Restrictions can be lifted, but very gradually, experts say

By Pakorn Phuengnet
The Nation

 

Few cars on Bangkok’s streets while people start to discuss about some easing of lockdown restrictions . NationPhoto by Korbphuk Phromrekha

 

Experts suggest that restrictions can be eased in some areas, provided it is not done all at once and everywhere.

 

Owing to the drop in new confirmed Covid-19 cases, an informed source said that after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired a meeting with the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday (April 13), the authorities signalled a chance of easing restrictions on businesses that have been forced to close. There were only 28 new cases on that day.

 

The governor of Nonthaburi province made the first move in easing restrictions, but reversed his position soon after he was hit by criticism. 

 

Also, on Tuesday, the number of cases rose to 34 and CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin warned that the country should not let its guard down. He said the early easing of restrictions could lead to a spike in cases, citing Singapore and Japan, where infections rose sharply after being flat for a while. 

 

A report on national security suggests that restrictions should be lifted very gradually, adding that only some provinces or some areas should reopen first. For instance, provincial governors may consider reopening hairdressing and beauty salons first provided the number of customers is kept limited and hand gel or steriliser is made available. Clients will also be required to wear face masks. 

 

Dr Amorn Leelarasamee, president of the Medical Association of Thailand, said he agrees that some restrictions should be lifted to support businesses, but it should be done slowly, carefully and hand in hand with seven-day assessments of new cases. For instance, if new cases are in single digits, then shops or businesses can be reopened provided no more than 10 people are served at a time. 

 

He also said that social distancing should continue being practised. Large department stores may have fewer risks, compared to small air-conditioned shops, the doctor said. Also, entertainment venues that are usually packed with customers, such as pubs and restaurants, should be the last to be reopened, he suggested. 

 

Amorn also said the number of customers allowed to enter shops should be increased gradually, such as 10 initially, then 50 and then 100 based on the rate of new cases. He also warned that there is a high chance of a spike in new cases once the flight ban ends on April 18. Therefore, it is necessary that all foreign or Thai arrivals be put under quarantine for 14 days. 

 

In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors. 

 

Meanwhile, Dr Chaiwat Techapaitoon, leader of a group supporting medical doctors fighting Covid-19, voiced concerns about the country running out of Favipiravir – the drug that is being used to treat the virus. Doctors are using this drug to treat critical patients or those whose lungs have been invaded by the virus. 

 

He said if this drug was more well supplied, doctors can prescribe it to patients with mild symptoms, so fewer people end up in intensive care. However, he said, many countries are competing to buy this drug, which is leading to an increase in price and short supply. 

 

He said the government should consider importing chemicals to produce the drug locally. 

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30386002

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-04-15

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13 minutes ago, webfact said:

In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country.

Yea right .. They can stuff that where the sun don't shine .. 

Fly halfway around the world to be told stay in for 14 days .. Off their head's they are .. And can you really see zillions of Chinese who let's face it are the market they hold closest being banged up for a fortnight with no free for all seafood buffet to pile into ..

I think not .. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors. 

What has he been smoking? Where do they come up with these ideas?

 

Is it so hard to look around you to just copy what other countries are doing? How much brain do you need?

 

Singapore and Hong Kong have been taking swabs and let people be on their way, with the recommendation to keep distance until the result comes back in 3-4 hours. If positive, they go to hospital and take it from there (likely send them to self quarantine and identify contacts -if any -), if negative they carry on with their vacation.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors. 

  

ok ok you got me. good one. where is my toaster ? 

(In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors) A lot of tourist - Chinese included, only visit Thailand for 7, 10 or 14 days holiday. Do they really expect people to work all year saving to fly half way around the world to be put under virtual house arrest for their ENTIRE holiday ? That will not help the Thai economy and I do not think many, if any, will come. GOODBYE Thailand, nice knowing you. In future years the schools will be teaching their students that ONCE Thailand was a tourist hub until idiots took control

Hairdresser and beauty salons open first? People have to look good before they can go back to work? Sorry I don't understand this!

2 hours ago, lkv said:

What has he been smoking? Where do they come up with these ideas?

They don't need to smoke anything, stupidity is a natural talent!

Have these "experts and officials" been swabbed for the Stupid Gene to see if it's environmental or acquired ? 

2 hours ago, lkv said:

Singapore and Hong Kong have been taking swabs and let people be on their way, with the recommendation to keep distance until the result comes back in 3-4 hours. If positive, they go to hospital and take it from there (likely send them to self quarantine and identify contacts -if any -), if negative they carry on with their vacation.

 

What are you talking about ?? Singapore is not letting anyone in for "vacations" !!

11 minutes ago, jmurch said:

   Sorry I don't understand this!

Don't even try, it's LOS after all! 

They are still delusional about every foreigner having such a fetish of Thailand that tourists will accept almost any treatment in order to access their paradise.

All over the world there is pressure from the greedies and the ill informed to lift restrictions, the more enlightened leaders are having none of it.

I believe Thailand will not be easing any restrictions soon.

Not sure it's all that simple to move from quarantine as some are implying. Think NZ was first country to apply the 14 day gig, which included own citizens. AU quickly followed. Initially it was "isolation" in own homes. Then (in au) it became specified hotels. Currently the case. 

The process to ease up the screws will be complex. It's not a light switch. On or Off.

Will be very interesting what countries do.

Guess first step for Thailand and others will be freeing up domestic travel.

I almost flew to Phuket March 19. Shortly after that domestic flights cancelled. Talk about dodge a bullet.

Personally I don't think international flights (entry) can occur until they do not insist on quarantine.

Singapore is in a lockdown worse than Thailand. You can't walk down the street with someone unless they are from your household. You can't visit someone's house or receive a visitor either. Tracking is done via your phone, so you may think you have gotten away with it until that knock on your door comes...

I know foreigners who have been caught breaking the lockdown rules who have had their work permits revoked and been banned entry for life.

Singapore is edging up to 4,000 cases and so the early lax rules they had about the virus has been completely flipped now and they are in full lockdown. Although funnily they won't call it lockdown and instead say it's just a 'circuit breaker' LOL!

Just now, Oziex1 said:

All over the world there is pressure from the greedies and the ill informed to lift restrictions, the more enlightened leaders are having none of it.

I believe Thailand will not be easing any restrictions soon.

Sounds like a statement from someone with ready access to money. 

People (the less fortunate ones) need work which equates to food.

2 hours ago, lkv said:

 

 

3 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Fly halfway around the world to be told stay in for 14 days .. Off their head's they are .. 

I think not .. 

It's not for those types of tourist, not the holiday makers. There are plenty of other reasons to have a tourist visa to enter the country than to have a 2 week holiday.

 

There are long term visas that are obtained by having a tourist visa first and then converted. 

There are visitors who stay for a couple of months to visit friends and family and they use tourist visa status too.

 

As for the holiday makers, well that is going to take a while to resume no doubt.

I think that essential services like golf courses should open first to the over 70's.

 

 

And pleeeeease get rid of that damned video ad blocking the page!

43 minutes ago, generealty said:

(In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors) A lot of tourist - Chinese included, only visit Thailand for 7, 10 or 14 days holiday. Do they really expect people to work all year saving to fly half way around the world to be put under virtual house arrest for their ENTIRE holiday ? That will not help the Thai economy and I do not think many, if any, will come. GOODBYE Thailand, nice knowing you. In future years the schools will be teaching their students that ONCE Thailand was a tourist hub until idiots took control

Schools? Teaching? Hahahaga

3 minutes ago, Thailand said:

I think that essential services like golf courses should open first to the over 70's.

 

 

And pleeeeease get rid of that damned video ad blocking the page!

Who is going to go to the hairdressers when most of their customers are either out of work or under some kind of lockdown ? 

And the idea that they will start letting tourists in, but those tourists have to apply for Visa a month in advance and then be quarantined for 2 weeks on arrival ? 
I can just see the TAT promotional posters now !
"Come to Beautiful Thailand and spend your 2 week holiday locked in your hotel room !"

(Keep in mind that TAT has previously determined that the average holiday people take to Thailand is 10-14 days long.)

Some people (on this forum) have complained that Thailand's attitude seems to be "just give us your money, turn around and go home" as far as "tourists" are concerned and this is literal proof of that !

14 day quarantine for arrivals is how countries like Norway are handling it.

It won't be good for the tourism sector, but it will be good for stopping the infection spreading from people coming in if they do manage to control the current outbreak.

 

It's probably what will be normal until there's a vaccine (or significantly faster and more accurate testing).

I understand they need to take precautions, but let's have someone with a brain actually make the decisions.

 

So a tourist who has a week or two vacation, has to quarantine for 14 days?  No point in coming, so never going to work.

 

Wonder if they are still going to put all their eggs in one basket and focus purely on their beloved Chinese again.  That was a disaster last time and I don't give a <deleted> what <deleted> TAT numbers are, one only has to use their eyes and look around that the country has been declining since 2014 when the military took over. Remember back 10 years ago, streets were packed with tourists, had to walk on the road because there were too may people on the sidewalk, hotels full, tours full, beaches packed, lucky to get a seat in bars and restaurants and shops and even shops where full.  year on year this has been dropping. Now (before Corona), half the bars are closed, restaurants half empty, shops and business struggling, sidewalks empty, beaches still have people but nothing to what it was.  

 

28 minutes ago, Thailand said:

I think that essential services like golf courses should open first to the over 70's.

 

 

And pleeeeease get rid of that damned video ad blocking the page!

agree who on earth is allowing these ads, they need a FLAT nose lol

4 hours ago, webfact said:

In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors.

I guess this man will be talking to someone in charge soon. You can´t be drunk at work!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Therefore, it is necessary that all foreign or Thai arrivals be put under quarantine for 14 days.

Just like the successful quarantine of the 'pee-nois' returning from South Korea. 

59 minutes ago, thaiclan said:

Tracking is done via your phone, so you may think you have gotten away with it until that knock on your door comes...

 

Only if you download their App ????

13 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

I guess this man will be talking to someone in charge soon. You can´t be drunk at work!

 

Yesterday you were slamming everyone for not listening to the "experts"..

Seems you are batting for the other side today ????

1 hour ago, generealty said:

(In the future, foreign tourists wanting to visit Thailand will have to apply a month ahead and must agree to a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country. He said this move may help the private sector arrange quarantine sites for visitors) A lot of tourist - Chinese included, only visit Thailand for 7, 10 or 14 days holiday. Do they really expect people to work all year saving to fly half way around the world to be put under virtual house arrest for their ENTIRE holiday ? That will not help the Thai economy and I do not think many, if any, will come. GOODBYE Thailand, nice knowing you. In future years the schools will be teaching their students that ONCE Thailand was a tourist hub until idiots took control

Your deluding yourself in thinking they will teach them anything close to resembling that.  In reality it will be a historical class on "How Thailand's efficient and exceptionally smart leaders put in motion emergency steps to stop the spread of the foreign virus brought to the country by dirty foreigners, how they saved them from all being a victim, and how to protect them any foreigners entering the country after the all clear was sounded were placed under strict rules and quarantine in order to ensure the People of Thailand were all safe"

 

Hows that for history to be played out?.

Experts ?, there has never been a pandemic like this since

the 1918 Spanish flu,and I am sure the experts were not alive then.

I would rather they take their time,and wait until cases really go

down.

regards Worgeordie

 

cant wait for the junta lapdogs attempt to defend this article

 

I was was going to comment on parts of it but as I read further I couldn't decide which part was the worst because it's pretty much all complete nonsense