Thai govt to decide on extending emergency decree, easing COVID-19 restrictions

[ParkerN]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The government will this week decide whether or not to ease the restrictions put in place to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

No doubt Mr Prayut will have a very clear recollection of his various conversations with the super-rich people he met with recently. I have no doubt whatever they told him exactly what he must do.

[Matzzon]

42 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

It is no mere coincidence that countries with the highest infection/death rates are those where restrictions are being eased. Their respective populations are well on the way to achieving herd immunity from the virus.

 

Thailand's incredibly low confirmed cases and deaths may appear to vindicate the administration's draconian measures. But they almost certainly mean only a small percentage of people are immune.

 

Unless by some miracle the virus dies out before schools are reopened, many students are likely become asymptomatic carriers and pose a serious threat to any elderly relatives in their household. 

 

You might be right. Time will tell, I guess. However, schools will not open yet. That is also delayed with online teaching.

[KhaoYai]

5 hours ago, poohy said:

You sound exactly like my sister in the UK 

And you sound exactly like the type of fool that is the reason the virus has spread all over the place. Regarding your previous post - the barber's may be open there but there are responsible people in Thailand. My wife's salon has been closed for over a month and even if she tried opening it - the police would be there in minutes.

[Matzzon]

11 minutes ago, pixelaoffy said:

"Educated"  give me a break! this country is about authority and telling folk "do as your told and dont ask questions"

Ok, but then it´s no problem. Then you can go into the group of doctors that are appointed to the group giving advise about the pandemic, take your place and give good decisions. Nope, didn´t think so!

[Matzzon]

13 minutes ago, hotelbri said:

Look at Sweden, living life normally...????????

Yes, they offered the lamb (their old people) to the virus. Guess they did not put the same value on them as the rest of the world. Something I will never forgive them for.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, brucec64 said:

It was quite obvious from the start that this post was going to use the "road accident" analogy. Getting boring actually...

 

One more time for the slower ones in the room. Road accidents do not spread exponentially. One accident does not spread to 2 then to 4, ... Not the same thing at all. 

The brain cells or lack of them seem to spread among Thai drivers and motorbike riders.

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, Ketyo said:

Ultra low transmission. And they have a curfew, hotel ban and alcohol ban. Thai logic. Are they trying to crash the economy on purpose?

If it would up their income stream, then yes.

[Matzzon]

13 minutes ago, lkv said:

So in Sweden, where life expectancy is very high already, because of a very good health system, if a 94 year old person dies today and has covid-19 as a comorbidity, instead of dying in the next 3 months because of flu or the other comorbidities already existing,  you justify closing down economies and making all the active population starve to death?

Just a comment made to get away from the reality. They sacrifice the old generation. That´s a fact. They sacrifice the ones that build the country they are taking over.

[Miami007]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

If this measure helps support a lower to minimal infection rate from a deadly virus then it's a no brainer.

That infection rate is minimal. The death rate too...

Studies in the USA and Europe show that many people had the virus without symptoms. This means that the mortality rate is even lower than assumed. Less than 1% of infected people. 

The worldwide economy stopped because of it.. 

 

And Thailand allowed Chinese tourists for 2 months without hospitals or morgues being overrun. 

Nobody thinks about that..why was it necessary to close everything when Europe and the USA got hit, but not when the outbreak was in China?

 

The damage to lives and the economy will take forever to repair. At least the air is getting better and fewer people die from air pollution (normally about 8 million globally per year, which everyone accepts as ok)

[Walter Travolta]

8 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Ok, maybe you do not need to be told and dictated what to do and not do. Maybe many more will manage it fine. However, many will also make the wrong decisions. That´s why there is something called an emergency decree and a government running a country. They deem this needed, and then it will affect all. Everybody that would have done fine anyway, have to accept the decision and follow it. But, just maybe. Democracy is not ok, when you are not satisfied. Because thats how things are done in countries with a government.

Most people on forums I am a member of seem to agree mainly that we should all be allowed our freedoms. However there are many with the opposite opinion. Lets just put that to one side for a minute, healthy debate can actually educate both sides if both sides accept others opinions as valid, not saying correct, just valid and accepted as such

My opinions are as follows. This virus targets the elderly and those of ill health in the main. Many very elderly people have actually recovered from this already. The numbers offered are usually the total amount, rarely include recovered patients making it look much worse than it is. Most deaths are because of underlying issues and while I will not hazard a guess as to how many would have died from their underlying illnesses, they are put down to covid19. I think anyone who disagrees with that is foolish. My point to this can be looked at from another example, not factual I admit, but lets say for some reason (just go with me on this) this virus only attacked 20-30 year olds. Most of those would not have underlying issues such as diabetes, obesity, heart conditions etc, but in my opinion, if that was the case, do you not think governments would isolate that age bracket and let the rest of society continue? If someone gave me the choice 6 or 7 weeks ago between these rules being enforced indefinitely or carrying with life as I knew it with the risk of catching it and being isolated for 2 weeks, I would have chosen the latter, but Im not in the age bracket of risk so what I am getting at is each person should be given the choice, if you want to go out and you catch it, you're locked up for 2 weeks, then out again. If those who are worried for their own reasons whether that be their age or health concerns, or just simply worried, its their choice to stay indoors and only go out for necessities. I just dont agree with these blanket rules for everyone

Im not saying lets open everything up and run around willy nilly because I do respect human life, my argument is, that the government here have seen an opportunity for more authority and they are loving it. Most people here (Thai) do realise the need to act accordingly to help prevent contracting the virus, so do farangs, but it makes me frustrated when I can walk into my bank and sit down next to a seat with red tape on it where no-one can sit, hence practising social distancing, but the cant do that in other establishments? It just looks obvious that they are picking and choosing what they allow us when they are much the same sanctions. 
I think Im right in saying that you were one of those that were warning everyone how bad this would end up with them allowing everyone to go back to their provinces from tourist areas and infecting those back in the provinces? But now you are saying what a great job the government are doing? The fact is that cases and deaths are coming down constantly and maybe you wont be happy until the last person with the virus is clear before we can get back to normal, but by that time arrives, there will be more people suffering from poverty and suicide than actual new cases arriving. The balance has got to be right but easing a few restrictions like the pathetic curfew for one, could be a start for us to be given the opportunity to show the government we arent all idiots who need to be treat like children, which is what I think they enjoy doing.

[Tech65]

With this stupid virus any decision taken will be judged as the wrongest .

 

[Ryan754326]

4 hours ago, brucec64 said:

One more time for the slower ones in the room. Road accidents do not spread exponentially. One accident does not spread to 2 then to 4, ... Not the same thing at all. 

Bad analogy. Traffic accidents don’t spread exponentially, but the vast majority of people already have the disease (driving). A small percentage of those people will eventually die as a result. 
The stats have already shown that the lockdown has saved more lives, through reduction of traffic fatalities, than the Coronvirus has killed. What is your argument against banning cars and motorcycles forever, based on that fact?

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, Miami007 said:

That infection rate is minimal. The death rate too...

Studies in the USA and Europe show that many people had the virus without symptoms. This means that the mortality rate is even lower than assumed. Less than 1% of infected people. 

The worldwide economy stopped because of it.. 

 

And Thailand allowed Chinese tourists for 2 months without hospitals or morgues being overrun. 

Nobody thinks about that..why was it necessary to close everything when Europe and the USA got hit, but not when the outbreak was in China?

 

The damage to lives and the economy will take forever to repair. At least the air is getting better and fewer people die from air pollution (normally about 8 million globally per year, which everyone accepts as ok)

I hear what you say and while I agree .....  as I mentioned earlier,  it's getting the right balance virus vs economy ...  lets hope this virus is finished and kaput soon and things can pick up again.

[keithkarmann]

5 hours ago, rkidlad said:

Exactly. He just needs to start supporting the poorest Thais or they'll be dying of other things. 

I am sure that this has already been mentioned but about 1 death a day due to the virus and about 50 deaths a day due motor cycle accidents. Why is nothing constructive done about that. Yes its all about control. Surely if Trump was in charge here he would recomend the increased consumption of alcohol to kill the virus.

[SiSePuede419]

Think about it this way, until almost everyone is vaccinated or gets Coronavirus and recovers...

 

Everytime you leave home, you have a 5% chance of catching COVID-19 and dying.

 

And a 95% chance of catching it and recovering.

 

Feeling lucky, punk? ????

[HHTel]

1 hour ago, babakut said:

 

again i read this nonsens. France never had an alcohol ban. 

To be fair, they did announce an alcohol ban only to reverse it 24 hours later!

[lkv]

5 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Everytime you leave home, you have a 5% chance of catching COVID-19 and dying.

 

And a 95% chance of catching it and recovering.

Change those figures to 0.05% and 99.95% and it's all good.

[Krataiboy]

1 hour ago, revup said:

It is not yet clear that immunity is a thing. This is something The Who have been reminding us. For example, we do not develop immunity to HIV.

I wouldn't trust the WHO to tell me if it was raining.

[apetryxx]

Meanwhile destroy the nation's economy over a few sick people. Madness!

[BoojamTheKind]

3 hours ago, brucec64 said:

Congratulations on your 9th post and welcome to TVF.

 

The virus started to spread exponentially and this caused the lockdown to occur. Thailand was fortunate enough to start the lockdown early in the exponential cycle, and as a result was spared what happened in other countries. The straight line in yellow on the logarithmic scale indicates exponential growth. Without intervention, (around week of march 22nd), this would have grown 10x within 2 weeks, and 2 weeks after that could have been in Italy or Spain regions. This is why lockdowns are necessary, and why lockdowns work (at least in the short term).

 

 

 

 

Please cite the scientific evidence behind your rather pompous statement. And please refrain from commenting on how many posts I've made or any other irrelevant and ad hominem nonsense.

 

Oh, and by scientific evidence I mean actual published research not the words of authority figures whom you worship,

 

Thanks ????

[Walter Travolta]

4 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

I wouldn't trust the WHO to tell me if it was raining.

I dont understand how anyone can quote anything the WHO say and keep a straight face

[Ryan754326]

45 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

And you sound exactly like the type of fool that is the reason the virus has spread all over the place. 

What a ridiculous thing to say. This virus was spreading in Thailand for at least a month and a half before anything was ordered to close down (first case reported Jan. 13/2020). By the time we realized what is was, it was already too late. There’s lots of anecdotal evidence on this forum, and others, that people were getting this virus months ago, and mostly brushing it off as a bad flu. 
There is no conclusive evidence that lockdowns have had any effect, and plenty of scientists are arguing that they haven’t. 

[scandream]

What will be if people become depressed as a result of the restrictions? What damage does the government cause if the restrictions continues? It is up to politicians to weigh it up, especially when - as is currently the case - fundamental rights are restricted.

[shackleton]

Well it was expected so no shocks there

Plus I  hear from our local shopping Mall restrictions will be lifted

Ie more sections will be opened electrical goods and other sales which were stopped

The only question she could not answer was on will Alcohol be available 

Can imagine that one rests with the Provincial Governor 

Will be a bonus if its lifted 

[RANGER55]

3 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Well it was expected so no shocks there

Plus I  hear from our local shopping Mall restrictions will be lifted

Ie more sections will be opened electrical goods and other sales which were stopped

The only question she could not answer was on will Alcohol be available 

Can imagine that one rests with the Provincial Governor 

Will be a bonus if its lifted 

I believe all the Governors are appointed by guess who. They will do what they are told.

[Walter Travolta]

1 minute ago, shackleton said:

Well it was expected so no shocks there

Plus I  hear from our local shopping Mall restrictions will be lifted

Ie more sections will be opened electrical goods and other sales which were stopped

The only question she could not answer was on will Alcohol be available 

Can imagine that one rests with the Provincial Governor 

Will be a bonus if its lifted 

Yeah so why cant they see that more people will be frequenting shopping malls than bars or restaurants? Everyone uses shopping malls, not everyone eats out or use bars! I go to BigC and apart from having some watered down sanitizer sitting on the side, there are no rules. Same with the beach, its massive haha one of the easiest places to practise social distancing. The rules are bent, that is all

[belfast3]

46 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

And you sound exactly like the type of fool that is the reason the virus has spread all over the place. Regarding your previous post - the barber's may be open there but there are responsible people in Thailand. My wife's salon has been closed for over a month and even if she tried opening it - the police would be there in minutes.

Going to the local barber shop that tends to a handful of people daily is higher risk than going to a super market surrounded by 100s of people in a location that has daily foot traffic in thousands?

[lkv]

40 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Just a comment made to get away from the reality. They sacrifice the old generation. That´s a fact. They sacrifice the ones that build the country they are taking over.

Tell you what happens.

 

If the active population starves to death, then no more tax is paid in the government coffers, so you might not be getting your pension sent there in Thailand cos they ran short of money.

 

That way you yourself will starve to death, with or without covid.

 

Hope you have covid-19 insurance and they will live up to the promise. I know I would not want to catch this in a foreign country, especially one that has been proven to inflate foreigner's bill.

 

Oh well, either that or Thais with swords and guns on the streets hunting for richer people, since they are starving.

 

It's a wonderful picture.

[pixelaoffy]

Imagine  a western democracy with 9 infections  and barely a death related to covid, under lockdown, curfew,alcohol ban. Highlights what sort of country Thailand is. 

[monkfish]

25 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I hear what you say and while I agree .....  as I mentioned earlier,  it's getting the right balance virus vs economy ...  lets hope this virus is finished and kaput soon and things can pick up again.

Believe me the virus is going to be around for a long time and shutting down the economy won't stop it.