Lockdown easing latest: Calls to open bars and clubs ahead of schools rejected

[dave moir]

Makes me laugh that they basically don't want people going to other countries for fear of catching Covid 19 but will welcome people from other countries eg China with open arms!!!!

[jimn]

5 hours ago, madmen said:

The whole of Thailand has not been tested . Still carriers out there

I dont get your logic. If there are no domestic cases, where is the infection coming from? How long does this nonsence have to continue. The numbers are fantastic. Countries in Europe would have opened up weeks ago with numbers way higher than Thailand.

[oxforddiver]

It seems to me that the most dangerous and awful aspect of our situation is the unemployment it has created and the poverty which is getting worse every day.

What sector of the population is worst hit by this? the working classes, the service workers, those not in Government jobs. And most of them work in the hospitality sector. Many hundreds of thousands maybe millions would be my guess. Therefore the priority of those that make the decisions should be to get this group back to work asap. That means bars and alcohol at least allowing the entertainment sector to open and get back staff into jobs, those that want to. Many see no point in opening because there are not enough customers to go around, and the locals do not have the money. But getting the low income sector back into work needs to be the number one priority now in Thailand. The danger is minimal from covid compared to the extreme poverty that is now hurting so many.

[apetryxx]

Is it still illegal for restaurants, hotels etc to serve drinks with one’s meal, that is wine etc..?

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Phil McCaverty said:

The borders aren't really opening on July 1st. The Chinese won't be coming in then.

Well let's wait and see. In Thailand anything is possible, especially with these muppets running the show.

 

I do tend to agree though that even if they open the borders the influx will be slow.

[malibukid]

who wants to go to a bar if you have to wear a mask and social distance?

[Bob A Kneale]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

A public health spokesman said that calls to open up pubs, clubs and discos before schools is being rejected. 

 

Dr Thanarak Phaliphat said that representations had been made by the entertainment industry to ease lockdown for them by mid-June.

 

He said that if that were to happen and if it proved to cause a further outbreak then schools would not be able to open as scheduled on July 1st.

 

His comments indicated where Thailand's priorities lie, notes Thaivisa. 

Presumably Thaivisa was "noting" that Thailand's priorities do lie with the schools?

[BoojamTheKind]

12 minutes ago, oxforddiver said:

It seems to me that the most dangerous and awful aspect of our situation is the unemployment it has created and the poverty which is getting worse every day.

What sector of the population is worst hit by this? the working classes, the service workers, those not in Government jobs. And most of them work in the hospitality sector. Many hundreds of thousands maybe millions would be my guess. Therefore the priority of those that make the decisions should be to get this group back to work asap. That means bars and alcohol at least allowing the entertainment sector to open and get back staff into jobs, those that want to. Many see no point in opening because there are not enough customers to go around, and the locals do not have the money. But getting the low income sector back into work needs to be the number one priority now in Thailand. The danger is minimal from covid compared to the extreme poverty that is now hurting so many.

What you say here is absolutely correct. It is tragic that the public discourse remains focussed on exaggerated concerns about a virus which according to the CDC has a maximum case fatality rate of 0.4%. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is published data from top government sources in the US. 

 

The media and politicians continue to ignore the revised data regarding the true danger represented by the novel coronavirus. They prefer to continue to push extreme risk-averse policies and generally hype fear and panic. What we are seeing is a form of mass psychosis, a new type of fascism. It is political and has zero to do with science.

[Deli]

Where the hell shall the kids have their beer after classes if they don't open the bars at the same time as the schools ?

Edited June 2, 2020 by Deli

[Mike k]

The students are already congregating my wife's grandson and his friends had a party the other day food and drinks

[tribalfusion001]

In the BP Facebook page today, South Korea will have mandatory QR codes to enter bars, clubs and karaoke clubs from 10th June. You just know that Prayut will implement this. https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN239075

[Bob A Kneale]

55 minutes ago, roger101 said:

At least let the restaurants sell wine.

Why, what's so special about wine?

[2long]

On paper / Officially it's very hard to define the difference between a bar, a pub, a beer bar, an open bar etc etc. Many businesses in Thailand are registered as something different from what they really are. Therefore, it's safer for the government to have a blanket ban. And in my opinion I tend to agree. Also, as some previous posters claim that with so few customers, what's wrong with opening? Well, if a bar has to pay staff etc to open for a few expats, then that might be worse for them than staying closed.

And with so many young Thais off of school and work right now, should they have the temptation of going out drinking? Add to this the irresponsible ones who might waste the household's money on booze and what comes with it, then things will get worse.

Don't get me wrong, I like a drink, and I can't wait until things open up. But I do see their sense in this.

As for booze in restaurants, well I am also looking forward to those days, but if it's allowed, a gang of Somchais will order a few plates of food and then drink for hours.

It's clear that most people on TVF are Farang expats who think that Thailand should revolve around their needs. With no tourists coming in, why would the government want to allow what such a small percentage of people here really want? Yes, the industry needs to open up for the good of the businesses and livelihoods involved, but it's too risky given how people behave when out drinking socially.

[kingstonkid]

Everyone here is forgetting one thing.  The bar closure is not just for COVID.  To be Honest I think that is the last thing they are thinking about except that it gives the righteous non drinking and alcohol should be banned crows a leg to stand on.

 

The longer the bars are closed the lower the death rate in Thailand from vehicle accidents AKA stupidity will be. 

 

They could care less about the bars or the bar girls or anything to do with that they are just looking at how they can rewrite the history of this year by saying that 2020 under the present government showed the least number of deaths in the country.

 

Look at how screwed up this is.  First they say that schools will open on July 1st

then they try to run on tv a program for all students even though none of the schools follow the same lesson planning or curriculum.

Now they are saying u\yes schools will open but they are only allowed to have half the students actually attend class on a given day.  

After all this they then turn around and say that they want people to travel in July and are going to give out discount vouchers even though most families are going to be either dead broke or in hawk up to their assets from getting their kids in school.

 

Next even though they have admitted that kids need to get back to school some one floats the idea of we will bring back Songkran in July for a week.

 

Imagine schools just get the kids back into a learning frame of mind (thai version) then they have to stop for a week and start all over again.  Just as these schools are getting money to pay their bills they have to shut down and give everyone a paid holiday for a week.

 

Yeah a lot of thinking is gong on somewhere.

 

OH YEAH AND SONGKRAN WILL BE DRY (no booze)

 

 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2020 by kingstonkid

[Catkiwi]

9 minutes ago, 2long said:

On paper / Officially it's very hard to define the difference between a bar, a pub, a beer bar, an open bar etc etc. Many businesses in Thailand are registered as something different from what they really are. Therefore, it's safer for the government to have a blanket ban. And in my opinion I tend to agree. Also, as some previous posters claim that with so few customers, what's wrong with opening? Well, if a bar has to pay staff etc to open for a few expats, then that might be worse for them than staying closed.

And with so many young Thais off of school and work right now, should they have the temptation of going out drinking? Add to this the irresponsible ones who might waste the household's money on booze and what comes with it, then things will get worse.

Don't get me wrong, I like a drink, and I can't wait until things open up. But I do see their sense in this.

As for booze in restaurants, well I am also looking forward to those days, but if it's allowed, a gang of Somchais will order a few plates of food and then drink for hours.

It's clear that most people on TVF are Farang expats who think that Thailand should revolve around their needs. With no tourists coming in, why would the government want to allow what such a small percentage of people here really want? Yes, the industry needs to open up for the good of the businesses and livelihoods involved, but it's too risky given how people behave when out drinking socially.

and here endith the lesson, Amen.

[DrTuner]

13 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

In the BP Facebook page today, South Korea will have mandatory QR codes to enter bars, clubs and karaoke clubs from 10th June. You just know that Prayut will implement this. https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN239075

Good luck enforcing it. Only a very few laws are strictly enforced in Thailand.

[Sumarianson]

6 hours ago, madmen said:

The whole of Thailand has not been tested . Still carriers out 

 The quarantine is 14 days. Soon there will be all sorts of tourists here and they won't be coming to wear masks and be in a curfew with no bars! Being in a bar will be no worse than 8 people working in a kitchen or preperation area together. Or being in a shopping mall. It is a joke.

[luckyluke]

21 minutes ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Why, what's so special about wine?

In vino veritas

[Pattaya46]

1 hour ago, dave moir said:

Makes me laugh that they basically don't want people going to other countries for fear of catching Covid 19 but will welcome people from other countries eg China with open arms!!!!

What make you laugh?? Recent cases of imported virus were from Thai people coming back from UK, USA or middle-east. None from China.

[BoojamTheKind]

20 minutes ago, 2long said:

On paper / Officially it's very hard to define the difference between a bar, a pub, a beer bar, an open bar etc etc. Many businesses in Thailand are registered as something different from what they really are. Therefore, it's safer for the government to have a blanket ban. And in my opinion I tend to agree. Also, as some previous posters claim that with so few customers, what's wrong with opening? Well, if a bar has to pay staff etc to open for a few expats, then that might be worse for them than staying closed.

And with so many young Thais off of school and work right now, should they have the temptation of going out drinking? Add to this the irresponsible ones who might waste the household's money on booze and what comes with it, then things will get worse.

Don't get me wrong, I like a drink, and I can't wait until things open up. But I do see their sense in this.

As for booze in restaurants, well I am also looking forward to those days, but if it's allowed, a gang of Somchais will order a few plates of food and then drink for hours.

It's clear that most people on TVF are Farang expats who think that Thailand should revolve around their needs. With no tourists coming in, why would the government want to allow what such a small percentage of people here really want? Yes, the industry needs to open up for the good of the businesses and livelihoods involved, but it's too risky given how people behave when out drinking socially.

This is a sad misunderstanding of the real issues, and an unfair smear on farang. Your perspective seems to be heavily influenced by CNN and other fake news outlets who have been exaggerating the threat of the virus while mostly ignoring the devastating economic effect of the lockdowns (which is itself another public health crisis).

Many people are genuinely concerned about poverty. Opening bars is one step towards alleviating this desperate situation. Entertainment in general needs to be returned to normal operation as it contitutes a huge sector of the economy in Thailand.

In my opinion, you are the one being selfish here, prioritising your risk-averse obsession with a virus with an 0.4% fatality rate over economic collapse.

[Bob A Kneale]

1 hour ago, Mark17AA said:

Why they don't let hotels serve alcohol to residents.. is equally ridiculous. Who wants to do domestic travel when there no facilities to enjoy.

How much domestic travel to stay in hotels (that are mostly closed) do you think is happening right now?

[kevinsan]

Signing up for bartending school today.

[JackThompson]

Children don't get sick with this virus except with serious co-morbidities.
Children don't go into bars, anyway.

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

He continued that the vulnerable like the elderly, people with health issues and the obese should continue to stay home.

Bingo. The only thing he said I agree with, since they are the only ones affected by this virus beyond cold-symptoms.  If everyone else could quickly get it and become immune, the lock down of the vulnerable could End Sooner.

[Bob A Kneale]

54 minutes ago, apetryxx said:

Is it still illegal for restaurants, hotels etc to serve drinks with one’s meal, that is wine etc..?

Is wine etc. alcohol?

[elliss]

4 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

Except if they want to change the actual world reputation for Thailand

and get ride of the girlies bars, It could be the unspoken project

 

             Girlie bars,  i don't use them , anymore .

     Thailand needs to review its reputation,of being the Worlds largest brothel.

   Not good for us expats , with folks back home ..

 

Edited June 2, 2020 by elliss

[murraynz]

43 minutes ago, malibukid said:

who wants to go to a bar if you have to wear a mask and social distance?

Im certainly not going to any gogo bars,where that is the requirement.

They will eventualy close down,due to lack of customers.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

His comments indicated where Thailand's priorities lie, notes Thaivisa. 

Which have obviously changed since early February... maybe a lesson learnt.

The Thai entertainment industry doesn't give a hoot about peoples health.

[Traubert]

49 minutes ago, BoojamTheKind said:

What you say here is absolutely correct. It is tragic that the public discourse remains focussed on exaggerated concerns about a virus which according to the CDC has a maximum case fatality rate of 0.4%. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is published data from top government sources in the US. 

 

The media and politicians continue to ignore the revised data regarding the true danger represented by the novel coronavirus. They prefer to continue to push extreme risk-averse policies and generally hype fear and panic. What we are seeing is a form of mass psychosis, a new type of fascism. It is political and has zero to do with science.

The US should know right enough.

 

Hot bed of disease.

[darksidedog]

A post with a disallowed reference to the PM has been removed, along with a reply.

[Phil McCaverty]

1 hour ago, jimn said:

I dont get your logic. If there are no domestic cases, where is the infection coming from? How long does this nonsence have to continue. The numbers are fantastic. Countries in Europe would have opened up weeks ago with numbers way higher than Thailand.

More fool them. they should only open up to countries that have similar or better numbers than them.