Why some people think that there is no virus in Thailand when most people actually do not have any symptoms ?

[abonsa]

Hi, it seems that many people do not understand that not having any official COVID cases in Thailand doesn't mean that there is no virus ?

I had this problem with a restaurant owner, who looked at me as an idiot when I asked some gel to clean my hands.

As most people who will have the virus will never know it, how can someone be stupid enough to think that there is no virus in Thailand ?

Tell me if I am wrong, but you should explain well.

Anyway, is it mandatory for restaurants to offer gel and temperature check ?

Thank you.

[Yinn]

Thousands tests. ALL negative. Long time now. 14 days x 2 already.

Only positive people from other countrys.

 

Ranong province no infection, no deaths. Every test is negative. 

Where you from?

[Why Me]

26 minutes ago, abonsa said:

As most people who will have the virus will never know it, how can someone be stupid enough to think that there is no virus in Thailand ?

Tell me if I am wrong, but you should explain well.

You are wrong with likelihood 99.99%. Here's why:

 

You are right about the preponderance of asymptomatic cases. However, Thailand has had no detectable case in the past 2 months. Which would require the silent spread of the virus in that time from one case to another, without a single one showing perceptible symptoms. Keep in mind that the virus has an incubation period of 14 days give or take so those infected within the first 45 days of those 2 month, being 75%, would have to be "quietly sick".

 

So, it's safe to conclude that Thailand is virus-free. Which begets the question why the 'ell are we still masking (yes, I am looking at your pretty woman) and distancing and temp checking.

Edited August 2, 2020 by Why Me

[Jingthing]

I agree with the O.P. Given the small numbers of testing here and obviously people with no or mild symptoms would not normally even seek testing if they could get it, the chance of there actually being ZERO cases in Thailand in the resident population is ZERO. That's the reason to keep masking and other measures. It is low. Let's keep it that way! One case can become millions without the proper measures as we see in the USA. Until the pandemic is under control globally Thailand isn't out of the woods.

How long? Depends of course. Perhaps two years.

Edited August 2, 2020 by Jingthing

[geriatrickid]

It is all about timing. Thailand's point in the timeline is different than what we see elsewhere, and it will most likely see a spike in cases. Whether or not they are reported is a different issue. 

 

Thailand  has a characteristic that is common to "Monsoon"  countries. When rainy season starts, there is a spike in  Dengue and Malaria. They present with similar symptoms to Covid19, especially with the fevers and aches and pains.  IMO,  it is not unreasonable to expect that a significant number of COVID cases will be  attributed to  illnesses common during rainy season.  This would be more likely to occur in the rural and impoverished  regions which have limited access to  health care and laboratory facilities.

 

This then brings us to the issue of testing.  Thailand has not been widely testing for Covid19.  With only 8600 tests per million, it has not obtained a large nor a diverse  sampling of the population.

Some might say, Taiwan only tests 3,300 per million and has the infection controlled. Well, the difference is that Taiwan has strict contact tracing,  strict  patient isolation,  and strict surveillance and a population that has been supportive and compliant with the guidelines. because of Covid19,

 

Thailand uses two types of diagnostic tests;

A. PCR - if verified and certified, and  with specimens collected and tested by qualified personnel then the test results are 99% reliable.

B. Antibody testing - Not considered reliable.

 

Thailand finally secured a local supply chain for its own  test kit supplies as of July 10 through of Siam Bioscience.  IMO until march/April there wasn't a consistent method of  testing or  standardized  test kit approach.  This isn't a problem specific to Thailand, as other countries also received  unreliable/ defective testing supplies from China. Often the swabs were not appropriate. At the start of the crisis, there were many  testing kits and supplies which  entered the market which had not been certified. If the USA wasn't testing the kits,  it is no surprise that Thailand was not either.  This is why some countries like Australia and Canada had lagged in their testing, as they were ensuring that the testing supplies and kits were reliable before allowing their use.  I believe that Thailand has the PCR testing reliability addressed, but it needs to start testing more people.  It should be  testing blood supplies for Covid19 if it is not already doing so.  I do not have confidence in Thailand's data YTD. I am not alone in that view as no country is acknowledging Thailand's unique results as marvelous.

 

When I read foolish gloating like this, I can only  shake my head with  sadness. No Thailand  isn't as good as the reports. Thailand would be a special case, and unique if it was. Unique because it would be the only country on the planet without a disease reservoir.  No dear, the results are a direct result of  the minimal testing and  the lack of testing in  the rural and poorly served regions of the country.

 

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

Thousands tests. ALL negative. Long time now. 14 days x 2 already.

Only positive people from other countrys.

Ranong province no infection, no deaths. Every test is negative. 

Where you from?

My comments do not take away from the fact that Thailand has done well. A large part is to a culture that accepted the concept of social distancing, masking and that respected  the medical advice. Population density in some cities may be high, but Thais like the Japanese know how to give people personal space.  These low tech/low cost measures were a major factor in slowing the spread of infection. Much of the credit goes to the Thai  people themselves for not being stupid and selfish as we have seen elsewhere.

 

Edited August 2, 2020 by geriatrickid

[Yinn]

7 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Much of the credit goes to the Thai  people themselves for not being stupid and selfish as we have seen elsewhere.

 

Is amazing how stupid/selfish/difficult some people are. I hate them.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8562525/Coronavirus-anti-maskers-gather-Melbourne-gym-discuss-manifesto-Bunnings-Karen.html

 

 

 

 

We testing thousands. Is all negative. If positive we test more people. 

Have you had a test? Why not?

[Mama Noodle]

18 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Have you had a test? Why not?

Because Thailand charges foreigners several hundred dollars for the privilage. 

[Yinn]

8 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Because Thailand charges foreigners several hundred dollars for the privilage. 

You need thai people pay for you test? 

 

 

[Mama Noodle]

9 minutes ago, Yinn said:

You need thai people pay for you test?

Nope, I don’t need anything from a thai person. But FYI in my country you’d get as many free tests as you can line up for regardless of skin color or immigration status, that I would have to foot the bill for, and if you got sick you’d be taken care of and eventually I’d have to foot the bill for that too because it’s illegal to turn people away from the hospital, even if they can’t pay. 
 

Edit: I wonder if Yinn realizes how much of a republican she is?

Edited August 3, 2020 by Mama Noodle

[Yinn]

5 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Nope, I don’t need anything from a thai person. But FYI in my country you’d get as many free tests as you can line up for regardless of skin color or immigration status

FYI Your country not successful control covid. 

No UK in Thailand die covid. 

FYI More thai die outside Thailand.

 

eg, 

http://udon-news.com/en/news/thai-youtuber-who-records-life-overseas-dies-of-coronavirus-in-uk

 

5 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Edit: I wonder if Yinn realizes how much of a republican she is?

FYI Not republican. 

FYI if you the lefty snowflake want government do everything for you= thailand not good place for you.

FYI if you hard right guy you will be lonely in thailand. Not have thai supremacist gang.

 

FYI Thailand is sensible people. Help together.

= https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/thailand-ranks-1-for-handling-covid-19-crisis

[englishoak]

Thailand operates in a parallel universe, thats why. 

[uhuh]

16 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

No Thailand  isn't as good as the reports. Thailand would be a special case, and unique if it was. Unique because it would be the only country on the planet without a disease reservoir. 

You mentioned Taiwan (24m people),  which doesn't seem to have a disease reservoir.

Same for New Zealand AFAIK, and Mauritius and quite a few of small islands and territories. 

Vietnam is bigger (95m) and most probably didn't have a disease reservoir for quite a while,  the current outbreak has probably been imported. That can happen if you have hard to control land borders,  and that may happen to Thailand, too. 

 

And of course western countries can never acknowledge that a developing country from Asia handled things better than the British Empire or God's own country. 

Edited August 3, 2020 by uhuh

[samtab]

On 8/2/2020 at 10:15 PM, Jingthing said:

I agree with the O.P. Given the small numbers of testing here and obviously people with no or mild symptoms would not normally even seek testing if they could get it, the chance of there actually being ZERO cases in Thailand in the resident population is ZERO. That's the reason to keep masking and other measures. It is low. Let's keep it that way! One case can become millions without the proper measures as we see in the USA. Until the pandemic is under control globally Thailand isn't out of the woods.

How long? Depends of course. Perhaps two years.

 

Clearly the only smart way to think, but it seems difficult for many around here...

 

 

[cmarshall]

Fortunately, I don't have to decide whether that are covert carriers in Thailand or not.  All I have to decide is whether to wear my mask, wash my hands as often as possible, and stay home.  I do all three.

[scammed]

the t cell study is the only theory worth its salt

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200716-the-people-with-hidden-protection-from-covid-19?xtor=ES-213-[BBC Features Newsletter]-2020July24-[Future|+Button]

[scoupeo]

On 8/2/2020 at 9:44 PM, Yinn said:

Thousands tests. ALL negative. Long time now. 14 days x 2 already.

Only positive people from other countrys.

 

Ranong province no infection, no deaths. Every test is negative. 

Where you from?

 

 

Don't you feel ridiculous ?

 

 

[Mama Noodle]

On 8/3/2020 at 7:52 AM, Yinn said:

FYI Not republican. 

 

Yin's nationalism puts Trump to shame, yet this board voted her poster of the year lmaoooooo 

 

The irony is almost to much to stand its so funny. 

[CorpusChristie]

10 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Yin's nationalism puts Trump to shame, yet this board voted her poster of the year lmaoooooo 

 

The irony is almost to much to stand its so funny. 

Are you a lefty ?

Not accepting the democratic vote again ?

[HaleySabai]

On 8/3/2020 at 7:37 AM, Mama Noodle said:

Nope, I don’t need anything from a thai person. But FYI in my country you’d get as many free tests as you can line up for regardless of skin color or immigration status, that I would have to foot the bill for, and if you got sick you’d be taken care of and eventually I’d have to foot the bill for that too because it’s illegal to turn people away from the hospital, even if they can’t pay. 
 

Edit: I wonder if Yinn realizes how much of a republican she is?

Clue of not being an American.

[Mama Noodle]

4 minutes ago, HaleySabai said:

Clue of not being an American.

 

You can not turn people away from the hospital in the USA if they need serious care. 

 

Thailand WILL turn you away no matter what kind of care you need, if you cant pay. 

[Pilotman]

If a person has the virus, but no symptoms, why does it matter to them? We carry millions of viruses and bacteria in our bodies as a matter of normal living, some are even essential for good health.  If they don't interfere, why bother yourself about them? There is way too much suspicion and even hysteria when it comes to debates about Thailand's Covid numbers and response.  Chill people.  

[sungod]

To think its not here is naive, however a largely compliant public and reasonable healthcare system has so far kept it under check.

 

Myanmar basically adopts the same testing regime as Thailand centered on returnees. Every week there are a handful of imported cases from yes, you guessed it, Thailand!

[Logosone]

On 8/2/2020 at 9:44 PM, Yinn said:

Thousands tests. ALL negative. Long time now. 14 days x 2 already.

Only positive people from other countrys.

 

Ranong province no infection, no deaths. Every test is negative. 

Where you from?

China suspends air routes from Thailand after positive covid tests

 

https://www.thaienquirer.com/15661/china-suspends-air-routes-from-thailand-after-positive-covid-tests-airlines-say-no-passengers-disembarked-in-thailand/

 

Testing in Thailand has of course been on a mickey mouse scale, 99% of Thais remain untested.

 

If every test is negative that would raise the question why China has closed air routes from Thailand after passengers tested positive. Just curious. 

 

 

[steelepulse]

I came across this question a number of months ago and it still holds true today.

 

Q  What do they call a person with no symptoms?  

A  A healthy person.

[Logosone]

Quote

 

Hi, it seems that many people do not understand that not having any official COVID cases in Thailand doesn't mean that there is no virus ? I had this problem with a restaurant owner, who looked at me as an idiot when I asked some gel to clean my hands. As most people who will have the virus will never know it, how can someone be stupid enough to think that there is no virus in Thailand ? Tell me if I am wrong, but you should explain well.

 

You are of course right that Thailand has the virus and its figures are of use to Disney animation at best.

 

If you are that concerned, however, why not wear silk gloves to protect yourself?

 

And no, it is not mandatory for restaurants to offer gel. This is Thailand, nothing is mandatory except not testing for real Covid 19 figures.

[jak2002003]

Maybe it's illegal to give a positive result for covid test from within the country....people might loose face after all. Nothing would surprise me in the world today.

 

 

[Logosone]

5 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

Maybe it's illegal to give a positive result for covid test from within the country....people might loose face after all. Nothing would surprise me in the world today.

 

 

Yah, it may be, witness Yinn claiming all positive tests were from outsiders, never Thais. 

 

It's funny.

[abonsa]

so the virus is clearly here and only idiots think that it is not, how possible that some foreigners are so stupid ?

 

[uhuh]

3 hours ago, sungod said:

To think its not here is naive, however a largely compliant public and reasonable healthcare system has so far kept it under check.

 

Myanmar basically adopts the same testing regime as Thailand centered on returnees. Every week there are a handful of imported cases from yes, you guessed it, Thailand!

How do you know about this?

[CorpusChristie]

19 minutes ago, abonsa said:

so the virus is clearly here and only idiots think that it is not, how possible that some foreigners are so stupid ?

 

What is that based on ?

I think that the virus isnt here , you think that I am stupid .

Why do you think that the virus is here ?