Chula lecturer: Reopening of country could open a Covid-19 Pandora's box

[webfact]

Chula lecturer: Reopening of country could open a Covid-19 Pandora's box

By The Nation

 

Thira Woratanarat

 

Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine lecturer Thira Woratanarat voiced his concern in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the government’s move to reopen Thailand to long-stay tourists will put the country at risk of a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

He pointed out that the number of global Covid-19 cases recently increased from 30 million people to 35 million in a span of only 15 days.

 

“Many countries are still under the severe pandemic and have an infection rate 20 times that of Thailand’s, so Thailand will be at a risk of becoming a pandemic hotspot after the country is reopened,” he said, warning that the government’s move “was not different from opening a Pandora’s box”.

 

Thira said there is no nation which is safe from a second Covid-19 wave after reopening.

 

“The country will be a new endemic area if the government cannot contain the spread of the disease effectively. And even if there is a Covid-19 vaccine, it may be too late,” he said.

 

He urged people to wear face masks and closely monitor their symptoms otherwise it could lead to a second wave.

 

“If we do not help together, a second wave will be harder to overcome, while the number of cases will increase by 2.6 times, which may lead to a medical supply shortage,” he warned.

 

He added that the government’s decision is important, because its move will affect people nationwide.

 

“If the country decides to take risks, everyone must rely on themselves because this is a war between virus and humans and people need to survive,” he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30395431

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-02

 

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[edwardandtubs]

The BBC website is now reporting that a vaccine won't be widely rolled out until 2022 so what does this Chula lecturer suggest? Letting Thailand's tourist industry die, causing mass unemployment and poverty? Has he even assessed the health impact of that or doesn't he give a damn?

Edited October 1, 2020 by edwardandtubs

[ourmanflint]

So Thailand has spent the last 6 months doing nothing to prepare a first or second wave of covid, it hasn’t procured the medical supplies needed, it hasn’t procured the ventilators? It has done absolutely nothing, is that what this professor is suggesting ?

Does he think the best plan is to continue to do nothing until 2022?

[richard_smith237]

34 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

The BBC website is now reporting that a vaccine won't be widely rolled out until 2022 so what does this Chula lecturer suggest? Letting Thailand's tourist industry die, causing mass unemployment and poverty? Has he even assessed the health impact of that or doesn't he give a damn?

He doesn’t care now... he’s made his public statement... offered no solution, but that doesn’t matter.

 

I wonder if he understands that the exponential increase in testing (of other nations outside of Thailand) has influenced the validity of the data given that the Covid-19 RT PCR test is not 100% accurate and that the ‘false positive’ error margin has resulted in significant increase in false positive test results - something the politicians seem to have missed world wide..... 

 

 

[simon43]

It's tiresome to read yet again about some Chula bod spouting off on his soapbox, as if his opinion matters.  His comments just muddy the waters.

 

Look, I studied for a Master's degree at Chula.  Does that qualify me to expect for a few newspaper headlines when I take a snap of my breakfast and put it on my FB page?

 

It must be a slow news day....

[mr mr]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Reopening of country could open a Covid-19 Pandora's box

pandora's truth box is what he means.

[RotBenz8888]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand will be at a risk of becoming a pandemic hotspot after the country is reopened,”

I wouldn't call Thailand "reopened", bearing in mind all those draconian rules including 14d quaranten. 

[CLW]

Would be interesting if it was his private facebook where he sprouts this nonsense and if it was endorsed by his employer?

And once again, not a single word about the current testing in Thailand which in my very personal opinion has stopped completely.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

The BBC website is now reporting that a vaccine won't be widely rolled out until 2022 so what does this Chula lecturer suggest? Letting Thailand's tourist industry die, causing mass unemployment and poverty? Has he even assessed the health impact of that or doesn't he give a damn?

And what do you suggest, many countries are experiencing a 2nd wave as it's known, some have experimented with tourism and are now facing the consequences, what will happen if Covid re-emerges among the Thai populous and back into work places, the cost of that to the economy will be in the billions.

And of course if Covid re-emerges what will happen to tourism, they will stop coming.

So you're left with little or no tourism and a crippled industry... double whammy.

My bet is it's safer to keep the borders closed this year & really push safe domestic travel, let the economy recover more and look at the situation start of New Year.

 

[Christie Paul]

What happened to the Thai cure for COVID 19?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ireland32]

Crazy opening up , Break outs like Crazy in Europe France , Ireland , China even has breakouts and Winter coming , my god ridiculous 

[Benmart]

Pandora's Box opened back in 2014. 

[NCC1701A]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“was not different from opening a Pandora’s box”.

Does Pandora have anything to say in this?

[lensta]

F@#k, every day another one crawls out of the woodwork looking for his 15 minutes of fame. I wonder how much the junta are paying them.

[Surelynot]

If the figures for the number of people having contracted the virus in Thailand are anywhere near correct...very few.....opening the country up now will put it the same position as the UK was back in March. The virus will rip through the population......they have to wait for 100% rapid testing at the airport or a vaccine.

[Surelynot]

32 minutes ago, Benmart said:

Pandora's Box opened back in 2014. 

Minus the "hope".

[Elkski]

Except for those in the tourism industry and sex work most thai people doing fine and safe.    But if covid comes back  they will revolt. 

[khunPer]

IMHO I cannot see that a long-stay tourist after negative Covid-19 test, 14 days quarantine, and more negative Covid-19 tests are a greater problem and risk, than returned citizens that has been through exactly the same procedure; however some didn't take a test before boarding a plane and showed positive upon arrival, or shortly after...????

[Christie Paul]

https://hubpages.com/politics/Pfizer-Chief-Science-Officer-Second-Wave-Based-on-Fake-Data-of-False-Positives-for-New-Cases-Pandemic-is-Over

 

[Flying Saucage]

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

He doesn’t care now... he’s made his public statement... offered no solution, but that doesn’t matter.

 

I wonder if he understands that the exponential increase in testing (of other nations outside of Thailand) has influenced the validity of the data given that the Covid-19 RT PCR test is not 100% accurate and that the ‘false positive’ error margin has resulted in significant increase in false positive test results - something the politicians seem to have missed world wide..... 

 

 

It doesn't care if he understands. Very likely he does. But same as the other guy Yong he acts just as a toxic mouthpiece of the Prayut administration, and follows it's political agenda. He misuses science for this. That's indecent.

[Flying Saucage]

9 hours ago, simon43 said:

It must be a slow news day....

He clearly works for the government and it's aganda. That's why we read this daily scaremongering. Tomorrow you will read something similar from his other Chula-colleague Dr. Yong. Then, in two days, again from this Dr. Thira. Embarrasing daily scaremongering, to support the political agenda of the government. Bet they are well paid for that.

 

Edited October 2, 2020 by Flying Saucage

[spidermike007]

f the country decides to take risks, everyone must rely on themselves because this is a war between virus and humans and people need to survive,” he added.

 

Dumb and dumber. This numskull has been droning on and on forever. While collecting a fat salary. No regard for the masses. None. 

 

So many distortions here. First of all this appears to be a fairly low grade virus. What percent of fatalities here were under 65-70 years old? What percent did not have underlying conditions? He makes it sound like a second wave would knock out the population. Millions of tourists were here in Nov. Dec. Jan. and Feb. Many were likely infected. Yet? 58 deaths. Less than two days on the highways here. Do they shut down the highways? 

 

Adults 65 and older account for 16% of the US population but 80% of COVID-19 deaths in the US, somewhat higher than their share of deaths from all causes (75%) over the same period.

 

There are so many variables here. Is it worth taking a small risk, so that the economy can recover, and the people can live? 

[Scott Tracy]

A lecturer, at a University, not even a Professor. On a Facebook post. Give me strength. 

 

I wonder if the post was approved by the faculty. If not, a personal opinion from a no body and it's picked up as news.

 

As the phrase goes, why oh why oh why?

 

The news media has nothing to report and goes trawling Facebook posts from someone who has an opinion. I wonder if it has been reviewed against the Defamation laws?

[dluek]

Could be misreported b/c The Nation is an awful news outlet. But that is some ridiculous fear mongering if he's really only talking about the small number of STV tourists who have to get tested 3 times, do 2 weeks in quarantine AND come from countries where covid has been contained. Thousands of Thais and expats have already returned from countries that are being ravaged by covid and they haven't "opened a Pandora's box," so why would a small number of tourists who are being put through the exact same covid prevention measures open one? 

[spidermike007]

A simple plan. A non antigen test 72 hours before the flight. And Thailand ups their game, and invests in some modern technology, and provides on the spot antigen testing at Suvarnabhumi or elsewhere. It is easy. You pass two different tests, using two different methodologies, and you are covid free.

 

Welcome. No health insurance required. No groveling at a consulate. No quarantine. Welcome to Thailand. Have a great trip. And thanks so much for bringing a bundle of cash. Our people really need it. 

 

No panic. No fear mongering. Double testing. You are safe. We are safe. Life is good. 

[DavisH]

5 hours ago, Surelynot said:

If the figures for the number of people having contracted the virus in Thailand are anywhere near correct...very few.....opening the country up now will put it the same position as the UK was back in March. The virus will rip through the population......they have to wait for 100% rapid testing at the airport or a vaccine.

Look what is happening in Myanmar as we speak. The virus is far more likely be spread by illegal workers coming in that any tourists that are put into quarantine. 

[Guderian]

They should look at Spain. Opening up to tourism has simply resulted in a major new outbreak, there's no reason why things will be different in Thailand. If the government thinks it's worth shutting down the whole country for months again, just to stop some hotel owners moaning, they need to have somebody explain the concept of risk and reward to them. 

[Bastos60]

21 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

The BBC website is now reporting that a vaccine won't be widely rolled out until 2022 so what does this Chula lecturer suggest? Letting Thailand's tourist industry die, causing mass unemployment and poverty? Has he even assessed the health impact of that or doesn't he give a damn?

I see the baht crash very hard next year. 
They will never be able to open up, the countries where the virus now circulates have very low deathrates compared to March. But they are now building herd immunity before the winter effectively hits.

[ayahuasca]

For example:

 

France: 67,000,000 people reports: 590,000 cases

Thailand: 70,000,000 people reports: 3,600 cases

 

See the problem? 

 

>>>NO TESTING in Thailand<<<

 

He knows what many people don’t….

 

And if you test positive for Covid-19 in Thailand, what happens?

 

(I know, and you should too). 

 

[Forza2002]

Will be interesting to see how many of the Chinese on the 1st planeload of STV tourists test positive for CV19. Will we be told truthfully if somebody is infected? It would certainly raise questions regarding further planned flights...