Thailand now ready for cautious easing of lockdown restrictions – Dr. Prasit

 

 

The COVID-19 situation in Thailand is now entering the phase where lockdown restrictions can be eased, but social distancing and the wearing of face masks are still essential, said Professor Dr. Prasit Wattanapa, Dean of the Faculty of Medicines at Siriraj Hospital and a member of the CCSA’s medical advisory panel.

 

He cautioned, however, that the relaxation must be done step by step, to allow people to increase outdoor activities gradually, while ensuring that there is no second wave of infections. This means that, after outdoor activity, people must return home, wash their hands with soap thoroughly and stay home.

 

Adaption, understanding of the situation and self-discipline are key elements that will determine the rate of new infections, said Dr. Prasit, as he advised high-risk groups, such as the elderly and those with respiratory problems, to remain at home.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-now-ready-for-cautious-easing-of-lockdown-restrictions-dr-prasit/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-04-28

 

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Excellent news, all that needs to be done to maintain this status is to quarantine everyone for probably 10-14 days on entry to the country with follow up checks for another week or so.

 

If they can keep this up until the disease has disappeared from the entire world then it's a road back to normality.

 

It's going to take time....

Seems a very sensible approach

Seems sensible enough. 

Although I just can't seem to workout what makes places like Italy and New York so vicious in regards to the virus yet Thailand has had IMMENSE exposure and barely did anything to stop it other than a loose stay-at home order, hand gel, and masks. 

Amazing Thailand!  Cum on lads, you knew someone was going to post it!  No really it's more luck than anything.  Being hot and dry has probably been a plus for a lot of provinces.  The real test will come when the rains are back and the humidity shoots up.

1 minute ago, Grumpy John said:

Amazing Thailand!  Cum on lads, you knew someone was going to post it!  No really it's more luck than anything.  Being hot and dry has probably been a plus for a lot of provinces.  The real test will come when the rains are back and the humidity shoots up.

Hot and dry means sunlight exposure which is absorbed by the skin as vit D3 and used by the body as a hormone to strengthen the immune system. That's if the sun can break through the polluted sky in Chiang Mai at last. After the day before yesterday's  rains it was a pleasure to breathe fresh air and sunshine again on my early morning walk.

 

Alternatively, supplement on Vit D3, Zinc, and Vit C to keep the immune system healthy while this virus is present.

40 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Seems sensible enough. 

Although I just can't seem to workout what makes places like Italy and New York so vicious in regards to the virus yet Thailand has had IMMENSE exposure and barely did anything to stop it other than a loose stay-at home order, hand gel, and masks. 

I red a day or two ago about a study in China, that out of 300-something spreading events only one was outside air, others inside - mostly home spreading to family and public transportation. I think that (people in Thailand spending a lot of time in outside air, not a lot of public transportation outside of BKK), with Vitamin D from sun exposure, masks, and hot air must have a huge effect. Plus absolutely a great thing that you'll stay in hospital until testing negative, reduces a lot of probable infection hotspots forming.

2 minutes ago, Santzes said:

I red a day or two ago about a study in China, that out of 300-something spreading events only one was outside air, others inside - mostly home spreading to family and public transportation. I think that (people in Thailand spending a lot of time in outside air, not a lot of public transportation outside of BKK), with Vitamin D from sun exposure, masks, and hot air must have a huge effect. Plus absolutely a great thing that you'll stay in hospital until testing negative, reduces a lot of probable infection hotspots forming.

I tend to agree that the weather and proximity to the equator has something to do with it, but how do you explain countries with similar weather and latitude having way higher infections? 

And on another thread Covid man is not recommending easing of restrictions.

1 minute ago, Mama Noodle said:

I tend to agree that the weather and proximity to the equator has something to do with it, but how do you explain countries with similar weather and latitude having way higher infections? 

A liitle more honest perhaps?

1 minute ago, Thailand said:

A liitle more honest perhaps?

 

Yep, there's that. And testing. 

 

Yet the 'government' seems confident enough to be looking at easing restrictions. 

 

Which I agree with, regardless of what they are 'reporting' but I personally would like an accurate idea of what's going on so I can judge going out and doing things with the best available data to asses personal risk.

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Seems sensible enough. 

Although I just can't seem to workout what makes places like Italy and New York so vicious in regards to the virus yet Thailand has had IMMENSE exposure and barely did anything to stop it other than a loose stay-at home order, hand gel, and masks. 

 

1 hour ago, Santzes said:

I red a day or two ago about a study in China, that out of 300-something spreading events only one was outside air, others inside - mostly home spreading to family and public transportation. I think that (people in Thailand spending a lot of time in outside air, not a lot of public transportation outside of BKK), with Vitamin D from sun exposure, masks, and hot air must have a huge effect. Plus absolutely a great thing that you'll stay in hospital until testing negative, reduces a lot of probable infection hotspots forming.

 

58 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

I tend to agree that the weather and proximity to the equator has something to do with it, but how do you explain countries with similar weather and latitude having way higher infections? 

Air-conditioning?

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

I tend to agree that the weather and proximity to the equator has something to do with it, but how do you explain countries with similar weather and latitude having way higher infections? 

IMO it's been robust action at the rural level out in the provinces that has saved the day. If you look at https://covidtracker.5lab.co/en it can be seen that outbreaks in those regions have all been contained and not allowed to get out of hand. Just like tackling wild fires, putting out the small fires prevents them becoming major ones.

 

It cannot have been simply good luck and favourable climatic conditions. Actions by local authorities and the cooperation of the rural population have been key factors. And I've seen it first hand, right here in rural Sakon Nakhon which has only had one confirmed case.

29 minutes ago, JAG said:

Air-conditioning?

 

My 28k BTU aircon says im immune then.

 

5 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

IMO it's been robust action at the rural level out in the provinces that has saved the day.

 

Im in rural thailand and quite literally driving around and looking at the local markets you wouldn't even know there was a global pandemic. There is no difference here other than at 10PM nobody is moving around. 

I expect the Thai PM Khun Prayut Chan O Cha will evaluate this recommendation and going forward, will likely ease restrictions slowly while looking to get the economy back up and running. Khun Prayut and Thailand have done a good job in containment and minimal transmission of the COVID-19 in Thailand.

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

I expect the Thai PM Khun Prayut Chan O Cha will evaluate this recommendation and going forward, will likely ease restrictions slowly while looking to get the economy back up and running. Khun Prayut and Thailand have done a good job in containment and minimal transmission of the COVID-19 in Thailand.

 

I think you might be getting a promotion soon.   Word has it that he is calling you Khun Steven now.  Well,  Farang Khun Steven.    Though someone said they heard him ask an aid if Sateevan

100   was  "dtem roi " .    They are looking into that.  

1 hour ago, Santzes said:

I red a day or two ago about a study in China, that out of 300-something spreading events only one was outside air, others inside - mostly home spreading to family and public transportation. I think that (people in Thailand spending a lot of time in outside air, not a lot of public transportation outside of BKK), with Vitamin D from sun exposure, masks, and hot air must have a huge effect. Plus absolutely a great thing that you'll stay in hospital until testing negative, reduces a lot of probable infection hotspots forming.

Vitamin D from sun exposure, masks, and hot air must have a huge effect.

 

 

Forget the sun and how sunlight helps to strengthen the immune system....You will be arrested if you go to the beach or the park....Even if you go alone......Better to stay locked in your house and watch T.V.......

2 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Seems sensible enough. 

Although I just can't seem to workout what makes places like Italy and New York so vicious in regards to the virus yet Thailand has had IMMENSE exposure and barely did anything to stop it other than a loose stay-at home order, hand gel, and masks. 

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3080771/coronavirus-mutations-affect-deadliness-strains-chinese-study

 

Better keep the borders tight.

Just now, DrTuner said:

Better keep the borders tight.

 

Highly questionable source and even a Dr. such as yourself can acknowledge as much? 

 

And wouldn't mutations that extreme pretty much cancel any hope of a vaccine? 

 

And why would Thailands 'strain' be less fatal than any other nation - unless it was intentional? 

15 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

My 28k BTU aircon says im immune then.

 

 

Im in rural thailand and quite literally driving around and looking at the local markets you wouldn't even know there was a global pandemic. There is no difference here other than at 10PM nobody is moving around. 

I am also in rural Thailand (Issan) and there quite a few differences.

 

People, even within families, are practicing 'social distancing'. Quite a few, but not all are wearing masks. All returnees to the village have observed the 14 day isolation rule. (one guy has been staying in a hut down by the river) 

 

We've had 2 funerals (none Covid related) and they have both been very low key affairs. The monks are on lock-down in the temple and food is taken to them. A wedding has been cancelled.

 

But life here is still, from what I read, far better than in the urban centres. We're all free to move around pretty much as we please. (including my daily walk)

 

And we've still managed to keep the virus at bay. And that's what matters.

7 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Highly questionable source and even a Dr. such as yourself can acknowledge as much? 

 

And wouldn't mutations that extreme pretty much cancel any hope of a vaccine? 

 

And why would Thailands 'strain' be less fatal than any other nation - unless it was intentional? 

https://nextstrain.org/ncov

 

There are a lot of mutations already. It would be illogical none of them has any effect.

 

Here's the study itself: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.14.20060160v1

Edited April 28, 20206 yr by DrTuner

The garment sewing sweat shops back in the heart of the Din Daeng neighborhood here in Bangkok operate day and night with the roll-up doors wide open and air con is virtually unknown. People work at their machines at most a meter apart, usually without masks. And over at the Din Daeng night food market the crowds have returned, elbow to elbow, but wearing masks. Except for a little less traffic, and the masks, you wouldn't know there was a problem.

So when can I get a haircut TIT

I see more Thai's at the local market not wearing masks now.  But a high percentage of them still are.  But out of those I see maybe 40% wearing them below their nose or just on the chin.

4 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Seems sensible enough. 

Although I just can't seem to workout what makes places like Italy and New York so vicious in regards to the virus yet Thailand has had IMMENSE exposure and barely did anything to stop it other than a loose stay-at home order, hand gel, and masks. 

3 words: lack of testing!

Good that they start to ease the restrictions? Well I not know. In my mind this could only be understand in one of two ways and that is that the gouverment know or at least strongly believe that there is a lot of people in the country that have the virus, but to say that would be the same as to say, "we have done to few tests to keep the virus under control". The other possibility that I can see to not open up totally is that it have nothing to do with the virus.

5 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Seems sensible enough. 

Although I just can't seem to workout what makes places like Italy and New York so vicious in regards to the virus yet Thailand has had IMMENSE exposure and barely did anything to stop it other than a loose stay-at home order, hand gel, and masks. 

Yo Mama - I am going to go with the concept that heat does have an effect on killing the virus... it hit here in hot season. 

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

So when can I get a haircut TIT

Man, me too! And a foot massage!

7 minutes ago, PumpkinEater said:

the chance of DYING from this virus is .00008%

hang in there... we need this kind of math in reality... so many will come back to life. 

It still remains a huge question as to the actions in Thailand not matching the data they release - if every country in the world was seeing figures like Thailand there would be no need for any lockdowns or in fact any actions at all

 

It just doesn't make sense, actions speak louder than words - what are they keeping hidden in the words ?