Thai PM says coronavirus impact may last another nine months

[webfact]

Thai PM says coronavirus impact may last another nine months

 

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks during a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand March 17, 2020. Thialand Government House/Handout via REUTERS

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand may see the economic impact from the coronavirus pandemic spread over another nine months, the country's prime minister said on Tuesday, as disruption from the global crisis drags on tourism and domestic activity.

 

Southeast Asia's second-largest economy could lose more than 1.3 trillion baht ($40 billion) and up to 10 million jobs due to the outbreak, according to estimates from business groups.

 

"We expect the impact on the economy to last for quite awhile, not only three months, but possibly six or nine months," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told a news conference.

 

"We need to prepare measures to cope with that," he said.

 

Prayuth said he might ask more rich people for cooperation in addressing the economic fall-out from the outbreak, as he did with the country's 20 richest people last month.

 

The government has introduced economic measures worth billions of dollars to mitigate the impact from the virus, including its latest package worth 1.9 trillion baht ($59 billion) that was approved in early April.

 

The central bank has forecast the Thai economy will shrink 5.3% this year, which would be the worst contraction since the Asian currency and debt crisis of 1998.

 

Thailand has reported a total of 2,988 infections and 54 deaths since the outbreak emerged in January. The country started reopening some businesses on Sunday.

 

(Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Tom Hogue)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-05

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[holy cow cm]

Great. 1700 rich active Generals and how many retired Generals would be a big payday success. But they won't as they do not want to publicize their wealth and be asked to prove where it came from.

[sammieuk1]

Matching Metallic mask man wants more dosh from the rich civilians to prop up the embezzling generals ????

[Thailand]

At least a year and probably longer before the tourism money starts to make a significant reappearance.

Unemployment and dissent is likely to be a bigger problem for the PTB.

[Maitdjai]

I'm astounded by this brilliant, scientific analysis! ????

 

 

[YetAnother]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai PM says coronavirus impact may last another nine months

the only thing potentially positive in this is that guy speaking is usually wrong

[OnTheGround]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

We expect the impact on the economy to last for quite awhile, not only three months, but possibly six or nine months," 

 

The always positive naive dream by asian people never stop to surprise me.

The rest of the world would most likely said

'possibly last twelve to eighteen months, at least'

We will see.

 

[Justgrazing]

Mr Prayuth really should have a word with half head to stop spoiling the pic's .. Nice co-ordination with the mask and tunic again though P M .. 

 

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prayuth said he might ask more rich people for cooperation in addressing the economic fall-out from the outbreak, as he did with the country's 20 richest people last month.

Best get the bowl out again .. 

( not a red one though ) ..

[DrTuner]

Deja Vu. Remember elections?

[Tropicalevo]

Someone should arrest those in the photo (and many other photos) for not social distancing.

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayuth said he might ask more rich people for cooperation...

How about your brother? He seems to have stashed away quite a few baht...

[graemeaylward]

11 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Someone should arrest those in the photo (and many other photos) for not social distancing.

Also, the tin man is doing everything that we have been told not to do! Never touch your mask or your face when it is in place, remove it using the ear straps. Always wear your mask correctly, over your nose and mouth!  But, but, but I am the PM and rules don't apply to me, I am immune from the State of Emergency because I called it!

[timendres]

21 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Someone should arrest those in the photo (and many other photos) for not social distancing.

or for something that is applicable.

[garrya]

I am afraid it will last longer than that. But heads up as things are getting better most parts of the world!

[champers]

One possible way forward for Thailand might be to follow what is happening in Hong Kong. They have had 14 consecutive days without new cases and on Friday more buinesses will be allowed to open, including gyms, theatres and bars. This is from a report just now on Al Jazeera TV News channel.

[garrya]

That silk mask is so trendy. ???? Can I get one?? PLEASE!

 

[cyril sneer]

I'm not a weed fan but legalising it would be an easy fix for tourism 

[rkidlad]

10 minutes ago, garrya said:

That silk mask is so trendy. ???? Can I get one?? PLEASE!

 

Sure you can. Just make sure you cover your nose and mouth properly. Don't leave your nose sticking out the top like some kind of dullard. 

[Antonymous]

 

Bless his sticky out ears.

[transam]

If he's got probs now, just imagine if all his high spending stuff was now in motion,  Submarines, high speed rail etc...

Mind you, he may well get a serious discount from the Chinese, considering they started the pandemic..???? 

PS. Think he should change his tailor, that matching mask combo, the mask doesn't fit, his nose isn't in it and it's pulling his ears off....????

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Great. 1700 rich active Generals and how many retired Generals would be a big payday success. But they won't as they do not want to publicize their wealth and be asked to prove where it came from.

did you mean THAI to cut costs by selling decommission/ dump ed jet-liners  some generals

[Hayduke]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai PM says coronavirus impact may last another nine months

 

Which means….it may be another nine months before his monthly bonuses, personal commissions, shares, paybacks, dividends, benefits, gratuities, compensations and other cash incentives…will get back to their minimal levels of a billion per month. Poor guy is feeling the pain like everyone else....

 

 

 

[pineapple01]

Fear not, be it War, Famine, or Kardashians Bum the Media and Politicians will stretch it till real work cant be avoided. They were still bangin on about Bush Fires till China released the Virus

[JomtienRay]

Most of the comments on this subject that I have read are negative and disrespectful to the PM and Thai government. 

Whilst I agree nobody is perfect, the handling of the Coronavirus by the Thai government has produced one of the world's best results.

How about a bit of praise for their achievements instead of this constant authority bashing barrage.. 

Nobody and no country is perfect, and I'm the first to agree this applies to Thailand, as it does to my home country Australia..

But the Thai government has done a better job than most in controlling this virus..

Congratulations to them.. And thanks for keeping is safe.. ????

[garrya]

41 minutes ago, JomtienRay said:

Most of the comments on this subject that I have read are negative and disrespectful to the PM and Thai government. 

Whilst I agree nobody is perfect, the handling of the Coronavirus by the Thai government has produced one of the world's best results.

How about a bit of praise for their achievements instead of this constant authority bashing barrage.. 

Nobody and no country is perfect, and I'm the first to agree this applies to Thailand, as it does to my home country Australia..

But the Thai government has done a better job than most in controlling this virus..

Congratulations to them.. And thanks for keeping is safe.. ????

Do you actually know anything about Thai politics? Especially your beloved PM Prayut? 

Jeez

You say "nobody is perfect" Ohhhh. How old are you mate?

[holy cow cm]

3 hours ago, Mavideol said:

did you mean THAI to cut costs by selling decommission/ dump ed jet-liners  some generals

No

[TheAppletons]

3 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

Also, the tin man is doing everything that we have been told not to do! Never touch your mask or your face when it is in place, remove it using the ear straps. Always wear your mask correctly, over your nose and mouth!  But, but, but I am the PM and rules don't apply to me, I am immune from the State of Emergency because I called it!

  Props for "the tin man", lol.  ????

[Guderian]

Look on the bright side, he hasn't yet suggested that all the rich (but unclean) farangs in Thailand should cooperate and donate to his fund. Probably just a matter of time, though.... 

[Sunderland]

Another 9 months of lockdown. How convenient. Future trend of cases for the rest of May:

 

6 May (+1)   illegal worker from Malaysia (Malaysian border wall will be built)
7 May (+1)   Thai woman from Surin married to a farang (marriage to farangs banned)

8 May (+1)   Thai ladyboy from Uttaradit bumped into an alien (all aliens to be detained and removed from Thai soil)

9 May (+1)   drunk Russian found running naked in Phuket (alcohol ban to be reintroduced)

10 May (+1)   illegal Burmese worker (all Burmese people to be put in one guesthouse)

11 May (+3)   repatriated Thais in quarantine (all repatriation flights to be halted indefinitely) 

12 May (+1)   farang from unknown country (all farangs to require microchip before next 90-day report) 

13 May 0 

14 May 0 

15 May 0 

16 May (+723)   cases in Bangkok related to lack of social distancing at BTS stations on 5 May

17 May (-723)   all of yesterday's positive cases were false positives

18 May 0

19 May 0

20 May 0 

21 May 0 

22 May 0 

23 May (-2,836 cases -52 deaths)   previous cases mistaken for dengue fever

24 May 0 

25 May 0 

26 May 0

27 May 0

28 May 0 

29 May 0 

30 May 0 

31 May (+1)  Thai-American man known to have had Zoom phone call with foreigners   (All lockdown measures to be extended or reintroduced for 9 more months)

[rasmus5150]

11 minutes ago, Sunderland said:

Another 9 months of lockdown. How convenient. Future trend of cases for the rest of May:

 

6 May (+1)   illegal worker from Malaysia (Malaysian border wall will be built)
7 May (+1)   Thai woman from Surin married to a farang (marriage to farangs banned)

8 May (+1)   Thai ladyboy from Uttaradit bumped into an alien (all aliens to be detained and removed from Thai soil)

9 May (+1)   drunk Russian found running naked in Phuket (alcohol ban to be reintroduced)

10 May (+1)   illegal Burmese worker (all Burmese people to be put in one guesthouse)

11 May (+3)   repatriated Thais in quarantine (all repatriation flights to be halted indefinitely) 

12 May (+1)   farang from unknown country (all farangs to require microchip before next 90-day report) 

13 May 0 

14 May 0 

15 May 0 

16 May (+723)   cases in Bangkok related to lack of social distancing at BTS stations on 5 May

17 May (-723)   all of yesterday's positive cases were false positives

18 May 0

19 May 0

20 May 0 

21 May 0 

22 May 0 

23 May (-2,836 cases -52 deaths)   previous cases mistaken for dengue fever

24 May 0 

25 May 0 

26 May 0

27 May 0

28 May 0 

29 May 0 

30 May 0 

31 May (+1)  Thai-American man known to have had Zoom phone call with foreigners   (All lockdown measures to be extended or reintroduced for 9 more months)

Easy to see that the ban on booze was lifted.