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

[Fling]

4 minutes ago, Jcord1 said:

Where's the fun in eating alone, and can't drink alcohol.  Might as well take the food to go, or not go there at all.

If you wanna drink than drink this isn’t stopping anyone. Personally I cut out all alcohol anyway not an alcoholic just being healthy again. I’m sure someone is selling it though someone’s always selling it even if it is banned. 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Fling

[watthong]

Soon enough the political masks (to save face) will start drooping down to the chin of the enforcers, and thai people will find a way to go about their daily life. One good thing is that they're not used to hardship (unlike the Chinese). That's why I chose to live in Thailand and not China. I talked to mon copain parisien yesterday and he said France is still in (partial?) lockdown.

Edited May 18, 2020 by watthong

[Gandtee]

4 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

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

Cheeky boy.????

[billd766]

3 hours ago, Skallywag said:

No new cases in Chonburi district since April 26, Pattaya City since April 20. 

What "spread" are they "tracking"

There has never been any cases of Covid-19 in Khampaeng Phet province.

[BobbyL]

It is strange. Yesterday we saw some restaurants with minimal rules apart from the tables spaced further apart which is fine, and then others where you could either only seat 1 person, or there was a plastic divider between you and the other person on your table. I certainly won't be going to any restaurant where I can't actually sit with the person I went there with. 

[Greg O]

The duck is a decoy , it's a camera drone in disguise ...quack quack. 

[Schtrick]

6 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

100% couldn't agree more, menu's in restaurants are filthy in every country, and any sort of permanent plastic dividers, will soon be covered in sneeze and cough splatter, no science involved, just virtue signalling, great post mate.

[Traubert]

The privacy freaks here amuse me.

 

They have just posted from a registered IP address saying 'not over my dead body' will they get private information about me.......

 

Errr, they've got everything they need and you who think it's funny to give false information rather than scan a code better hope there's no outbreak wherever you have been.

[Gillyflower]

I looked at the photo of him.  You wouldn't get me into a restaurant with him at any price.

[Henryford]

57 minutes ago, Jcord1 said:

Where's the fun in eating alone, and can't drink alcohol.  Might as well take the food to go, or not go there at all.

Exactly, i will just eat at home, with a drink. They can go bust if that's what they want.

[salsajapan]

We need a blog from Dan, the most famous blogger in Thailand ! Can we pay 2000 and get a video viewed by millions people in the world ?

????

 

 

[Sumarianson]

A complete waste of time and money with unsocial distancing. This is certainly no worse than a flu, so why the changes? In Thailand there is no one on the streets with it. It will be back again next year or after. What will government do then? Shut down again? Unrealistic and foolish. In fact what was done so far has been idiotic. No need whatsoever. A control mechanism. We cannot stop the world for every cough and sneeze. This kind of epidemic should be dealth with by giving good health advice and improving immune systems. No vaccinations which do not work and spread disease.

[Stevemercer]

Out here in the provinces, buffet style restaurants (where you cook your own food) never closed down. On Sunday most other restaurants opened with family groups and friends sitting together. Beer is available upon request, but must be drunk 'discretely',

 

[bangrak]

5 hours ago, robblok said:

The QR code and tracking is great idea. NO need to put that down unless you wear a tinfoil hat. During corvid times its great to know who came in contact with who if someone gets sick. It will help further spreading. It wont help the person infected in the restaurant but will help spread from there.

 

You are right that its not going to be viable financially. Perhaps they should keep the borders locked for a few more months just to be sure ????

 

But every little thing helps a bit. No measure will be full proof but at least its better then doing nothing. 

Interesting reaction of yours about "corvid" "robblok", apparently you know a lot about "corvid", so, a next time, do explain us all about your "corvid times" experiences. Bye for now, we're a bit busy with consequences of "Covid-19" here, you have heard about that Corona family virus the World got from our good C.C.P. of "P.R."China friends, don't you?  

[NightSky]

The article was written and inspired by a Travel writer desperate for something to say..

 

I went out yesterday and enjoyed favourite food at a small restaurant. Wife had to sit on a separate table but the food was good.

 

Glad to be back home after all that hustle and bustle.

[Puwa]

The t-shirt is a deal breaker.

[Sean60]

Pleaseee, this is non sense. Just go out to a restaurant and have a meal and perhaps few hours of enjoyable time with your partner or friend.

It dose not matter if you have to wash your hand or not. It dose not matter if there are other customers or not. 

Restaurants need volume and traffic. They are suffering big time. This is not like Aviation industry where government bails you out. 

If they go bankrupt, there is no one to help them. Specially if you are farang in Thailand. Nothing!!!!

[lee b]

Incorrect. They work perfectly if you are having a domestic with the wife. You don't need to sit next to her and listen to all the ranting and raving.

[Krataiboy]

5 hours ago, robblok said:

I guess you havent heard of carries who have the virus but dont have the symptoms. This is a good idea and is being rolled out in other places too. Even in my country they are trying to make it happen but privacy laws are a bit of a problem. 

 

Tracking the spread and by doing so curbing it is a good way to help. However it all depends on how its followed up. I can only applaud Thailand in how well it goes (at least in my area). I cant say the same for my country. In Thailand everywhere i go my temperature is taken and i need to clean my hands. I also need to wear a mas. That is not the case in my country.

privacy laws are a bit of a problem. 

 

But only a temporary one, by the looks of it.

[Expat Tom]

If I have to scan my phone to go into a mall I will just buy a spare 150 baht throw-away phone and present that at the door. Big Brother lives in Bangkok and it is a few years past 1984 but the concept is the same and while doing all of this nonsense the Thai government is going to invite 10,000,000 Chinese to return???? Is there on one in charge with 10 baht worth of common sense?  

[Expat Tom]

My telephone has a VPN. I'll turn the phone on and have the VPN indicate that I'm in ....where ever....idiots all!!!

They will end up tracking many different locations for me all over the world. I encourage all to do the same. It is a complete invasion of privacy and for NO REASON!!!

[Onemoreplease]

I didn’t use a calculator but, in a country of roughly 66 million 3,000+ have been RECORDED as infected 0.3 %, 50+ have died 0.06 % ..... where exactly is the epidemic ?

[Jonathan Swift]

So who in their right mind is going to expect things to just return completely to normal overnight? There is no playbook for this. The problem is with the writer's expectations. Sounds like a spoiled elitist to my ears, unwilling to make necessary change and adapt to the current situation. Note that he isn't eating Thai food. Doesn't look like he adapts well at all. Not if he won't even eat the local cuisine. 

[Fling]

I did see a few restaurants open today for eat in! 

[Jonathan Swift]

9 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

How fortunate for us that you choose to share your insights as an accredited epidemiologist. Funny, but REAL epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists have been telling us that droplets containing the virus spread through the air between people, even during conversation. These barriers aren't for you and your intimate friends with whom you've been sharing your high risk lifestyle. It's for the general public. With what most of us who have been paying attention know, any barrier at all that serves to encourage distancing and physical separation, and minimizes aerosolization of the virus through the air, is better than nothing. This is a PUBLIC policy, not a smedly policy. Now maybe, just MAYBE, you learned something reading this. 

[Mac98]

Remember all those bars and restaurants that had high-backed booths? Those worked great for social distancing by choice. Bring those back. Make table dividers optional for business meetings or family gatherings.

[Tchooptip]

9 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

People with underlining health conditions need to stay away from public gatherings or susceptible venues...

 

social distancing sanitizers and masks are reasonable requests....others are over the top...

People with underlining health conditions need to stay away also from hamburger french fries ans Coke in their menus ????

[smedly]

18 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

How fortunate for us that you choose to share your insights as an accredited epidemiologist. Funny, but REAL epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists have been telling us that droplets containing the virus spread through the air between people, even during conversation. These barriers aren't for you and your intimate friends with whom you've been sharing your high risk lifestyle. It's for the general public. With what most of us who have been paying attention know, any barrier at all that serves to encourage distancing and physical separation, and minimizes aerosolization of the virus through the air, is better than nothing. This is a PUBLIC policy, not a smedly policy. Now maybe, just MAYBE, you learned something reading this. 

I did, you are blowing it out your (deleted)

[Knocker33]

10 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Not to mention the fact that the General is anti alcohol, so you cant even have a cold  beer or a glass of wine with your meal. 

 

My money is staying in my pocket until the whole experience resembles normality. I wont be scanning myself into shopping malls either.

Totally agree with you. My wife owns a beach front restaurant all open air .Mostly all local who know each other. People come for a meal and a cold beer or wine and enjoy the view. 

We are not going to open until we can sell alcohol and treat people like the responsible adults they are. I doubt if we will get a refund on our liquor license. 

I can see the problem with nightclubs and enclosed spaces but open air bars. No. 

Then you get some stupid survey with a scaremongering title asking supposed random people about bars and clubs. Which was probably carried out in bkk where the most cases have been and what do you expect them to say

[PerkinsCuthbert]

None of this social distancing is going to work from an economic point of view, this was quite obvious before any easing of restrictions even began. How are restaurants, which apart from a very few are borderline profitable even in normal times, going to remain in business with half or less of their clientele? Likewise, all these shops in the malls that are attempting to maintain the recommended number of customers in a confined space. All of this with the vast majority of footfall having less money to spend - how are they ever going to be profitable?

The circle cannot be squared, and anyone dreaming it can is, I'm afraid - until a game-changer comes along - just dreaming.