Pattaya: Keep the lockdown! But when restrictions lift pubs and bars should be last to open, says expert

[webfact]

Pattaya: Keep the lockdown! But when restrictions lift pubs and bars should be last to open, says expert

 

 

Denizens and drinkers in places like Pattaya could be the last in the queue when it comes to reopening Thailand. 

 

A leading Covid-19 specialist has said that he doesn't want to make the same mistakes of the past especially concerning social distancing. 

 

Dr Tawee Chotpitayasunondh was talking to presenter Dr Seri Wongmontha on the daily No Censor show. 

 

He was asked about the Chonburi governor's suggestion that restrictions could start being lifted as early as May 1st. Pattaya is in Chonburi province.

 

Dr Tawee, who advises the government on health matters in the crisis, said that the governor has to give the letting up of restrictions very careful consideration. 

 

He cited the example of the breakout of the virus at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok on March 6th as a warning sign. 

 

Dozens were infected and went on to infect many others.

 

He said Thailand should not repeat the lessons learned in the first couple of months of the pandemic. 

 

Asked by Dr Seri if that meant boxing being last to resume Dr Tawee said that boxing, cock fighting, pubs, bars and clubs should probably remain closed after other places are allowed to open. 

 

The lack of social distancing and behavior in such places could set Thailand back when progress was being made in the battle against the virus, he said.

 

In a wide ranging interview Dr Tawee also urged Thai workers to stay at home and not go out and earn money. This comes as the government and its leader have sent mixed messages about the 5,000 baht handouts to millions. 

 

SourceL Sanook

 

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[darksidedog]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

In a wide ranging interview Dr Tawee also urged Thai workers to stay at home and not go out and earn money.

Obviously knows that Thai people are so exceptional, they have the ability to live on thin air. What an incredibly dumb thing to say to people who are broke and starving.

[scubascuba3]

"boxing, cock fighting, pubs, bars and clubs should probably remain closed after other places are allowed to open"

 

So many bars are empty or half empty I don't see opening bars being a problem just include rules if necessary

[robblok]

15 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Obviously knows that Thai people are so exceptional, they have the ability to live on thin air. What an incredibly dumb thing to say to people who are broke and starving.

Still he is spot on about bars and so on being a danger and resulting in spreading things fast so those should indeed be the last to open. 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

"boxing, cock fighting, pubs, bars and clubs should probably remain closed after other places are allowed to open"

 

So many bars are empty or half empty I don't see opening bars being a problem just include rules if necessary

Rules dont work in Thailand they could not even enforce the beach chair problem. So opening bars is asking for trouble. Keeping them closed is the best thing because they wont enforce it or listen to the rules anyway. 

[scubascuba3]

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

Rules dont work in Thailand they could not even enforce the beach chair problem. So opening bars is asking for trouble. Keeping them closed is the best thing because they wont enforce it or listen to the rules anyway. 

easily enforced if they want to, issue one warning, then close down for 3 months. Rules do work hence the lockdown, curfew, Sukhumvit checkpoints, masks, etc

[Thaiwrath]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Still he is spot on about bars and so on being a danger and resulting in spreading things fast so those should indeed be the last to open. 

So, after being stuck indoors for so long, people decide they need to get out, bars are shut, what will they do ? Possibly some will congregate in the likes of Starbucks or Amazon for a coffee.

Your argument, and the argument of this "expert" are flawed straight away.  

[robblok]

I also don't see how restaurants would work.. I mean your on a table together and eating together. Not sure how those things would work. Same goes for gyms and the likes. I think it will be quite hard to keep social distance in many places. 

 

The beach should be open IMHO as you can keep enough room. 

[robblok]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

easily enforced if they want to, issue one warning, then close down for 3 months. Rules do work hence the lockdown, curfew, Sukhumvit checkpoints, masks, etc

Only full out bans work.. look at the sunbed stuff. These are easy to enforce grey area's are not easy to enforce and dont work. The things you descirbe go for everyone with easy to determine rules. That is not the case for distance and checking all the bars is a hard thing. 

 

I know its hard for people who live for the social life but its just a fact that those things wont be enforced. 

[Flugg]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

who advises the government

Now that's hardly a qualification in any aspect

[scubascuba3]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

I also don't see how restaurants would work.. I mean your on a table together and eating together. Not sure how those things would work. Same goes for gyms and the likes. I think it will be quite hard to keep social distance in many places. 

 

The beach should be open IMHO as you can keep enough room. 

They just need to think through each activity, restaurants maybe one per table, golf only 2 balls, no caddies (fantastic) etc etc

[kevin612]

I agree, entertainment are the last to open because everyone wants no social distance with the partner.

[robblok]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

They just need to think through each activity, restaurants maybe one per table, golf only 2 balls, no caddies (fantastic) etc etc

I think opening things might be really problematic for many places. Like your idea's hard to check and so on. The plod just wont do it or accept bribes and then we got a new round of infections and new lockdown. 

 

I could not care less if there was no risk for a huge  re-occurrence and again a lockdown.

[robblok]

1 minute ago, kevin612 said:

I agree, entertainment are the last to open because everyone wants no social distance with the partner.

Yea I mean bars won't be able to handle social distancing.. i mean sound and people wanting to talk .. and much more with the girls. Social distancing just wont work in bars and many other venues. 

[petermik]

7 hours ago, robblok said:

 

 

As you see in my other post i also put question marks by restaurants and other places as i don't see how that can work.

One of the biggest problems surely is the baht busses....no social distancing there

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, petermik said:

One of the biggest problems surely is the baht busses....no social distancing there

That too.. as i said.. so many places where it wont work how can you open and prevent a spread. Massage will be hard to do too. Malls are easier as you can keep more distance. But who will go to malls if you have no money to spend. 

[Susco]

9 minutes ago, robblok said:

Says the guy who cries with every topic where alcohol is banned.

Same guy who hands out sad emojis to peoples posts with which he doesn't agree, but start crying and sending PM's when he receives a sad or confused emoji.

[Bluespunk]

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

Dr Tawee said that boxing, cock fighting, pubs, bars and clubs should probably remain closed after other places are allowed to open. 

 

The lack of social distancing and behavior in such places could set Thailand back when progress was being made in the battle against the virus, he said.

Makes sense. 

[Henryford]

Covid 19 "specialist" ha ha, no one had even heard of Covid 3 months ago.

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Makes sense. 

Yes makes sense, i rather have that they keep lockdown a bit longer and get rid of corvid for a large part and then all things can open then open premature and drag this out. I miss going to the gym, going to my fishing lakes going out shopping and so on. 

 

Don't like the idea of removing lockdown too fast and then we have to start all over again. 

[Gandtee]

Strange? I haven't read of how the Pattaya blockade is working? Is it still in operation?

[Zikomat]

So what is the difference between  a bar and a crowded restaurant in the mall? All these ‘experts’...

 

 

[CharlieH]

Flame post and response removed.

 

Keep it civil please, no personal attacks.

[LennyW]

Coffee shops, Moo Kata, and Shabu and other buffet places should be shut for ever, with the diseases and cross contamination these places harbor they will be looking for a dose of Covid to take the edge off the pain!!

[Mattd]

20 minutes ago, robblok said:

I am not anti alcohol at all, just don't see alcohol as a good thing during a lockdown. I posted proof that it increases domestic violence and that will go even higher during a lockdown. Also plenty of proof that if alcohol is available people will start to party at home with groups of people again not a good thing. 

 

Sorry that facts don't line up with your ideas.

You certainly come across as anti alcohol, anyway, so you think that Bars and Restaurants should remain closed?

Which means that a good percentage of the Thais in Pattaya remain without meaningful work and income, whilst queuing by the hundreds for food being donated with very little social distancing being practised, with the resultant increased risk of transmission, they are stressed due to their situation, which in turn increases in domestic violence, theft and social disorder in general.

Unless the good governor continues to ban the sale of alcohol, then those that commit the domestic violence due to alcohol (hmmm), are those who would rarely if ever sit in a bar or restaurant and will do as normal and purchase their alcohol anyway.

When should the bars be allowed to open again? After a vaccination is found and everybody been forced to have this? 1 more month, 2, 3, a year.....................??

Meanwhile the malls etc. are OK to open........................???

[OnTheGround]

1 minute ago, Gandtee said:

Strange? I haven't read of how the Pattaya blockade is working? Is it still in operation?

Pattaya is dead at the moment.  Only highlight currently is supermarkets are still open (I'm so exited).

 

I would hate if lockdown was lifted too early, then U-turn 3 weeks later. See how many countries that extend their lockdown. We in Pattaya aren't special. Second wave is highly possible also here.

 

I miss my social life.

I miss my sunbed at Jomtien.

I miss my long walks in Pattaya.

I miss my coffee at Starbucks.

I miss my dinners at Beefeater.

I miss Pattaya even on very low season mode.

 

But I rather be done with this, once and for all.

 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Mattd said:

You certainly come across as anti alcohol, anyway, so you think that Bars and Restaurants should remain closed?

Which means that a good percentage of the Thais in Pattaya remain without meaningful work and income, whilst queuing by the hundreds for food being donated with very little social distancing being practised, with the resultant increased risk of transmission, they are stressed due to their situation, which in turn increases in domestic violence, theft and social disorder in general.

Unless the good governor continues to ban the same of alcohol, then those that commit the domestic violence due to alcohol (hmmm), are those who would rarely if ever sit in a bar or restaurant and will do as normal and purchase their alcohol anyway.

When should the bars be allowed to open again? After a vaccination is found and everybody been forced to have this? 1 more month, 2, 3, a year.....................??

Meanwhile the malls etc. are OK to open........................???

Yes I do think they should remain closed. The queuing can be remedied easier then social distancing.

 

I hate the lockdown and if we don't keep it effective we can start all over again and all that you said will happen again. Better do it right at once and not get it back again. 

 

I prefer to suffer once a bit longer then a open and close scenario that will last longer and cause more harm. 

 

As for violence rarely happening in bars you must be blind. Alcohol causes more violence then most drugs. I don't mind people using it its just that people should be honest about its bad effects. Give me a stoner on weed over a drunk any day.  

[scubascuba3]

59 minutes ago, petermik said:

One of the biggest problems surely is the baht busses....no social distancing there

Baht buses no issue currently with no tourists, the buses have 1-2 people in max

[scubascuba3]

Thailand has to get the economy going, they just need to mitigate the risk as best they can. Vulnerable groups advised to self isolate, everyone else social distance, masks, gloves if need be. They should also step up ICU capacity if it's not sufficient. Basically the same for every country

[baansgr]

Who wants to sit in a bar, wearing a mask and at least two metres away from anyone....hardly relaxing