Let’s face it in most areas of Thailand this is more than likely not happening and not likely to. It’s not even happening back on the UK to the point where Parks are packed and people are still heading for the beaches as it the fresh air makes you somewhat immune. 
 

Their policy of closing down Bangkok and forcing many jobless people back to the Provinces is an example of how the Government talk the talk but in reality are not enforcing it. They are now saying each Governor has sent a letter asking each Province to monitor the returning and asking volunteers to monitor their health and issue details about how not to use the same utensils etc. Really, is this as good as it will get?

 

My observations here in Udon are that even where social distancing is attempted, e.g, marked out areas in restaurant to etc, the Thais are just ignoring it and people just sit in groups where they want with no follow up from the staff. They probably know better than to try. 
 

I went for a walk this morning at 6am in the large Park. Large groups of joggers running together in packs of 6-8 as close as they could get without falling over each other. Massive queue outside the Government Hospital in the region of 100 people waiting for it to open. As close as you could get. Still a queue an hour later. Social Distancing?......and this is the entrance to a Hospital. If they are not encouraging it what chance? , and this is in a developed area. 

 

I don’t think it’s always a case of people just being ignorant, in many cases I’m not sure the message is even getting through or they have little choice.
 

Out in the sticks what chance of self isolation/ social distancing  of families where many generations could be living in one house, all sharing meal times and utensils. We are asking for a complete  cultural change in double quick time. 

For some the only information they will hear will be when the local village chief makes his radio broadcast at 6am. 
 

I genuinely fear for many of the people of this Country in the coming weeks/months ahead. 

Agree that even to many educated Thais they are just not getting it.. I see Thai connections FB images, groups in restaurants, all sat on the floor with granny, etc.. Some even with 'Hey in these times of COVID, the restaurant is really cool' etc.. So far from getting it you barely know where to start.. 

Thais in general dont do 'isolation', even for a single meal, what is being expected is total cultural shift and wont be happening. 

I have been sharing this to them as much as I can. 

 

https://twitter.com/MaxNAdul/status/1241627404738519041

A few times I have been sick with the flu I have told my Thai girlfriend at the time "You might want to keep your distance while I am contagious".

the response always was to say "I am strong. I will not get it."

 

OK. Fine.

2 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

A few times I have been sick with the flu I have told my Thai girlfriend at the time "You might want to keep your distance while I am contagious".

the response always was to say "I am strong. I will not get it."

 

OK. Fine.

She probably thought that was your way of trying to get rid of her to move another in.........no chance!

People in the UK are heading to the beaches and mountains because they were of the false impression that they thought that they were the only ones with the bright idea to do something out in the open....  it turns out everyone else had the same idea, much like the ski resorts in other areas becoming crowed as soon as the schools were closed. 

 

In Thailand the same is happening but for different reasons, peoples jobs have been put on hold so they are all going home. When home they will not understand why or how these social distancing and isolation measures are necessary. 

 

This is the problem of dealing with populations which are either entitled and selfish or entitled and uneducated - people are just doing what they want. 

 

Unfortunately there is little the governments of both countries can do until the population either self polices or we bring out the military to ‘remind’ everyone the maintain social distancing measures. 

 

Hopefully, those Thai’s who go back to their province don’t transmit anything back from the city, hopefully they stay for long enough that anything the have taken back has passed by the time they return. 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, LivinLOS said:

Agree that even to many educated Thais they are just not getting it.

You could broaden that statement to "many educated People" are just not getting it, every country in the world is facing the same problem, China realised this early on and bought in the military! ????

Airborne transmission is “plausible,” according to a study published in the print edition in the peer-reviewed The New England Journal of Medicine this week from scientists at Princeton University, UCLA and the National Institutes of Health. The researchers concluded that the virus could remain airborne for “up to 3 hours post aerosolization.”

The scientists found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the new disease COVID-19, was detectable in the air for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. For those reasons, officials recommend washing hands, cleaning surfaces and “social distancing” in public spaces.

 

You are basically calling out others, for what?

So, what if someone in that "large groups of of 6-8 joggers" sneezes or coughs and it lingers until you pass thru the same area?  Then, you are walking near a hospital with 100 people waiting outside?

Huh?

 

Maybe take the best precaution recommended and stay home before you get it, or pass it on to someone else. 

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Airborne transmission is “plausible,” according to a study published in the print edition in the peer-reviewed The New England Journal of Medicine this week from scientists at Princeton University, UCLA and the National Institutes of Health. The researchers concluded that the virus could remain airborne for “up to 3 hours post aerosolization.”

The scientists found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the new disease COVID-19, was detectable in the air for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. For those reasons, officials recommend washing hands, cleaning surfaces and “social distancing” in public spaces.

 

You are basically calling out others, for what?

So, what if someone in that "large groups of of 6-8 joggers" sneezes or coughs and it lingers until you pass thru the same area?  Then, you are walking near a hospital with 100 people waiting outside?

Huh?

 

Maybe take the best precaution recommended and stay home before you get it, or pass it on to someone else. 

I’m not calling out anyone. Wind your neck in, it’s a discussion.