Image Credit: Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha’s Facebook page

 

Thailand is entering the third wave of COVID-19 infections, with the disease spreading widely and most of those infected asymptomatic. By the time symptoms start, they will become very sick and have to be admitted for treatment, according to Professor Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Center for Emerging Disease Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in his Facebook post today.

 

He cited the drive-through COVID-19 screening, being conducted by the Ramkhamhaeng Hospital since April 1st, which shows that about 9% of those tested were infected, adding that most of the infected had visited entertainment venues.

 

Dr. Thiravat said that venues, such as pubs and bars, are ideal for spreading COVID-19 because most visitors do not practice self-discipline, do not observe social distancing and tend to spend long hours in the crammed space, which often has poor ventilation.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-entering-third-wave-of-covid-19-infections-dr-thiravat-hemachudha/

 

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Third wave? When was the first and second wave?

Testing the govt has done of Thong Lo entertainment workers over the past several days similarly has shown a 10% positivity rate, which is quite high...

 

 

17 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Third wave? When was the first and second wave?

 

 

From the TH Ministry of Public Health, showing from mid-Dec. 2020 through early April 2021.

 

I  believe, the red line reflects people who get tested and found positive on their own, whereas the tan bars reflect sporadic outreach testing.

 

For whatever reason, in their chart, they don't tally the two categories of positive cases together, but instead, treat them as separate/overlapping categories.

 

The Samut Sakhon outbreak involving Myanmar migrants earlier this year (shown in the tall tan colored bars) certainly would get counted as at least one of the prior waves.

I pray for the Thai people finantially and otherwise affected that this is not the case.

The percentages of positive tests quoted is very worrying indeed as inter provincial travel is about to increase.

 

I'm afraid the original fayboo spouting medical mouthpiece Dr Yong Poovorawan beat you to it.  I'm sticking with the original for all things obvious.

yet health ministry sits on some 850k doses kept safely at hospitals.

their main purpose is vaccinating hospitality industry taking care of international tourists, not on medical personal, essential services and on vulnerable (seniors, patients with underlying conditions).

 

in their wisdom they have added one day to songkran holidays and are actively encouraging holidaymakers to travel inter-provincially 

Thailand appears to be opening up just as they are shutting down everything

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He cited the drive-through COVID-19 screening, being conducted by the Ramkhamhaeng Hospital since April 1st, which shows that about 9% of those tested were infected, adding that most of the infected had visited entertainment venues.

9%!!! Given the rate at which the virus has spread in other countries, that's a very worrying figure.

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Thailand appears to be opening up just as they are shutting down everything

After waiting so long for quarantine to be reduced/ended - I sincerely hope they get a handle on this or I might not see my wife for another year.

 

They appear to have done pretty well at clamping down on the virus in other areas but Bangkok could be a lot more difficult.

Why the sunglass?

13 hours ago, WHansen said:

I pray for the Thai people finantially and otherwise affected that this is not the case.

The percentages of positive tests quoted is very worrying indeed as inter provincial travel is about to increase.

 

Of course, they barely tested as since 1 year they claimed to be covid-free !!! But virus was there..only not declared probably

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Dr. Thiravat said that venues, such as pubs and bars, are ideal for spreading COVID-19 because most visitors do not practice self-discipline, do not observe social distancing and tend to spend long hours in the crammed space, which often has poor ventilation.

Indeed true, I was taken to a bar the other night by some Thai friends [one had a birthday].

No checks at the door, no temp test, no sanitiser, no name taking and inside I was one of a minority wearing a mask.

Complete lack of understanding, yet if like Thong Lor this area had an outbreak, the bars would be the first to cry out.

 

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

Why the sunglass?

Extra protection, remember covid can enter all parts of your body. Also being on the third wave might want us to get the latest vaccines some time soon.

Finally arrived. No way to stop the spreading now. Just can pray that we get enough vaccines on time before the big numbers start to roll in. So much time was lost and not enough orders placed

for vaccination. It does not take a lot of IQ to have ordered the ONE shot Johnson vaccine with August arrival and we would be done by end September. No no we have to produce it locally and make a few bucks.... the greed evening during  this pandemic is overwhelming... 

If Thailand has hopes of being in the tourist bubble with countries like NZ, Aus, Singapore & Vietnam

it will have to lift its game and forget about immediate intra country tourism and tighten up its approach to restricting travel and spread of the virus at home. Short term gain appears to be at the fore front of Thailand's  bureaucracy rather than taking a solid stand on restricting the spread of the virus.

6 minutes ago, Paul Henry said:

If Thailand has hopes of being in the tourist bubble with countries like NZ, Aus, Singapore & Vietnam

it will have to lift its game and forget about immediate intra country tourism and tighten up its approach to restricting travel and spread of the virus at home. Short term gain appears to be at the fore front of Thailand's  bureaucracy rather than taking a solid stand on restricting the spread of the virus.

 

If they don't do something fairly drastic right now, today, they will never be part of one of these travel bubbles.

 

The minute hand is nigh straight up.

 

I think it's time we all just carried on about our business, if you need to get tested to find out you have it then how bad is it really? Is it worth closing down the world?

15 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Third wave? When was the first and second wave?

The first wave was before the second wave, and the second wave was before the third wave. 

1 hour ago, cedel said:

Of course, they barely tested as since 1 year they claimed to be covid-free !!! But virus was there..only not declared probably

They've said all along the virus was lurking out there.  They've admitted not all the cases were counted. 

 

They do test.  Just not as much as other countries.  They test where the infections are found.  And, do testing of the sewage in Bangkok. 

 

Overall, they've done a pretty good job here.  Much safer here than in the West where the virus is/was raging.

More like a ripple in a pond... ????

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He cited the drive-through COVID-19 screening, being conducted by the Ramkhamhaeng Hospital since April 1st, which shows that about 9% of those tested were infected, adding that most of the infected had visited entertainment venues.

 

Interesting factoid to casually mention.

 

Are these being reported in the daily CCSA figures?

 

How does anyone know if the infected visited entertainment areas?

 

 

 

Seems like a fairly big, albeit uncoordiated, push to discourage Songkhran travel/partying, without seeming too authoritarian, i.e. prayut ordering it and seeming like a army general.

 

 

4 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

9%!!! Given the rate at which the virus has spread in other countries, that's a very worrying figure.

Positivity rate doesn't mean anything unless they test the same number of people every day and draw random samples of the population. 

Why would they even test  the 91% who are negative? What is the basis to go to the site?

16 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Third wave? When was the first and second wave?

Third wave of media bull sh*t!

Never even had the first ripple never mind third wave. 

56 minutes ago, JeffersLos said:

The first wave was before the second wave, and the second wave was before the third wave. 

Yes - and throughout all these "waves" the official death toll from Covid remains under 100!

Last tests were 6% of the 1400 random.

Yes the problem is festering away still.

When does mass testing start?

 

Oh, it has already.

Really?

And the majority of cases are home grown.

Not the ones like us pre covid tested.

Perhaps one set of rules for all?

But this is Thailand...

2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Why the sunglass?

Because he heard of the third wave so sunglasses and surfboard out he got to catch that wave . Mahalo dude . 

4 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

9%!!! Given the rate at which the virus has spread in other countries, that's a very worrying figure.

With a 9% positivity rate, surely the more contagious mutations have landed on Thai Soil.

If that is the case, Thailand will be in for a very rough ride similar to the Brazilian Outbreak, and the Indian surge in cases.

A more worrying aspect is how the Thai Authorities will deal with it if that come to fruition