus spreads beyond the resources available to deal with it.

 

Every decision by a government has incredible repercussions and ripples, and those repercussions and ripples often reach third/fourth/fifth level effect(s). The decisions taken regarding Covid-19 are likely going to have tenth-level repercussions and ripples; we should all hope that for the sake of beloved Thailand they are generally correct.

 

Normally, and like all good TVF users, I think that I know better than the Thai Government (and I do, damn it!). This one occasion, I'll go along with the government on when, where, how and for how long to close stuff. 

 

With gritted teeth.

 

 

[timendres]

It is so American to bring out the "war" word. As George Carlin once said, "We Americans declare war on everything." It is not a war, it is a pandemic. And we have professionals who are specifically educated and trained on how to manage pandemics. Politicians and policy makers need to listen to these professionals and implement policies on how to minimize the impact on societies and economies. They need to lead, and declaring war does not strike me as leadership.

[Tarteso]

I just lost a very dear relative in Spain, doing his job, my old Uncle Angel, because of COV19.  He was medical analystic .... My daughter just canceled her projects in Boston to return to Spain with my grandson and be apart, from all this dirty war, in a safe and secluded country house.  I am panicked by the possible contagions during their return flights.  Have 5 sisters, two of them living in a high risk for her jobs. I live in Chiang Mai, but I decided travel with my Thai family to a quiet beach on the east coast, where the air is cleaner, avoiding people and to await events ... Can stay here for months. So already feel this Colapse is, highly personal already.

[Encore]

Good article as usual. 

 

The temporary bridge may have been a Bailey bridge.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailey_bridge

[YetAnother]

18 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

If Thailand decides to go 'full on' and close everything, then there are several potential problems which arise. 

the issue isnt what the current idiot govt does but their ability to do Anything well; consequential decisions on consequential decisions; could they actually make things worse ? SURE

[DrTuner]

How's that humble pie taste?

[Lacessit]

My Thai GF and I are fairly well insulated in Chiang Rai. The authorities have limited shutdown here to the Night Bazaar, everything else is open. Including the beer bars on Jedyod Road.

Straws in the wind though, very few customers in Big C. My GF tells me many people here have no work, no money.

[Puchaiyank]

The Americans "Declaring War" on the virus frees up red-tape and allows the President to make informed decisions and act quickly.

 

As in war, the private manufacturing sector is gearing up to retool and produce much needed healthcare supplies to protect healthcare workers and the critically ill.  

 

The virus is at war with the entire world...this is no time to engage in equivocation...

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

So I Googled "barry bridges".

 

Apparently he played football for Chelsea, QPR and even four times for England.

Hahahaha .. Nice one Rooster .. 

Reminds of the Aussie keeper in a early 50's match t'wixt an English F A representative side in which he concede 17 goals .. 

His name .? 

Norman Conquest .. 

[watthong]

6 hours ago, timendres said:

It is not a war, it is a pandemic. And we have professionals who are specifically educated and trained on how to manage pandemics

 

Really? Are you sure? Then how come Dr. Fauci threw up his hands during his testimony in Congress and bemoaned, "But we're not set up for this"? Him the Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) admits to the american people that his organization, along with the CDC, are not set up to protect the nation people's health. So what are they set up for? Prepping Melania's Brazilian Wax? No wonder he has to hide his face nowadays whenever appearing on-stage among Trump Covid "task force." Dear Dr. Fauci, we would never have thought you would have sunk this low. The poor man looks like a convict.

 

[timendres]

1 hour ago, watthong said:

Really? Are you sure? Then how come Dr. Fauci threw up his hands during his testimony in Congress and bemoaned, "But we're not set up for this"? Him the Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) admits to the american people that his organization, along with the CDC, are not set up to protect the nation people's health. So what are they set up for? Prepping Melania's Brazilian Wax? No wonder he has to hide his face nowadays whenever appearing on-stage among Trump Covid "task force." Dear Dr. Fauci, we would never have thought you would have sunk this low. The poor man looks like a convict.

No question that preparedness is showing a serious gap. Were we prepared for Pearl Harbor? That was war. This is a pandemic. So, I don't want generals, or Mr. Trump, managing it. I want professionals who have some clue as to what should be done going forward allowed to manage that.

[pokerface1]

2 hours ago, timendres said:

No question that preparedness is showing a serious gap. Were we prepared for Pearl Harbor? That was war. This is a pandemic. So, I don't want generals, or Mr. Trump, managing it. I want professionals who have some clue as to what should be done going forward allowed to manage that.

Peoples health and wealth are under threat from the Corona virus hence those making detailed plans in an effort to preserve and protect both health and wealth are at odds with each other as to which priority comes first. This is creating and ever increasing problem as we have seen governments are behind the 8 ball and flip flopping from side to side which has caused decisions to be delayed till the last minute, by which time effective actions have little effect. I feel that success or increasing failure will be determined which advisers Trump chooses to listens to. I also agree he should send the general packing and open his ears to the medical professionals and strategic analysts who I imagine would have told him to close the financial markets and stop all economic activity except for essential services and lock down any areas if needed. This could have happened weeks ago and by doing so saved many lives.As I recall during the 911 crises the NYSX was closed down for a day or two until calm had been partly restored, so why not now? I am curious to know what AI would advise having been load with algorithms set to preserve both health and wealth in equal proportions. AI would say " Whatever ____, _____, followed by Dammed if you do, Dammed if you don't iv'e go my own problems" lol   

[h90]

17 hours ago, timendres said:

It is so American to bring out the "war" word. As George Carlin once said, "We Americans declare war on everything." It is not a war, it is a pandemic. And we have professionals who are specifically educated and trained on how to manage pandemics. Politicians and policy makers need to listen to these professionals and implement policies on how to minimize the impact on societies and economies. They need to lead, and declaring war does not strike me as leadership.

While you are correct.....these professionals since decades are selected for their political opinion and the policies must fit what looks good.....
Calling it a war is highly dangerous

 

[Golden Triangle]

Anyone who now doubts the seriousness of this situation is a fool & truly deserves all he or she gets, stay at home, order food and drink online and have it delivered.

 

Catch up with family & friends online, don't expose yourself to unnecessary risk.

 

See you all on the other side of this problem ???? 

[sawadee1947]

Seems as if your best times in writing are over. Boring as almost (except last week) 

Wasted time to read. 

Maybe its more entertaining why you divorced your first wife and what did you find in your second(?) 

partnership....????

[Fred white]

17 hours ago, timendres said:

No question that preparedness is showing a serious gap. Were we prepared for Pearl Harbor? That was war. This is a pandemic. So, I don't want generals, or Mr. Trump, managing it. I want professionals who have some clue as to what should be done going forward allowed to manage that.

I would prefer Trump to hillary or biden 

[brianthainess]

The Wats/ temples are still open, my wife went today    . I berated her, was told we wear mask and they had sanitizer.  I've told her not to come within 5 mtrs of me for a month 

[rumak]

On 3/21/2020 at 6:39 PM, Samui Bodoh said:

An enjoyable read as always, even if the subject matter isn't too cheerful.

Rumak seconds that.  Probably rooster comes the closest to making sense on this forum.

Of course I say that because he agrees with most of what I think.  Or is it vice versa ? 

Anyway, he can write a much longer column than I ever could as my attention span is limited

to two paragraphs .     

[rumak]

17 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I've told her not to come within 5 mtrs of me

She probably already follows that protocol   ????

 

sorry,  sick times....... sick humor

[Stargeezr]

Rooster, thanks for keeping us informed, this week will be even worse than last as Thailand and many other countries will have more virus cases and more deaths.  It seems like Iran is having a

very bleak time as well as Italy, I wonder why?  In Canada there are still some people having

weddings of 40 or more people, with no one wearing masks, which in my opinion is a very

foolish, and selfish attitude to have. The spokesman could not see what the problem was.

 He said, after all this event was planned months ago and there were guests from

other places and other countries who were attending,  and they simply could not cancel.

  I hope that everyone starts taking this situation more seriously.

Geezer

Edited March 22, 2020 by Stargrazer9889
errors

[kickstart]

On 3/21/2020 at 6:04 PM, rooster59 said:

 

Finally, one of very few stories that was not virus related was a bridge collapse in Bang Khun Thian in the Bangkok area. The Thai source story referred to a temporary replacement bridge that looked like it came from the English word "barry".

 

Did they not mean Jerry  ,as in Jerry built .

[choff56]

On 3/22/2020 at 8:01 PM, Fred white said:

I would prefer Trump to hillary or biden 

The guy who axed the Pandemic Zar and gutted the CDC! Are you really saying that? Wow.