Certain types of gathering spread Covid, Chula virologist warns

By The Nation

 

Dr Yong Poovorawan, a virologist at Chulalongkorn University

 

People gathering at religious sites, entertainment venues, sports stadiums and political rallies are raising the risk of a second wave of Covid-19, a virologist at Chulalongkorn University said yesterday (August 18).

 

Dr Yong Poovorawan said the virus spreads well in large groups of people who are raising their voices, such as in religious ceremonies, for entertainment or sports, and at political rallies.

 

"Also, the disease spreads well in confined and poorly ventilated areas, while people who show no symptoms can spread the virus as well," he posted on Facebook.

 

He said outbreaks often start from big cities before spreading to towns and rural areas and from adults to children.

 

"Children will show fewer symptoms, but contract the virus more easily than adults and tend to show symptoms around the throat," he said.

 

"It can spread easily among children, who then transmit the disease to their parents as well."

 

He added that the contagion will likely accelerate as countries ease measures to contain the pandemic.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393202

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-08-19

 

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5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Certain types of gathering spread Covid, Chula virologist warns

But it's safe to cram people on public transport, like the B.T. S ?

The government are getting scared about the anti government rallies.

Edited August 19, 20205 yr by Thaiwrath

Student gatherings at democracy monument do spread coronavirus but yellow aunties marching while holding portraits don't. 

by next spring imo the naysayers of the virus's ability to decimate a societies health will all be singing a different tune - a month of below zero temps will inadvertently lead to mass outbreaks..

Taking a page from across the pond it seems.  Some gatherings and demonstrations are fine, while others definitely are not.

On what does he base these utterings? It cannot be on data gathered in Thailand as we have no locally transmitted cases here.

Whats the going rate for a doctorate again..?

Yong's song.

 

Broadcast at least twice weekly on this channel.

Quote

political rallies

Uh-huh, ok crackdown time then and a bit of lockdown just to make sure, eh?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Certain types of gathering spread Covid, Chula virologist warns

What a Numnut.

 

I hope the virus is aware of this and behaves accordingly. 

 

He could have gotten some more brownie points if he would have said, it solely spreads at political anti government rallies.

 

 

As a virologist he should know you need a virus to spread one three fingers to you ????

5 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

But it's safe to cram people on public transport, like the B.T. S ?

The government are getting scared about the anti government rallies.

Simple solution if the entire government resigns no more rallies virologist and country happy ???? 

Oh, Dr Yong Poovorawan, this junta mouthpiece again, from the conservative and junta friendly Chulalonkorn university!!!  

 

Instead of doing some real research, this guy is manipulating the insights of leading virologists from outside Thailand. The virus is spread mainly by aerosoles, and their concentration has to do with the ventilation in a room. So far so correct. Well read in international papers, Mr. Yong! Correct for religous events inside of churches and temples. True.

 

But then the manipulation by this junta mouthpiece: Political rallies!

 

Wow, I thought pollitical rallies usually happen outside, on wide, well ventilated areas in the city.

 

What about markets, boxing stadiums, BTS and MRT?

 

Oh, yes, and dirty foreigners must stay outside Thailand, best till the next century starts. When will you repeat this again?

 

People must be aware of the political agenta of this guy!

 

Edited August 19, 20205 yr by Flying Saucage

16 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

by next spring imo the naysayers of the virus's ability to decimate a societies health will all be singing a different tune - a month of below zero temps will inadvertently lead to mass outbreaks..

Of flu, same as every year...

16 hours ago, steelepulse said:

Taking a page from across the pond it seems.  Some gatherings and demonstrations are fine, while others definitely are not.

It appears you are correct

Life after the coronavirus: Thousands flock to Wuhan pool party

 

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr Yong Poovorawan said the virus spreads well in large groups of people who are raising their voices, such as in religious ceremonies, for entertainment or sports, and at political rallies.

I was waiting for this to come out, another veiled threat.

Funny how mass transportation isn't mentioned I guess that's tolerated, or how being crammed into a classroom to be taught is safe yet step out into the assembly area to protest you can spread Covid.

So using their own analogy congregating at 08:00 in the same area to "raise your voice" to sing the national anthem should be considered a risk and therefore stopped ?

 

 

 

17 hours ago, Patanawet said:

On what does he base these utterings? It cannot be on data gathered in Thailand as we have no locally transmitted cases here.

The I want my picture in the news  data

15 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Yong's song.

 

Broadcast at least twice weekly on this channel.

Always on time for the renewal of the Emergency Decret

Why do some of you attach sinister motives to the gentleman?

Everything  he stated was  factually correct.

 

Dr Yong Poovorawan said the virus spreads well in large groups of people who are raising their voices, such as in religious ceremonies, for entertainment or sports, and at political rallies. "Also, the disease spreads well in confined and poorly ventilated areas, while people who show no symptoms can spread the virus as well,"

 

What is incorrect about  his statement? Because he used political rally as an example does not mean it is only at political rallies: It is anywhere where there are large numbers of people  in close proximity with people shouting or talking loudly such that they spit, spray and aerosolize.  This is why the US  political  conventions are being done as  virtual events. It is why the sports leagues in the USA and Canada do not allow fans to attend.

 

Please show greater courtesy and respect to Dr. Yong Poovorawan.

 

thank you

Aaaaah, Chula!

The heart and brain of a progressive Thailand!

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

So using their own analogy congregating at 08:00 in the same area to "raise your voice" to sing the national anthem should be considered a risk and therefore stopped ?

 

 

 

 

so true hotchilli! 

56 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

It is anywhere where there are large numbers of people  in close proximity with people shouting or talking loudly such that they spit, spray and aerosolize.

So lets stop the daily 08:00 sing-along ceremony at all school assemblies then, how many thousands of innocent young lives are put in peril every day ?

 

I'll show courtesy and respect when it's given in equal measure.

Edited August 20, 20205 yr by hotchilli

Sounds more like he read a foreign Covid pamphlet than used great insight

22 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So lets stop the daily 08:00 sing-along ceremony at all school assemblies then, how many thousands of innocent young lives are put in peril every day ?

 

I'll show courtesy and respect when it's given in equal measure.

His observation also applies to  mass sing a longs too.  Why are you taking his comments out of context and attaching a political motive? Is anything he said scientifically unsound?

He has not specifically named any group. It is the foreigners on this thread imagining him as setting government policy.

 

Where was the respected research scientist  disrespectful or discourteous to you? What  has he done to you, other than try to  keep you safe? You are are channeling your dislike of the government at him.  You people are  attacking him like the nutters have attacked Dr. Fauci in the USA, and the health ministers in Brazil.

 

He states the obvious and gets vilified by angry farangs. It's cringeworthy.

 

18 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Sounds more like he read a foreign Covid pamphlet than used great insight

More likely that he wrote the pamphlet. Does anyone not know who he is? This is the go to guy on avian flu in Thailand. He led the team that did the genetic sequencing  of the H5N1 virus in Thailand.  I just can't believe the amount of disrespect  being shown on this thread. He  spends his life helping the sick and who has puts his own life at risk with his hepatitis research, and this is how a group of angry bitter farangs treat him?  All I can is wow. Just wow. And then people wonder why Thai officialdom has no patience for  farangs.

21 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

But it's safe to cram people on public transport, like the B.T. S ?

The government are getting scared about the anti government rallies.

 

How many people do you see or hear raising their voices and shouting on the BTS?

 

See the difference?

18 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

More likely that he wrote the pamphlet. Does anyone not know who he is? This is the go to guy on avian flu in Thailand. He led the team that did the genetic sequencing  of the H5N1 virus in Thailand.  I just can't believe the amount of disrespect  being shown on this thread. He  spends his life helping the sick and who has puts his own life at risk with his hepatitis research, and this is how a group of angry bitter farangs treat him?  All I can is wow. Just wow. And then people wonder why Thai officialdom has no patience for  farangs.

 

Yep. All some posters want to do is slag off the government, create conspiracy theories or slag off Thais in general.

 

 

16 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

How many people do you see or hear raising their voices and shouting on the BTS?

 

See the difference?

I think you missed this part of the O.P.

 

Also, the disease spreads well in confined and poorly ventilated areas

 

Given the choice of an open air gathering, or crammed into a B.T.S. carriage, I would most certainly choose the former.

 

See the difference ?

3 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

Why do some of you attach sinister motives to the gentleman?

Everything  he stated was  factually correct.

 

Dr Yong Poovorawan said the virus spreads well in large groups of people who are raising their voices, such as in religious ceremonies, for entertainment or sports, and at political rallies. "Also, the disease spreads well in confined and poorly ventilated areas, while people who show no symptoms can spread the virus as well,"

 

What is incorrect about  his statement? Because he used political rally as an example does not mean it is only at political rallies: It is anywhere where there are large numbers of people  in close proximity with people shouting or talking loudly such that they spit, spray and aerosolize.  This is why the US  political  conventions are being done as  virtual events. It is why the sports leagues in the USA and Canada do not allow fans to attend.

 

Please show greater courtesy and respect to Dr. Yong Poovorawan.

 

thank you

 

geriatrickid, I respect and appreciate your knowledge and input regarding Covid in this forum very much, and have been following your posts on this since the beginning of the crisis. You know much more about Covid than I do, as I am not a medic. And as you, I consider the virus as a very serious threat as well. You also know more about the scientific work of this Mr Yong. So, I stay corrected regarding his scientific work and did in no way like to disrespect this work.

 

But, as good as he might be in his job, he - from the scientific perspective - unnecessarily often already showed, where his political and social stance in the Thai system is. It is very obvious that he is very conservative, financially well protected (of course) without any risk to loose his income as many Thais currently have also thanks to his statements. And he obviously is quite close to the junta government. Never I have heard anything pragmatic or sensible of him regarding side effects to the economy, similar to what western scientists say when they talk about political measures to control the pandemic, to avoid too much additional damage to the country. Always he seems to be on the 'hammer'-side, rather than on the 'dance'-side with his recommendations. For that, he should not be mentioned in the same sentence as western specialists.

 

Also a good scientist can have a weird political stance. We all know this from history.

2 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

His observation also applies to  mass sing a longs too.  Why are you taking his comments out of context and attaching a political motive? Is anything he said scientifically unsound?

He has not specifically named any group. It is the foreigners on this thread imagining him as setting government policy.

 

Where was the respected research scientist  disrespectful or discourteous to you? What  has he done to you, other than try to  keep you safe? You are are channeling your dislike of the government at him.  You people are  attacking him like the nutters have attacked Dr. Fauci in the USA, and the health ministers in Brazil.

 

He states the obvious and gets vilified by angry farangs. It's cringeworthy.

 

He mentioned the "political rallies" not me... meaning the students rallying in numbers "raising voices".

If he's so concerned about their welfare why didn't he mention the morning chorus at 08:00?

He was not discourteous to me, and I was not discourteous to him, I merely asked why he singled out certain areas of gatherings but failed to mention others which include the same people in the same location.

I am not channeling my dislike of the government at him, he made the statement I am making a comment regarding his statement.

I am neither a nutter or an angry farang, I just like a level playing field when so called experts give their opinions.