People urged to stay home for New Year, migrant workers face greater scrutiny

[webfact]

People urged to stay home for New Year, migrant workers face greater scrutiny

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A swathe of measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 have been announced by authorities at the Ministry of Public Health.

 

A spokesman expressed concern about the possible spread of the disease at New Year as people travel home and congregate for the holidays.

 

Among the measures one is sure to prove controversial; all migrant workers have been told to stay at home and not travel for New Year.

 

Local authorities are to check up on them by knocking on their doors at home to make sure. 

 

Migrants have been singled out as one of the main reasons for the start of the latest outbreak that has Thailand teetering on the edge of a huge wave of infections that could bring in a new lockdown, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Speaking at the Ministry of Health HQ yesterday Dr Kiatphoom Wongrajit said the latest target was to stop the spread of Covid at New Year.

 

He said that people should:

 

• NOT travel unnecessarily for the holidays
• TRY to stay at home
• CELEBRATE with families
• NOT gather in large, close-packed groups (especially where alcohol and shouting were prevalent)

 

He said that the situation in Samut Sakhon was under control "on one level". Local provincial authorities should be responsible in line with central guidelines. Big events should be cancelled or a permit sought that would ensure all protocols are followed. 

 

He advised people to have an online new year with "online prayers for the New Year".

 

But it was his comments about migrants that are sure to raise eyebrows among the huge numbers of low paid workers that help to keep the Thai economy afloat.

 

He said that all migrants should stay home and not travel at all and employers should be responsible for them. If they couldn't stay at home they should hunker down in their workplace.

 

Municipal authorities should "knock on doors" to ensure they were where they were meant to be and if they were not the information should be passed on.

 

Meanwhile Thais were just told to not gather in groups in places like casinos.

 

In the briefing Dr Opas Kankawinpong gave details about the outbreak in Samut Sakhon, the epicenter of Thailand's outbreak. 

 

Dr Wichan Pawan spoke of the effect the outbreak had had on Bangkok. He said that 70 cases had been reported around the capital mostly connected with Samut Sakhon with 27 in Bang Khun Thian, seven in Nong Khaem and 5 in Bang Khae. 

 

Most cases were south west of the capital nearer to Samut Sakhon. 

 

But he expressed concern about 22 cases in Nonthaburi that were linked to three entertainment venues - the Isan Krong Kaew restaurant in Pin Klao, Saeb Isan Karaoke in Thewes and the Nong Mai Plaza. 

 

People who had gone to these on 15th to 22nd December should watch their symptoms. 

 

The first case from this cluster showed up in a Nonthaburi resident. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

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[Thaiwrath]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that all migrants should stay home and not travel at all and employers should be responsible for them. If they couldn't stay at home they should hunker down in their workplace.

 

Municipal authorities should "knock on doors" to ensure they were where they were meant to be and if they were not the information should be passed on.

Nothing like a good scapegoat to deflect one's inability to control a situation.

Nothing short of an utter disgrace. 

[RotBenz8888]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Municipal authorities should "knock on doors" to ensure they were where they were meant to be and if they were not the information should be passed on.

Tse papers, please. 

[lujanit]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that all migrants should stay home and not travel at all and employers should be responsible for them. If they couldn't stay at home they should hunker down in their workplace.

More xenophobia from the 'Government'.  Disgraceful double standards.  This is an abuse of the migrants human rights.  The same standard should apply to everyone.

[HashBrownHarry]

One has to feel some empathy for what these Burmese / Laos and Cambodian workers are going to face from now on.....The Thai's were not very nice to them before all this carry on..

[PatOngo]

Forget the migrants, is'nt it tradition for locals to get legless and drive home to the province for new year, sanook mak!

[herfiehandbag]

If they are looking for scapegoats how about: the traffickers who moved these people illegally, the officialdom  in various colours (of uniforms) who accepted the bribes to look the other way or to be patrolling somewhere else, and the business men who brought them in and illegally employed them to increase their profits. 

 

This is a textbook example of the harm done by entrenched widespread corruption.

[CharlieH]

Reported post with oversized font removed.

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

If they are looking for scapegoats how about: the traffickers who moved these people illegally, the officialdom  in various colours (of uniforms) who accepted the bribes to look the other way or to be patrolling somewhere else, and the business men who brought them in and illegally employed them to increase their profits. 

 

This is a textbook example of the harm done by entrenched widespread corruption.

Logic has a far different interpretation here I'm afraid!

[mtls2005]

Don't let that barn door hit you in the rear.

[overherebc]

Shouting and alcohol present are SOP's for New Year eveywhere.

[Misterwhisper]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

NOT gather in large, close-packed groups (especially where alcohol and shouting were prevalent)

Alright then. I'll just sit alone in my backyard tomorrow evening, pour those beers down my throat and shout at the top of my lungs - if only to annoy the heck out of the neighbors. 

[dukeandduke]

"Meanwhile Thais were just told to not gather in groups in places like casinos."

 

The comedy continues...

[Jeffr2]

No reason to come to Pattaya...

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/12/30/banglamung-pattaya-enters-highly-controlled-status-shutdowns-of-non-essential-business-bars-malls-etc/

 

Banglamung/Pattaya enters highly controlled status, shutdowns of non essential business, bars, malls, etc

[Misterwhisper]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile Thais were just told to not gather in groups in places like casinos.

...that don't exist, according to most high-level officials, including certain provincial governors.

[Cake Monster]

6 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Nothing like a good scapegoat to deflect one's inability to control a situation.

Nothing short of an utter disgrace. 

From the moment these Migrant Labourers set foot on to Thai Soil, they are treated like Animals .

And the main culprits are the Thai Authorities.

The person that should have a handle on the situation, has taken a vacation stating ' Self Isolation "

Its his responsibility to organize and get this thing under control, but what does he do,

He hides away like a scared Rabbit in it burrow.

Not much of a Minister 

 

[Burma Bill]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

People urged to stay home for New Year

 

I wonder what TAT's domestic tourism figures will look like now!

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Among the measures one is sure to prove controversial; all migrant workers have been told to stay at home and not travel for New Year.

While Thais on the "lets go halves scheme" are immune?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

One has to feel some empathy for what these Burmese / Laos and Cambodian workers are going to face from now on.....The Thai's were not very nice to them before all this carry on..

I for one hope all the migrants see Thailand for what it is, pack-up and go home.

Thailand would collapse within a week.

[MJCM]

Why the saying "closing the stable door after the horse has bolted." comes to mind ????

[ThailandRyan]

12 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

I wonder what TAT's domestic tourism figures will look like now!

Sounds like the economic boost the restaurants and bars were looking for on New Years eve just took a giant dump on the floor.  Economy in a freefall as long as the baht stays strong and people are selling gold by the Kg to live daily life.  

[HashBrownHarry]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I for one hope all the migrants see Thailand for what it is, pack-up and go home.

Thailand would collapse within a week.

Yes but with all migrants they leave their motherland for better conditions / prospects.

 

It would be interesting to see how the thais would cope ( or not ) if what you mention did happen tho.

[asiasurfer]

Racism at its finest. All I can say to this... 

[lavender19]

21 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Nothing like a good scapegoat to deflect one's inability to control a situation.

Nothing short of an utter disgrace. 

Totally agree. I see there has been no mention of the Thai prostitutes who bought it back with them. 

Probably hoping they will be forgotten about as they probably know too much

[ChakaKhan]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Migrants have been singled out as one of the main reasons

Well its nice to see that some normality still holds strong during these difficult times.......Watch your back boys..