Leading doctor urges caution in opening Thailand’s borders - even to vaccinated tourists

 

REUTERS FILE PHOTO for reference only

 

A leading Thai doctor has warned of the potential risks in opening the country’s borders, even to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Posting on Facebook, Dr. Thira Woratanarat, from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said opening the borders could be disastrous for Thailand, particular if people in the country relax the preventive measures put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.

 

Dr. Thira cited stats regarding global infections of the virus and pointed to the fact that there is little data currently available on the efficiency of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing transmission of the virus.

 

He said that even if people are vaccinated, transmission could still continue. 

 

“If the efficiency of the vaccination is still limited, or has not covered asymptomatic spread, the transmission could continue and the domestic cases would rise, especially if people start to lower their guard, thinking that we already have the vaccine,” Dr. Thira wrote on Facebook.

 

“Therefore, if we lowered our guard and became careless, even though we are vaccinated, another domestic outbreak could quickly occur when the country’s borders are reopened again,” he wrote.

 

Dr. Thira  urged everyone in Thailand to continue to adhere to the preventative measures put  in place to stop the spread of the virus, such as regular hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing.

 

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A medical person has taken it upon himself, perhaps with the blessing of the the powers that be, to enlighten us about opening borders. Looks to be no other way but to vaccinate the entire Thai population before a SAFE re-opening can occur and large scale tourism can resume. 

 

Are we looking at mid 2022 now, or is that too optimistic? 

The reality, and how long will this vaccine protect,3 months,6 months ,science is based on assumptions and not yet facts,educated people know it.

as the above poster has said, not enough is known yet. If the pox's rate of infection ever progressed to the US/UK's level imo Thailand could take many years to recover..

keep it closed. I don't want anyone coming here ever again. 

18 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

keep it closed. I don't want anyone coming here ever again. 

Not even 6 million (quality) British tourists!

 

33 minutes ago, vivananahuahin said:

The reality, and how long will this vaccine protect,3 months,6 months ,science is based on assumptions and not yet facts,educated people know it.

Spot on. At this point it’s still unclear how long the vaccination protection lasts and whether the vaccinated person can still pass the virus on.

What is he talking about? The border is already open!

 

How did this German tourist get into Thailand recently in the first place when he doesn't have a job, a wife etc in Thailand?

 

 

12 minutes ago, EricTh said:

What is he talking about? The border is already open!

 

How did this German tourist get into Thailand recently in the first place when he doesn't have a job, a wife etc in Thailand?

 

 

I think he means opening the borders to vaccinated travellers, without any quarantine  requirements.  Tourists with a COE and confirmed ASQ have been allowed in for a while now.

Here we go again another expert and another profession where elephant tickets must be banded around like confetti  ???? 

how did covid get to be designated as the first disease in history for which there is zero tolerance for cases/deaths?

 

the last wave of 20,000 cases resulted in 19 deaths, thats 0.1%, or 1 in 3.4 million people in thailand.

 

If only they had that degree of intolerance towards government corruption....

10 minutes ago, poskat said:

how did covid get to be designated as the first disease in history for which there is zero tolerance for cases/deaths?

 

the last wave of 20,000 cases resulted in 19 deaths, thats 0.1%, or 1 in 3.4 million people in thailand.

 

If only they had that degree of intolerance towards government corruption....

Exactly.  The overwhelming majority of people who get infected are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.  But still they think it's necessary to decimate the economy and small businesses.  At least Thailand hasn't gone the way of the UK/USA.

Yes, he's quite right.  Really, testing negative in a 14 day period is the only safe way.  Covid 19 vaccines primarily prevent serious illness.

 

Only when the majority of people in Thailand have been vaccinated can international tourism be considered.

On 2/26/2021 at 4:48 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

Exactly.  The overwhelming majority of people who get infected are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.  But still they think it's necessary to decimate the economy and small businesses.  At least Thailand hasn't gone the way of the UK/USA.

From what ive read its somewhat similar all throughout much of the world..

 

Australia being the worst of course,

locking down a capital city the size of Melbourne for the sake of 2 people infected. <deleted>?

AND wont even let citizens leave the country.

complete madness.

 

But wait see, once a few countries start opening up fully,

even the staunch ones like Australia wont want to be left behind at the bite of the tourism apple.

 

I know im going against the grain here,

but im predicting some positive leaps and bounds in the next 3 months if this thing is containd more.

 

...

 

There's only so long you can completely trample on peoples freedoms and liberties.

Last week the government said they will take a decision before end of february to cancel a mandatory quarantine for vaccinated tourists in april.

 

No update ?

Understandable logic from a nation that is terrified of ghosts.

 

Well, I had my vaccine today, so hopefully there will be more evidence about reduced transmission by vaccinated people soon. I did see one study that said transmission was reduced by two thirds. This was 3 weeks ago. 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/oxford-vaccine-may-have-67-effect-on-transmission-and-protection-remains-for-three-month-jab-interval-12206734

Most likely borders will not open until most are vaccinated.  Now this can easily change, remember that the understanding of the pandemic is changing day by day.  There are indications that it may be reduced.  

The ball dropper is Thailand hardly even tried to get vaccines when this all started happening.   They are way back in the line now.  

2022?  For sure.  But that can easily change to earlier if they can figure this out.  

It is unfortunate that  some people do not make an effort to understand the  issue  before they criticize.

 

How many times does it need to be said that this is not about who it kills directly. (and your values of 1% or 2% are very wrong.  In the  USA the current estimates are that  the fatality rate is in excess of 3% and in UK even worse.)  And of course in typical white western  bias view you ignore that much of the world does not have ICU or  access to anti inflammatory drugs like developed world so death rate will be much higher.)

You completely ignore the fact that  the widespread infection means regular medical care delivery stops in countries where there are disease  control protocols. Covid19 spreads like wildfire in hospital and this means that  surgeries and general procedures cannot continue. Millions of people with a need for care will go untreated and we are seeing an increase of negative outcome for cancer patients because they cannot access care.

 

 

One must be  very ignorant and intentionally and cut off from reality to ignore the impact on the healthcare system. Thousands of healthcare workers  have been very ill or died. this means that they could not work in the system. Senior care residences were already understaffed, and every western country has had a  shortage of nurses for years. And  here you come to  pronounce that there is nothing to be concerbned about and that old people and vulnerable can die. 

 

What evil arrogance to say that a woman in cancer care, some child\s mother  should die because it is inconvenient for you. or that someone's elderly parents should die because you find it dreadful that you cannot go to bar and drink.

 

All of a sudden you care about suicides? No I don't think so. The people who are suicidal because of Covid were already ill long before. Now you have discovered compassion? 

 

The jobs that were lost were the low wage, temp type jobs where people were always at the mercy of job market. many countries have addressed with supplement wage or living wage. The USA is one of the wealthy countries where poor people are left to manage on their own.

 

On 2/26/2021 at 4:02 PM, sammieuk1 said:

Here we go again another expert and another profession where elephant tickets must be banded around like confetti  ???? 

 

What was wrong with what he said? Like medically factually incorrect?

 

On 2/26/2021 at 4:35 PM, poskat said:

how did covid get to be designated as the first disease in history for which there is zero tolerance for cases/deaths?

the last wave of 20,000 cases resulted in 19 deaths, thats 0.1%, or 1 in 3.4 million people in thailand.

If only they had that degree of intolerance towards government corruption....

 

You are angry because Thai strategy worked? Would you rather the failed strategy of USA, or  maybe the denial  strategy of Sweden that resulted in needless death, or maybe the selfishness of UK , or arrogance of Germany and France that put national arrogance  ahead of public health as their bashing of Oxford vaccine has show?

Or maybe you want imaginary safety of Tanzania?

You are angry at Thailand because it does a strategy similar to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Oh yes, they must be  bad too.

 

12 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

It is unfortunate that  some people do not make an effort to understand the  issue  before they criticize.

 

How many times does it need to be said that this is not about who it kills directly. (and your values of 1% or 2% are very wrong.  In the  USA the current estimates are that  the fatality rate is in excess of 3% and in UK even worse.)  And of course in typical white western  bias view you ignore that much of the world does not have ICU or  access to anti inflammatory drugs like developed world so death rate will be much higher.)

You completely ignore the fact that  the widespread infection means regular medical care delivery stops in countries where there are disease  control protocols. Covid19 spreads like wildfire in hospital and this means that  surgeries and general procedures cannot continue. Millions of people with a need for care will go untreated and we are seeing an increase of negative outcome for cancer patients because they cannot access care.

 

 

One must be  very ignorant and intentionally and cut off from reality to ignore the impact on the healthcare system. Thousands of healthcare workers  have been very ill or died. this means that they could not work in the system. Senior care residences were already understaffed, and every western country has had a  shortage of nurses for years. And  here you come to  pronounce that there is nothing to be concerbned about and that old people and vulnerable can die. 

 

What evil arrogance to say that a woman in cancer care, some child\s mother  should die because it is inconvenient for you. or that someone's elderly parents should die because you find it dreadful that you cannot go to bar and drink.

 

All of a sudden you care about suicides? No I don't think so. The people who are suicidal because of Covid were already ill long before. Now you have discovered compassion? 

 

The jobs that were lost were the low wage, temp type jobs where people were always at the mercy of job market. many countries have addressed with supplement wage or living wage. The USA is one of the wealthy countries where poor people are left to manage on their own.

 

 

What was wrong with what he said? Like medically factually incorrect?

 

 

You are angry because Thai strategy worked? Would you rather the failed strategy of USA, or  maybe the denial  strategy of Sweden that resulted in needless death, or maybe the selfishness of UK , or arrogance of Germany and France that put national arrogance  ahead of public health as their bashing of Oxford vaccine has show?

Or maybe you want imaginary safety of Tanzania?

You are angry at Thailand because it does a strategy similar to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Oh yes, they must be  bad too.

 

It is also unfortunate that  some people do not make an effort to understand the county that they are talking about/living in where truth and honesty are a rare commodity and experts fewer ????  

We all gonna die... anyway.. 

9 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

A medical person has taken it upon himself, perhaps with the blessing of the the powers that be, to enlighten us about opening borders. Looks to be no other way but to vaccinate the entire Thai population before a SAFE re-opening can occur and large scale tourism can resume. 

 

Are we looking at mid 2022 now, or is that too optimistic? 

Personally I think you all should never re-open. I mean you guys are there already , what do you need more of us? And who cares about all those Thais who work in the tourist or support industries. Let them eat cake. 

3 hours ago, englishoak said:

We all gonna die... anyway.. 

But hopefully not today. 

10 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

You are angry because Thai strategy worked?

It doesn't come across as angry just concerned. When you have a very feeble testing system you can hardly shout that you have a great system in place which you are suggesting Thailand has. It does not.  How many people have been vaccinated in Thailand. When will the population be completely vaccinated.

 

From experience whatever that date is supposed to be, add more time, like every other project I have known in Thailand.

 

Not Thai bashing at all. Its just the way it is.

18 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Exactly.  The overwhelming majority of people who get infected are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.  But still they think it's necessary to decimate the economy and small businesses.  At least Thailand hasn't gone the way of the UK/USA.

As a 78 year-old, understandably perhaps, I beg to disagree.

What is the point of spending sooooo much money on developing the vaccine and getting it if the science behind it is not trusted? Total waste! Seems like a good excuse to keep westerners out and boots on locals throats.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Leading doctor urges caution in opening Thailand’s borders - even to vaccinated tourists

How can Thailand seriously open the borders before the Thai population is vaccinated?

21 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

keep it closed. I don't want anyone coming here ever again. 

But what YOU want doesn't matter.

 

What does matter is what the Thai medical practioners want and what the government ( if it can ever make up its muddled mind) wants.

 

What we farangs want comes after what soi dogs want.

19 hours ago, Spellforce said:

Last week the government said they will take a decision before end of february to cancel a mandatory quarantine for vaccinated tourists in april.

 

No update ?

Still mulling it over I suspect.

I've forgotten about Thailand ages ago exactly for this reason, everytime someone jumps up and comes out with these kind of statements you might as well just shut the place up and crawl under the bed..... Sadly i bet the suicide figures in Thailand have far exceeded the C19 deaths a long time ago and the damage to the economy will take years to repair.....  The fact is, if you carry on with all these "Ifs" and "Maybe's"  then the future is bleak to say the least..... Test before the flight, test at the airport, if the tests are no good, find one that is..... But all this "maybe" garbage is beginning to smell like something else.......  I've worked in places where diseases such a cerebral malaria will kill you in days but life and work goes on ........ This is beginning to look like a lot of scared old folks sacrificing everyone else for their own safety.......    Apparently we put a man on the moon 51 years ago and now we can't find a test kit for a virus that works........ C'mon !