Why are Thailands numbers low? Its the mask!s

[Bonobojt]

Most people in Europe, UK and America don't wear masks, our government doesn't tell us, not easy to find in shops etc, but in Thailand almost everyone is wearing a mask, it's easy to find there, I believe this is an important factor in how this virus spreads, and I believe in the near future UK government will have to tell us to start wearing masks, as the cases and deaths keeps risings, and waiting to flattern the curve will take longer without the public wearing masks. The Thais had it right all along, they are not lying about the numbers, the masks are key 

[Mitkof Island]

The reason is simple as with every country in the world. No enough tests. The numbers are more likely in the hundreds of thousands.

[timendres]

I was discussing this topic with a friend in the States. I mentioned that I thought that masks were, to some unknown degree, beneficial in stopping the spread of the Wuhan virus. Interestingly enough, because of the air quality in Bangkok, many Thais were already wearing masks before the Wuhan arrived, and I wonder how much impact that had on the early spread of the virus.

[daveAustin]

The wai and bs figures. Hardly anyone was wearing them when it was spreading enmasse.

[Mulambana]

20 minutes ago, timendres said:

I was discussing this topic with a friend in the States. I mentioned that I thought that masks were, to some unknown degree, beneficial in stopping the spread of the Wuhan virus. Interestingly enough, because of the air quality in Bangkok, many Thais were already wearing masks before the Wuhan arrived, and I wonder how much impact that had on the early spread of the virus.

A masks reduces the probabailty of infection from a infected person to a non-infected person by almost 70%

[tribalfusion001]

Wearing a mask and must be healthier population. The countries in SE Asia and East Asia have much lower death rates than Europe and the USA, obesity and poor diet must be a factor.

[rabang]

Because they do so few tests. If someone thinks of other reason, I have a very cheap tropical island to sell at the coast of Greenland. Now, another question would be what are the true numbers like and are they significantly lower than elsewhere and if so, why is it. There are many explanations being given, some of them seem possible and others total bs.

Edited April 22, 2020 by rabang

[CNXexpat]

Wearing masks, no hand shakes - and not so many tests.

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

[Don Chance]

If there are 100's of thousand of cases of covid in Thailand the hospitals would be flooded. You can't hide that. You wouldn't want to.

20% require hospitalization, 5 % intensive care. 2-5% would be dead. You'd need lots of body bags.

 

The reason the cases are so low probably has to do with weather patterns, climatic.  The cases may skyrocket in the rainy season.

 

You'll also notice many Thais do not wear masks.

Edited April 22, 2020 by Don Chance

[Kadilo]

No, it’s the red flag they are hanging outside their homes. 

[lamyai3]

1 hour ago, rabang said:

Because they do so few tests. If someone thinks of other reason, I have a very cheap tropical island to sell at the coast of Greenland.

I suggest everyone moves there pronto. The numbers are low in Thailand and across South East Asia because of the tropical climate.

 

True about the low test numbers though. 

[richard_smith237]

It is somewhat of a red flag that the countries with low numbers are also those countries who’s governments are a somewhat totalitarian and dictatorial in nature - do we really trust those figures?

The world stage has deliberately avoided the elephant in the room, in some cases complementing these countries on their low numbers effectively giving the elephant in the room a virtual hand-job. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sirineou]

It is a combination of a number of components that serve to reduce the transmission rate

 First Thailand and many developing nations had a very high infant mortality rate, fifty years ago in thailand the week did not survive. so consequently we have a more robust older population. 

 Second  Thais do not engage in physical contact as much as the western world, No bear hugs, kissing on the cheeks when meeting, and  hand shakes.

  and thirdly as the OP and others mentioned covering the face. Not only do they wear face masks as a reaction to the virus, but in many regions they cover the face for cultural and work  reasons. How often have we seen the below in Thailand? Thailand's version of PPE.

Then throw in the hot humid weather the decreases the time of suspension of the breathing aerosol, and........

 

Edited April 22, 2020 by sirineou

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Wearing a mask and must be healthier population. The countries in SE Asia and East Asia have much lower death rates than Europe and the USA, obesity and poor diet must be a factor.

 

At the beginning of all this there were reports of Doctors reporting alarming increases in the rates of viral pneumonia - I wonder how valid those reports were. They seem to have disappeared from the internet. 

 

In other countries the Covid-19 related deaths seems to have been over-reported i.e. 'someone died from Covid-19 have being eaten by an alligator', whereas in Thailand someone who dies from Pneumonia if not tested for Covid-19 has died from Pneumonia. 

 

The collection of data varies country to country. Thailand also reports road fatalities in a strange manner (those who die in hospital are not counted the official stats which are half that of the WHO estimate). 

 

I wonder of the data in Thailand is being manipulated or massaged to fit an agenda or if we are actually seeing the real data and Thailand, although a statistical outlier, has somehow managed to control this. 

 

 

[Chelseafan]

Its the alcohol I reckon. Thai's get home and get smashed.

You can thank me later ????

[gk10002000]

3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

The wai and bs figures. Hardly anyone was wearing them when it was spreading enmasse.

The Wai I think is a big factor.  Look at Italy, that got hit hard initially.  The up close and personal greeting of kissing each other on both cheeks, man or woman or child.  the children seem not to have been affected much but no doubt carried the particles on their outside if not in their breaths.   I would have no problem with a Wai type of greeting.  There are only a few people I have a desire to hug and kiss or hold hands with, and it certainly does not include strangers or acquaintances.

[gk10002000]

Haha.  So living in a polluted air city which induced people to wear masks, may have been a healthier place ?  Gotta love cause and effect sometimes

[jonwilly]

Masks help and that Thai people Wai so avoiding Physical contact. 

Lack of testing must affect the figures.

Also strange that Care Homes have not been affected in the manner of Care Homes in UK/Europe.

 

john

[tso310]

Simple really, quality amulets.

[scubascuba3]

Testing has proved successful by South Korea by confinement and tracking. Thailand is still a mystery. Germany massively improved by extensive testing, not mask wearing

 

With the masks the cotton type masks everyone wears protects others by stopping some virus getting out if coughing or sneezing.

 

The good quality masks N95 etc allow the cough or sneeze out through the valve so doesn't protect others 

[OneeyedJohn]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

It is somewhat of a red flag that the countries with low numbers are also those countries who’s governments are a somewhat totalitarian and dictatorial in nature - do we really trust those figures?

The world stage has deliberately avoided the elephant in the room, in some cases complementing these countries on their low numbers effectively giving the elephant in the room a virtual hand-job. 

[timendres]

10 hours ago, Don Chance said:

If there are 100's of thousand of cases of covid in Thailand the hospitals would be flooded. You can't hide that. You wouldn't want to.

20% require hospitalization, 5 % intensive care. 2-5% would be dead. You'd need lots of body bags.

The "20% require hospitalization, 5 % intensive care. 2-5% would be dead" apply, to a large degree, to the very old and the sick. A large percentage of the very old in Thailand are outside the cities, unlike New York for example. Thus, you could have many more infected who are experience the "mild" symptoms version of the infection and recover, which would hardly be noticed.

[chessman]

8 hours ago, jonwilly said:

Also strange that Care Homes have not been affected in the manner of Care Homes in UK/Europe.

I get the impression that care homes are much lesson common in Thailand. Even in richer Asian countries like Japan, it is the tradition for the very old to be taken care of in their family home.
Anybody know something about care homes in Thailand?

Edited April 23, 2020 by chessman

[brain150]

Funny ... just because it's in the news it is suddenly true !

 

This FAKE PANDEMIC gets more and more funny every day !!!

... the disaster that's coming because of the reactions from Governments is very real though !!!

[JTXR]

Lacking of adequate testing and deliberate under-reporting. 

[bkk6060]

Yes, it is the stupidest bunch of nonsense that they do not want to wear masks in the US.

Not fashionable is a reason in California.  People are too vain and do not like the look.

Just dumb and actually childish thinking.

But, there are more wearing them more now and many markets/shops are making it mandatory same here.

 

[sammieuk1]

Amulets generals and a lot of crematoriums is my guess ????

[AussieBob18]

Yes masks do help.  Simple - most people who have the infection show no symptoms, but they can infect others. If everyone wears a mask the infection's transmission is greatly reduced - fact.

The following study was done about normal influenza virus transmissions:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662657/

 

Masks do not stop getting the infection as much, but they stop the re-transmission of it a lot - that is the key and why everyone should wear a mask.

Edited April 23, 2020 by AussieBob18

[jonwilly]

1 hour ago, chessman said:

I get the impression that care homes are much lesson common in Thailand. Even in richer Asian countries like Japan, it is the tradition for the very old to be taken care of in their family home.
Anybody know something about care homes in Thailand?

I live in Chiang Mai. There are many care homes up here. Last year I had a friend pass away in one. I used to visit him once a week the care and attention he received from the staff was second to none.

I expect that a care home is where I will end up if I stay alive for another 10-15 years , hence my interest.

 

john

[Hanaguma]

I live in Japan and masks have been a fact of life here for a long time. 

 

a/ for hay fever season, to block pollen from entering

b/ for cold season, to block coughing/sneezing on others

c/ for shy people who want to psychologically block out the world

d/ for girls who forgot or didn't have time to put on make-up

e/ to ostentatiously show how dedicated you are to your company by turning up to work when sick

f/ simply to keep your face warm

 

Not sure how effective they are in the case of a virus, especially the non surgical variety. They for sure don't block viruses entering as the size of the virus will enter through any weave or around the edges, or through the eyes, etc. For people who are coughing/sneezing that are too stupid to stay home, they provide some degree of protection for others who are around them.  I would say that, depending on the area, from 50to 80% of people are wearing them. Fewer in outdoor areas, more in shops etc. 

 

No question that other mitigating factors are far more important- hand washing, social distance in confined areas, and hand discipline (don't touch your face etc.).  Plus previous medical conditions such as drug use, smoking, obesity, diabetes, etc.  Also the weather getting hotter will probably do a lot to kill the virus, as it does with so many others.

 

No lockdown in Japan, the government doesnt have the power to order it. We are only "asked" or "urged" to reduce social contact by 80% and to take preventative measures. Most businesses are still open, restaurants still serve at the table, etc. Large urban areas are taking more precautions, smaller areas are more relaxed. Universities (mine included) are doing online classes only until the end of May. It's going to pass soon.