What it’s really like dining out at social distancing restaurants in Thailand– and why it WON’T work post-lockdown

[decca60]

according to the OP picture, the most difficult thing to do is eating this nice burger while wearing a mask????!!!!!

[kevden]

2 hours ago, smedly said:

my only comment is about the clear PVC screens dividing a single table up, what is the point of that, when you go to eat and sit at a table it is usually with someone you know and have already been in close contact with, putting a screen between you on a table serves no logical purpose, in saying that - putting a larger screen between the individual tables might make more sense but only a little more 

 

The hotbed for spreading something are the areas inside were people will share like toilets or even the chairs and table you are using - the sauces and salt and pepper shakers that usually sit on tables - the truth is - restaurants are hotbeds for spreading stuff by their very nature - even worse than bars but not by much

And the rummaging through forks, spoons and straws that everyone else touches. I've been chastised for drinking from a cup at a restaurant instead of using a straw. The reason was 'you don't know if the cup was washed properly'. I'd really like some of the cleaning to continue after this 'lockdown' mentality. You know the hygiene, not the hype.

[wombat]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

the General is anti alcohol

now i understand

[Curt1591]

2 hours ago, smedly said:

my only comment is about the clear PVC screens dividing a single table up, what is the point of that, when you go to eat and sit at a table it is usually with someone you know and have already been in close contact with, putting a screen between you on a table serves no logical purpose, in saying that - putting a larger screen between the individual tables might make more sense but only a little more

In the same vain, it's insane to have suki joints require a 1 person per pot rule. These are people that are in close contact already, whether at home or at work.

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, decca60 said:

according to the OP picture, the most difficult thing to do is eating this nice burger while wearing a mask????!!!!!

Look on the bright side.

With the mask in the way you must be able to eat it quite a few times, while the mask regurgitates it for you.

[cornishcarlos]

23 minutes ago, robblok said:

I disagree but then again the Thaibashers / tinfoil hat brigade will always be like this. ITs being mulled all over the world and all of a sudden its a bad thing because its Thai.

 

It's a bad thing everywhere not just Thailand. 

 

[JCP108]

So, I had the same thought that other people have had: The people at your same people are the people you don't distance from at home. I'm at home with my wife and we have absolutely zero social distancing in our interactions. Then we go out to eat at a restaurant and we are expected to eat with a screen between us and this is going to help keep Covid 19 from spreading?!

 

Since the app is collecting all of our information to flag those at elevated risk, why not just have the elevated risk section of the restaurant and let everyone else at the green level eat as they normally do?

 

Or, maybe have a button on the app if you're sitting down at a table in a restaurant that says "Is there anyone at the table whose <deleted> you haven't licked in the last 48 hours?" If you push "yes" then you practice the precautions. If you select "no", then you can eat as you normally do with no stupid screens. 

 

Lots of possibilities with this app.

Edited May 18, 2020 by JCP108

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, wombat said:

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

the General is anti alcohol

now i understand

Just like on previous occasions, he must have asked for a message from the 'spirits'.

[Boomer6969]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

You're right, there's pretty much no COVID left in Thailand to spread.

You should rephrase this as: "The official COVID figures published in Thailand are extremely low".

 

I won't say anything definite, but I still wonder. Especially when I see that all new that all "official" infections are Thais, probably Muslims, returning Islamic countries. I am even more puzzled when I see Malaysia shoving figures very similar to those provided by the Thais.

 

[newnative]

  My partner and I love to go out to eat.  So far, since the restrictions were lifted, we have been eating at locally-owned restaurants to help support them.  None has had a barrier on the table but they all have had social distancing between the tables--so we eat normally with our partner but have some space from strangers.  If we see barriers on all the tables, we'll look for another restaurant.

[sletraveler]

Hmmmm, We went for some Papaya salad yesterday.  Sat at a table and ate.  No one sitting at tables was wearing a mask <deleted>.   Same dining experience as pre covid times, no had sanitizer either.  

Edited May 18, 2020 by sletraveler

[Henryford]

Even crazier is when they make you sit diagonally with another diner (whom you probably sleep with) instead of opposite. The distance is probably 1 cm different.

[rwill]

I see a big business for black market phones with fake names.  Is their a stock ticker for that?

 

[connda]

Personally I refuse to participate.  If restaurants are going to put up plastic sheeting, require masks, social distancing - then I won't go.  By the way, you can find restaurants is the back alley khets of cities and in villages where none of this nonsense is happening and it's back to business as usual.

This is a virus.  The virus will burn out like all seasonal viruses do. This entire fiasco has been politicized and hyped.  A seasonal flu has been made into something it is not - but in the process the economy, society, culture, and religions have been destroyed.

When average people feel enough pain they'll finally say "enough" then the world can get back to normal - not 'the new normal' promised by technocrats and power mad politicians - but normal. But until then, the economy will continue to be devastated and restaurants will be a bell-weather.  The future bell-weather will be tourism that refuses to recover.

[Fling]

Wow you think really. Finally someone at least wrote a small little dose of common sense for a change not much here but finally a little bit. 

[wensiensheng]

1 hour ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Its only a good idea if they start testing properly, otherwise it's not for Covid tracing but something else...

Let’s not be silly. It’s to contact trace if a confirmed case is found.
 

Of course, a case will only be found if a sick person goes to a hospital, but that’s also how it is in New Zealand and S Korea. Countries with virtually no new daily cases are in monitoring  mode now and Thailand (somewhat miraculously) is one of them.

[DrTuner]

Learn to cook at home and you'll have no troubles. 

[wensiensheng]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Personally I refuse to participate.  If restaurants are going to put up plastic sheeting, require masks, social distancing - then I won't go.  By the way, you can find restaurants is the back alley khets of cities and in villages where none of this nonsense is happening and it's back to business as usual.

This is a virus.  The virus will burn out like all seasonal viruses do. This entire fiasco has been politicized and hyped.  A seasonal flu has been made into something it is not - but in the process the economy, society, culture, and religions have been destroyed.

When average people feel enough pain they'll finally say "enough" then the world can get back to normal - not 'the new normal' promised by technocrats and power mad politicians - but normal. But until then, the economy will continue to be devastated and restaurants will be a bell-weather.  The future bell-weather will be tourism that refuses to recover.

There are quite a few dead people though. There’s that to consider. Maybe not so much in Thailand, but lesser developed countries like USA have suffered quite a bit......if you can believe their numbers pffiiff 

[sprq]

The worst thing is that gross food he's chosen.

[bangsaenguy]

With all these restrictions, are restaurants washing dishes in hot water or sterilising between uses? Hell no

[cornishcarlos]

9 minutes ago, connda said:

Personally I refuse to participate.  If restaurants are going to put up plastic sheeting, require masks, social distancing - then I won't go.  By the way, you can find restaurants is the back alley khets of cities and in villages where none of this nonsense is happening and it's back to business as usual.

This is a virus.  The virus will burn out like all seasonal viruses do. This entire fiasco has been politicized and hyped.  A seasonal flu has been made into something it is not - but in the process the economy, society, culture, and religions have been destroyed.

When average people feel enough pain they'll finally say "enough" then the world can get back to normal - not 'the new normal' promised by technocrats and power mad politicians - but normal. But until then, the economy will continue to be devastated and restaurants will be a bell-weather.  The future bell-weather will be tourism that refuses to recover.

 

Exactly... My wife has opened our restaurant again, with no screens and no QR code scans.

She does insist the staff wear masks and has placed tables slightly further apart.

I do think the added hygiene measures ie washing hands more often is a good thing though and hopefully it filters through to more kitchens/businesses that did lack general hygiene before.

[ronaldo0]

Pile of steaming poop ! I have seen photos posted by Thai friends of them eating with about 10 people all crammed into a table for 6 people. Out in car the other day I seen same in Thai street restaurants. All for show to make it look like doing something incase it takes of again and sick numbers increase .

Went to Tesco the other day and in and out with shopping , no temp checks etc and a day ago they started temp checks and getting customers to sign book with information about themselves and limited numbers allowed into the shop. What’s the point after weeks of it being open as normal ! ????

[stephenterry]

Here in Thailand I feel safe from catching any infection - or should I say only a small risk, unlike the UK government which has been balled up to gross safeguards incompetence. E.G. Commercial air traffic is still arriving  - albeit hugely minimised by 90% - without any passenger restriction - unlike Thailand - which is madness personified, IMO, because it should be a whole lot easier to monitor. 

 

As for eating out at restaurants, here, it's no big deal - makes a change from staying at home all week. But as far as the OP's burger meal is concerned, it's the least healthiest choice he could have made, IMO. 

 

  

[Skallywag]

6 minutes ago, ronaldo0 said:

a day ago they started temp checks and getting customers to sign book with information about themselves and limited numbers allowed into the shop. What’s the point after weeks of it being open as normal

Practicing for when Chinese, South Korean, and other SEA tourists start coming on July 1.  ????

[stephenterry]

1 minute ago, Skallywag said:

Practicing for when Chinese, South Korean, and other SEA tourists start coming on July 1.  ????

I hope they quarantine the lot, especially the Chinese, for whom  - and probably a gross overreaction  on my irrational mood today - I now have an absolute hatred for their government scientists letting loose this freaking virus on the world. 

[2 is 1]

Yesterday even in small Tesco need type your information on list! My name chance to Donald Duck! Phone 0856666666

[Greg O]

Great comments, it's all a charade choreographed by lunatics and acted out by clowns,  which has no scientific merit. It seems entertaining at first but painful . I'll pass on any establishment that insults our intelligence...kinda gotten used to my refuge at home with the money that used to be spent at local restaurants being used to upgrade the refuge and man cave...it's quite easy to frequent local mom and pops and get a drink. That's where I'll be at happy hour..

[Millcx]

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

? It says he is 'Originally from Ireland' not Germany.

No it’s Ireland OK and the way he wears his hat basically tells me it’s Northern Ireland .. If he was a Howya it would be pulled slightly to the right .. Germans are too precise and he would have wore a suit and tie with a baseball hat ... Millar knows

[Ebumbu]

I don't know about you, but I prefer that my cultural critics don't advertise Heroin on their T-shirts. 

[Greg O]

Exactly , M Mouse  Burbank CA USA 

Phone +1 213 555 1212 Leave a message we'll get back to ya !