Covid-19: Three virus cases reported at Chaeng Wattana Government complex that houses immigration

[webfact]

Covid-19: Three virus cases reported at Chaeng Wattana Government complex that houses immigration

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

Three cases of coronavirus have been reported of staff working at the large Government Complex on Chang Wattana Road in Bangkok. 

 

The sprawling complex contains many government offices including immigration where thousands of foreigners queued last week applying for visa extensions.

 

There is no suggestion that anyone at immigration has been tested positive for the virus. 

 

But Manager reported that many members of the public and civil servants use Buildings A and B that are run by Dhanarak Asset Development Co. Ltd.

 

Dhanarak announced that three officials at the complex had tested positive. No names were given.

 

One was a worker at the Finance division of the Land Department on the second floor of building B. 

 

A second worked for OTCC or the Office of Trade Competition Commission in the B/C car park on the fifth floor.

 

A third worked in the justice ministry offices on the 6th floor of building B.

 

Cleaning of work areas affected had taken place as had cleaning of public areas in the complex. 

 

Those close to the infected staff are in 14 day quarantine.

 

The Laksi district office and health officials were there on Monday investigating, reported Manager. 

 

Source: Manager Online

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-31

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[johng]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

There is no suggestion that anyone at immigration has been tested positive for the virus.

But now they will all be tested  immediately... right ??

[Crossy]

It may not affect the immigration office, but I'm glad my extension isn't due until November.

[Cabradelmar]

The dirty foreigner, but really now everyone is responsible for spreading

[Tropposurfer]

Given that no one knows if they are carriers until it’s either too late and you’re fully blown and ill, or may be a carrier and non-asymptomatic it is appropriate to assume everyone is a carrier and act accordingly. 

So far I have seen nil I repeat nil disinfecting of common area surfaces in the government buildings on Phuket I have visited in the last week or so (designated as essential for me to do by Thai Law) e.g. Disinfectant - wiping of doors, door nobs and handles, handrails, benches, chairs, desks and counter tops, and spraying and wiping down of all walls and floors.

This needs to be done a few times a day in busy areas with lots of traffic.

Surely basic disease and general health procedure like this need to be put in place across the country.

I have seen scant promotion of such hygiene protocols (used in all

hospital facilities in the West other than the exception of wash your hands, and very late in the day to wear masks at all times when out of the home) by world leaders and press.

A national program of disinfecting everything everywhere needs to be rolled out and continued until the virus peak has tapered well off.

The condo complex in which I live has made absolutely no provision to daily clean common areas with disinfecting solutions nor provide antiseptic gel at entrances of lifts and stairs, no signage to direct residents to practice safe protocols, and reception area which to me seems lax and negligent.

Yeah I know, folks will say ‘oh this is how it is here.’

 

[scubascuba3]

They will spin it to blame the foreigners

[Jackcwba]

I have to go in 2 days. I’ve been told that as of this moment they are still enforcing fines for overstay..

 

if these cowboys end up testing positive surely that’s the last straw. People’s health is more important.  I am sh***ing myself thinking about going there in 2 days being so close to thousands of different nationalities. 

 

when’s this announcement about foreigners potentially being allowed to stay until June 30? 

[bestie]

25 minutes ago, Crossy said:

It may not affect the immigration office, but I'm glad my extension isn't due until November.

There is nothing more to say how you think. 

[stephen tracy]

23 hours ago, Jackcwba said:

I have to go in 2 days. I’ve been told that as of this moment they are still enforcing fines for overstay..

 

if these cowboys end up testing positive surely that’s the last straw. People’s health is more important.  I am sh***ing myself thinking about going there in 2 days being so close to thousands of different nationalities. 

 

when’s this announcement about foreigners potentially being allowed to stay until June 30? 

I have to go tomorrow but I'm not gonna do it. God knows how many staff and visitors to the place will have it by now. 

[DFM75]

It's tree days i should go, and I have my embassy letter, but given the virus spread, I prefer paying the overstay fine (if they don't exempt) rather than become sick and pay far more at hospital.

[baansgr]

If someone in Jomtien catches it....is the headline going to be" One new virus reported in Jomtien where Immigration is based"....it's already stated the three were from different departments to Immigration

[ThailandRyan]

It was only a matter of time......No way, lets just keep thousands of people grouping around in violation of our own decree and regulations.  Well lets just say, someone just cut off there nose to spite there face...blind leading the blind, all over the need to sacrifice health over forcing folks to do something a blanket extension would have taken care off. 

 

Caller: I can not come to immigration as there is a lava flow blocking the way

IO: Sorry Sir you must or you will be on overstay

Caller: But, if i walk across the lava i will surely die..

I/O: It is either you come in, or we fine you and put you in the IDC as you can not follow our rules....who cares what God has put in front of you

Caller: I See, then you can come and drive your new BMW across the flowing lava to pick me up..... 

[Jackcwba]

23 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

I have to go tomorrow but I'm not gonna do it. God knows how many staff and visitors to the place will have it by now. 

I’ve heard that at of right now they are still fineing people for overstaying, but we’re expected to still risk our health at this corona ridden office. It is a joke I know.
 

MONEY MONEY MONEY tho eh.. 

[stephen tracy]

On 3/31/2020 at 1:47 PM, baansgr said:

If someone in Jomtien catches it....is the headline going to be" One new virus reported in Jomtien where Immigration is based"....it's already stated the three were from different departments to Immigration

So? If 3 people have been confirmed, imagine what the real number is. I think anyone that's been anywhere packed full of people all touching documents, pens, money, doors etc, is at risk in a place like that

[FarFlungFalang]

52 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

or may be a carrier and non-asymptomatic

maybe a carrier and symptomatic.

Your right of course with symptoms not showing for 4-5 days but can still spread the virus the chain of contacts quickly gets untraceable.

[Andrew23]

I wonder would they send overstayers to prison, deport and blacklist then?

[gjoo888]

So I guess extending our visas will be like playing Russian roulette. Forcing us to break all the social distancing and protocols to protect ourselves, our families and others is not a not an option. 

[Fairynuff]

We mostly accept that as foreigners we are of lesser value than Thai people, but do they really not care about protecting their own workforce?

The logical thing to do would be an immigration amnesty for all. Give everyone 15 or 30 days AFTER the reopening of the country to sort out their visa situation. Close all immigration offices except for emergencies.

it’s logical, and safe, it would protect everyone a little bit more. But sadly that’s why it won’t happen.

[Pravda]

Nothing worry!

 

There is a thread here that states Thais are resilient to this virus.

 

Perhaps 3 immigration officers were foreigners?

[Parker2100]

Oops!

 

It's those Dirty Farang again!

[NCC1701A]

2 Peter 2:19 "promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

[lovesthespicy]

CW was easily the odds on favorite for next place where Covid would break out. Tons of tourist from everywhere packed in like sardines. Maybe its time to get with the program and not have everybody down at immigration during a virus outbreak. 

[travelerjim]

57 minutes ago, DFM75 said:

It's tree days i should go, and I have my embassy letter, but given the virus spread, I prefer paying the overstay fine (if they don't exempt) rather than become sick and pay far more at hospital.

Those with embassy letters go to Muang Thani Arena to obtain their extensions...not CW.

[Tropicalevo]

25 minutes ago, Andrew23 said:

I wonder would they send overstayers to prison, deport and blacklist then?

That usually only happens when they catch you.

If you hand yourself in, it is usually just a fine and a bit of ear ache.

But what is usual these days?

Edited March 31, 2020 by Tropicalevo

[sapson]

Does this mean they will finally grant a 3 months for all extension on current permission to stay date without going to immigration.

 

NO only over their dead bodies or perhaps some of ours will they show such common sense and leniency.

 

Well the time is perhaps about to arrive for the bureaucracy obsessed maniacs.

Edited March 31, 2020 by sapson

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

2 Peter 2:19 "promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

Was it 2:19 AM or PM when Peter emailed you that?

Anyway, surely not applicable to buddhists. Carry On Corrupting, as Sid James might have said.

[vermin on arrival]

Since I got my emergency extension on the first day at temporary immigration MTT, I don't have to go back until April 23rd for my under consideration stay to be finalized, but it's looking like more and more likely that I won't risk it to go back for that. They need to get their heads out of their butts and give automatic extensions without personal attendance required and have us pay on the way out. I don't think I care about the possibility of blacklist anymore because I don't intend to come back here for a good long time after this incompetent bureaucratic cluster<deleted>.

[smedly]

47 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

maybe a carrier and symptomatic.

Your right of course with symptoms not showing for 4-5 days but can still spread the virus the chain of contacts quickly gets untraceable.

There was a report that even after people have been cleared of symptoms they could still infect others - news report on Skynews a few days ago

[Zikomat]

7 minutes ago, vermin on arrival said:

Since I got my emergency extension on the first day at temporary immigration MTT, I don't have to go back until April 23rd for my under consideration stay to be finalized, but it's looking like more and more likely that I won't risk it to go back for that. They need to get their heads out of their butts and give automatic extensions without personal attendance required and have us pay on the way out. I don't think I care about the possibility of blacklist anymore because I don't intend to come back here for a good long time after this incompetent bureaucratic cluster<deleted>.

Today in Rayong they asked me not to come but to call them on the day of expiry. Hopefully this is a sign they start to understand something about the virus.

 

 

Edited March 31, 2020 by Zikomat

[wensiensheng]

1 hour ago, Tropposurfer said:

Given that no one knows if they are carriers until it’s either too late and you’re fully blown and ill, or may be a carrier and non-asymptomatic it is appropriate to assume everyone is a carrier and act accordingly. 

So far I have seen nil I repeat nil disinfecting of common area surfaces in the government buildings on Phuket I have visited in the last week or so (designated as essential for me to do by Thai Law) e.g. Disinfectant - wiping of doors, door nobs and handles, handrails, benches, chairs, desks and counter tops, and spraying and wiping down of all walls and floors.

This needs to be done a few times a day in busy areas with lots of traffic.

Surely basic disease and general health procedure like this need to be put in place across the country.

I have seen scant promotion of such hygiene protocols (used in all

hospital facilities in the West other than the exception of wash your hands, and very late in the day to wear masks at all times when out of the home) by world leaders and press.

A national program of disinfecting everything everywhere needs to be rolled out and continued until the virus peak has tapered well off.

The condo complex in which I live has made absolutely no provision to daily clean common areas with disinfecting solutions nor provide antiseptic gel at entrances of lifts and stairs, no signage to direct residents to practice safe protocols, and reception area which to me seems lax and negligent.

Yeah I know, folks will say ‘oh this is how it is here.’

 

2 weeks ago my local bangkok bank branch had a staff member stationed outside using sanitiser on atm machines after each person used it. Nobody there now, got bored probably. But in fairness, they only allow people inside when a cashier is free. A guard goes inside to get your queue ticket and you wait outside till your number is called.