Dr. Thanarak Plipat says Thai people are inviting the return of COVID-19

[metisdead]

Some inflammatory posts have been removed. 

[Jingthing]

A cautionary tale to Thailand from their good friends in Israel. Things might look great today but let your guard down and things go south and badly. Also beware of weddings and other large social gatherings. 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middlle_east/why-israel-is-seeing-a-coronavirus-spike-after-initially-crushing-the-outbreak/2020/07/07/dd141158-bfbc-11ea-8908-68a2b9eae9e0_story.html

 

 

Why Israel is seeing a coronavirus spike after initially crushing the outbreak

 

 

JERUSALEM — Israel's deft handling of its coronavirus outbreak this spring won praise at home and abroad, but the virus has returned, with cases now increasing faster than ever and health officials warning that hospitals could be overwhelmed by the end of the month.

Israelis across the political spectrum are asking what’s gone wrong and demanding to know how their government could have fumbled so badly after getting it so right.

An Israeli official with knowledge of the pandemic response said government researchers have traced the bulk of new infections to a single category of activity: public gatherings, particularly weddings.

Edited July 8, 2020 by Jingthing

[Baggy]

18 hours ago, Jingthing said:

No need to even make such accusations. Limited testing equals undercounts everywhere. 

Limited or no testing , so of course no infections.

How many actual tests conducted in Thailand?

[Dumbastheycome]

Why is  it wrong  for this Doctor to warn  about complacency?

He is not advocating harsh restrictions, just  some common sense.

 

 

[Thomas J]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai people are becoming less concerned about the prospect of a second wave of COVID-19 infection

 

[Odisan]

I don't get it. Not if the government numbers are to be believed that is.

If the only covid-19 in the country is those bringing it in and they're in quarantine, then how will it suddenly materialize? However, if it's prevalent throughout the country and we're all at risk (as the 'expert' in this article hints), then it makes the official narrative garbage. You can't have it both ways.

It's either a problem and we're still being lied to or it's not a problem and we're still being lied to.

[Gulfsailor]

1 minute ago, Odisan said:

I don't get it. Not if the government numbers are to be believed that is.

If the only covid-19 in the country is those bringing it in and they're in quarantine, then how will it suddenly materialize? However, if it's prevalent throughout the country and we're all at risk (as the 'expert' in this article hints), then it makes the official narrative garbage. You can't have it both ways.

It's either a problem and we're still being lied to or it's not a problem and we're still being lied to.

If everyone sticks to the current protective measures, then the borders can open soon and any outbreaks will be minimal and can be contained. Get complacent now and as soon as the borders open it will get totally out of control quickly, before a full lock down is required again. Just get used to the masks, social distancing and scanning in and out of shops. 

[Jingthing]

26 minutes ago, Baggy said:

Limited or no testing , so of course no infections.

How many actual tests conducted in Thailand?

I looked this up and found I couldn't locate accurate current numbers but I did conclude from reading numerous sources that Thailand is on the lower / moderate level of tests per million of the population relative to the rest of the world. 

[Pancho]

18 hours ago, DrTuner said:

My read on Plipat is that he's competent, but dancing on a political tightrope.

My read is he is under orders.

[Jingthing]

14 minutes ago, Odisan said:

I don't get it. Not if the government numbers are to be believed that is.

If the only covid-19 in the country is those bringing it in and they're in quarantine, then how will it suddenly materialize? However, if it's prevalent throughout the country and we're all at risk (as the 'expert' in this article hints), then it makes the official narrative garbage. You can't have it both ways.

It's either a problem and we're still being lied to or it's not a problem and we're still being lied to.

It's not that black and white. Do you think there is some magic scanner sniffing out the virus in the entire population daily? 

 

[Kalasin Jo]

Whether he's right or wrong Thailand is not alone. Photos of crowds cramming the streeets not wearing masks outside bars and pubs in London ( in one they are frolicking under a large sign that reads ironically Dodo), on Bournemouth's beaches and on the banks of the Seine in Paris abound. Those under 40 are not afraid of it, they know they'll likely only suffer mild symptoms. They don't take a moment to think after a few bevvies about their older friends, work colleagues, , parents, grandparents etc who they might infect. It's going to go on like that in Europe whilst summer's there. And the French will hit their beaches en masse from this week end until the end of August.

[Pancho]

Think of the massive profits!

1) positive test in country = $100,000.00 usd / per patient!

very clever . 
a captive audience ( literally ).

[Grumpy John]

To see how it can get out of control very easily checkout what's happening in Melbourne Australia. The muslum community in the North and West of Melbourne completely ignored all the warning signs (in their language), any advice from local officials and TV.  Now it's a 6 week lock down for everyone. The useless Victorian government didn't do a dam thing to enforce the rules.   My D-in-L owns 2 dance studios and has to shut down again today,  refund everyone that wants a refund and will get Jack Schitt from the government.  All she got in the last lock down was $1500 a fortnight for her and a $3000 relief paymenT for the 2 businesses. Her monthly outgoings are $11000 a month not including wages. She like many others will go under by the look of it.  That is happening here to.  There will be thousands more by the end of the year. 

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, jingjai9 said:

Can anyone provide evidence that Thailand has under reported COVID cases? 

 

Can you point to the government-issued statistic that shows how many people have been tested daily outwith those coming to hospital with symptoms?

[NanLaew]

44 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Why is  it wrong  for this Doctor to warn  about complacency?

He is not advocating harsh restrictions, just  some common sense.

 

Totally agree. My observations around Udon Thani is that people first stopped logging in with the QR code, then they stopped writing their name and number down and more of them are forgoing wearing a mask. At Big C over the last holiday weekend, it looked like most of the locals were happily emulating the misanthrope farangs of last March.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Artisi said:

Would you bother travelling to face a 2 week quarantine period on arrival - wouldn't think so - therefore you can assume that arrivals will reduce to near zero... exactly the situation we now have. 

 

Except that the government and news reports repeatedly have cited queues of many thousands of foreigners waiting/requesting to get back into Thailand under the quarantine program -- expats, employees/execs, medical tourists, etc etc..  There's a LONG backlog right now, AFAIK, and has been for a long time.

 

[NanLaew]

11 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

To see how it can get out of control very easily checkout what's happening in Melbourne Australia. The muslum community in the North and West of Melbourne completely ignored all the warning signs (in their language), any advice from local officials and TV.  Now it's a 6 week lock down for everyone. The useless Victorian government didn't do a dam thing to enforce the rules.   My D-in-L owns 2 dance studios and has to shut down again today,  refund everyone that wants a refund and will get Jack Schitt from the government.  All she got in the last lock down was $1500 a fortnight for her and a $3000 relief paymenT for the 2 businesses. Her monthly outgoings are $11000 a month not including wages. She like many others will go under by the look of it.  That is happening here to.  There will be thousands more by the end of the year. 

Scapegoating post of the day award goes to...

 

PS: Does your D-in-L have any Muslim customers among those getting their money back?

[Walker88]

18 hours ago, zhounan said:

Okay, just another "doctor" paid by Big Pharma, W.H.O. and Bill the Psychopath.

Didn't you leave out....let's see.....George Soros, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, the Rockefellers and Rothschilds, Bohemian Grove, Skull and Bones, The Bilderbergers, the rogue planet Nibiru, Ten Foot Shape-Shifting Lizard People, the Queen of England, Comet Pizza, other assorted members of "Deep State", 33rd Degree Freemasons, Area 51, and maybe Pee Wee Herman and Honey Boo Boo?

[Madeline Thompson]

I sense the Doctor is trying instill fear into the Thai people and that

doesn't work very well.  Many have been greatly harmed by the severe

lockdown, leaving them unable to earn a living of any kind, and there is

a sense of joy in being an open community again.  For all of us who

live in this country. We have to deal with this particular virus because

it is possible it will be a frequent 'event' over the coming years.  Many

comments here suggest the numbers have been flattened in order for

the current junta government to look good to the world at large,

possibly to retain its  power, although they deny that.  Can we not

spread fear anymore from government sources, but rather a positive

attitude that the Thai people can manage their lives and commerce

very well without the continued threat of government interference in that.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Madeline Thompson said:

I sense the Doctor is trying instill fear into the Thai people and that

doesn't work very well.  Many have been greatly harmed by the severe

lockdown, leaving them unable to earn a living of any kind, and there is

a sense of joy in being an open community again.  For all of us who

live in this country. We have to deal with this particular virus because

it is possible it will be a frequent 'event' over the coming years.  Many

comments here suggest the numbers have been flattened in order for

the current junta government to look good to the world at large,

possibly to retain its  power, although they deny that.  Can we not

spread fear anymore from government sources, but rather a positive

attitude that the Thai people can manage their lives and commerce

very well without the continued threat of government interference in that.

The virus doesn't care about politics. 

[ubon farang]

Keep the fear going doc Thais have lost their jobs and are starting th starve What about you Doc how you going?

[cdemundo]

18 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Please tell that to my daughter who has been working her rear end off with Covid patients flooding the hospitals she has worked at in Florida in the ICU, and now in Pennsylvania.  The virus is real, and if people would just take care of themselves so that they would not infect others by doing the right thing, then the States would not be now having to pass laws enacting the wearing of masks and closing down establishments again.  Now I await the Anti-masker brigade to chime in.....

You are spot on, the virus is real and is not hoax.  This week I met a 52 year old female "recovered" from COVID (that is COVID negative by test).  She was 90 days in the hospital, came home last week.  Before contracting Covid19 she had no health problems and took no medications.  Now she requires 3 days a week kidney dialysis and supplemental oxygen as a result her illness.  Not just another flu.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

“Whether the disease will return again depends on the Thai people, and I personally feel that they are not afraid of COVID-19 and want it to return,” said Dr. Thanarak, adding that this attitude is very dangerous, as he wants them to come to their senses.

Actually you need to come to your senses, no domestic infections for over a month, so where is the 2nd wave going to come from?

Only invited special cases entering the country are going to pose any risk, Thais believe they are more at risk on the road every day than from Covid.

[Jingthing]

11 minutes ago, ubon farang said:

Keep the fear going doc Thais have lost their jobs and are starting th starve What about you Doc how you going?

More like trying to inform the public that the virus threat isn't even close to being over. Fact. 

[NanLaew]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

20 hours ago, webfact said:

“Whether the disease will return again depends on the Thai people, and I personally feel that they are not afraid of COVID-19 and want it to return,” said Dr. Thanarak, adding that this attitude is very dangerous, as he wants them to come to their senses.

Actually you need to come to your senses, no domestic infections for over a month, so where is the 2nd wave going to come from?

Only invited special cases entering the country are going to pose any risk, Thais believe they are more at risk on the road every day than from Covid.

If they are only testing those arriving back from overseas then it's a no-brainer that they will find carriers, asymptomatic and otherwise.

 

However, if they are not blanket testing the indigenous, resident population and finding and isolating the asymptomatic carriers, it's a no-brainer that these asymptomatic carriers (aka super spreaders) will be lurking in a moobahn near you.

 

Then they can blame it on the influx of foreigners.

[kensisaket]

19 hours ago, Raphus said:

Well it does seem quite strange that the UK didnt make Thailand exempt from quarantine upon arrival !!

Therefore, the country must have cases still and are not telking the people to show how good and glorious Thailand is. It is all a big government PR exercise and the foreigners will be blamed and not the Thai population. Therefore, ruining thebtourist industry further. 

They seem to be continually digging the country into an economic abyss on the glorification of politics.

I'll say this as an American, any citizen of a country that has Donald Trump; or, Boris Johnson as their leader should never make a statement using that country as the gold standard for the truth.

[steelepulse]

A paper on medrxiv which looked at 23 studies of at least 500 people show the ifr to be .04% on those under 70 years old.  Is .04% something to shut down the whole planet for?  

 

OObjective To estimate the infection fatality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from data of seroprevalence studies. Methods Population studies with sample size of at least 500 and published as peer-reviewed papers or preprints as of June 7, 2020 were retrieved from PubMed, preprint servers, and communications with experts. Studies on blood donors were included, but studies on healthcare workers were excluded. The studies were assessed for design features and seroprevalence estimates. Infection fatality rate was estimated from each study dividing the number of COVID-19 deaths at a relevant time point by the number of estimated people infected in each relevant region. Correction was also attempted accounting for the types of antibodies assessed. Results 23 studies were identified with usable data to enter into calculations. Seroprevalence estimates ranged from 0.1% to 47%. Infection fatality rates ranged from 0.02% to 0.86% (median 0.26%) and corrected values ranged from 0.02% to 0.78% (median 0.25%). Among people <70 years old, infection fatality rates ranged from 0.00% to 0.26% with median of 0.05% (corrected, 0.00-0.23% with median of 0.04%).

 

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.13.20101253v2

[Sunderland]

Until people like the health minister and other high ranking officials do as they tell others to do, the population will gradually ignore what they are being told to do.

Kudos to most people in Bangkok who are continuing to do as much as they could be expected to do to prevent the virus from spreading again. But many officials are blatant hypocrites who constantly snuggle up in small groups for photos, etc. without masks unless they need masks for a particular photo opportunity. 

Elected officials need to be reminded constantly that they work for the people, not the other way round.

[hotchilli]

16 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

However, if they are not blanket testing the indigenous, resident population and finding and isolating the asymptomatic carriers, it's a no-brainer that these asymptomatic carriers (aka super spreaders) will be lurking in a moobahn near you

If there were any of the above it would have shown itself during the past month !

[Sametboy2019]

Research suggest up to 80% of people have none to mild symptoms so we are fighting a losing battle. All the lockdowns and social distancing just slows it down it won't irradicate it.

Most fatalities are old people. If you are scared lock yourself down and practice social distancing and wear make etc if you need to go out.

Open everything up and let's get on with it.

Don't ask me to provide links. We all know how to use Google.