Thailand reports 334 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

As mentioned above, the government today did NOT take any action / announce a decision on the MoPH's proposal to mandate 9 pm closing times and ban alcohol sales for all restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in BKK and four other provinces for the coming two weeks.

 

So for the time being, that means they're going only with the targeted closure orders that the BMA has made for entertainment venues in three BKK districts that have had significant recent COVID outbreaks -- Khlong Toey, Watthana (Vadhana) and Bang Khae.

 

 

"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered 196 entertainment establishments in Klong Toey, Wattana, and Bang Khae districts to close after reports of high COVID-19 infections from those districts. The order is in effect from 6 to 19 April 2021.

 

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration also urges the public to follow the guidelines and prevention measures to reduce the risk of infection. They will continue to watch the situation closely. If the infection rate continues to rise, they will elevate stricter measures to control the spread of the virus."

 

https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/posts/4149192698437446

 

The BMA order says it covers "entertainment venues, pubs, bars, and karaoke shops" in those 3 districts, which include a good portion of the areas adjoining Sukhumvit Road in central BKK.

 

https://prbangkok-eng.com/index.php/2021/04/05/bma-orders-the-temporary-closure-of-entertainment-venues-in-3-districts-from-april-6-to-19-2021/

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

Just been announced in Thai media, preliminary tests confirm the covid strain circulating is the UK variant. Dr Yong Poovorawan.

 

Get ready for the tsunami. 

[John Drake]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Just been announced in Thai media, preliminary tests confirm the covid strain circulating is the UK variant. Dr Yong Poovorawan.

 

Get ready for the tsunami. 

 

Good to know then that vaccines were prioritized where needed most. Phuket.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Just been announced in Thai media, preliminary tests confirm the covid strain circulating is the UK variant. Dr Yong Poovorawan.

 

Get ready for the tsunami. 

 

The various MoPH folks just finished an hour long live video news conference on various COVID stuff, with Dr. Poovorawan being one of the major presenters.  It was entirely in TH language of course, and I haven't yet seen any EN versions of their comments.

 

But the presentation did include the following slide that seems to support your comment above:

 

 

The above chart is weblinked below in the following NBT news report.

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And now confirmed:

 

"The Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology confirmed that the SARS-CoV-2 strain that is spreading amongst the Thonglor cluster is the UK strain using the Specific probe Real Time RT-PCR test to confirm.

 

This strain is said to spread 1.7 times faster from the original strain or also known as the Wild type."

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10157934082182050

 

NBT posted the same chart I just posted above.

 

 

[Cake Monster]

12 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Just been announced in Thai media, preliminary tests confirm the covid strain circulating is the UK variant. Dr Yong Poovorawan.

 

Get ready for the tsunami. 

This comes as no surprise to me.

The Outbreaks have been more widespread, and more damaging. There is probably a good mix of other Variants of the C19 Virus in there as well, they have just not been found yet.

This is one of the primary concerns over Vaccination.

People need to be Vaccinated very quickly before these Mutations get a real grip on the entire Planet, and become more aggressive.

[Geoffggi]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand reported 334 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, continuing the spike of new cases in recent days.

Then why is there not restricted travel within the country during Songkran .............

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

"Thailand’s northeastern provinces of Buri Ram and Bueng Kan have imposed restrictions on all travellers from the red zone provinces which are Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi by requiring mandatory quarantine, to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10157934009722050

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And Reuters on the UK strain report:

 

Thailand detects first domestic cases of UK coronavirus variant - expert

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has detected 24 cases of the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 first detected in Britain, a virologist said on Wednesday, its first reported domestic transmission of the highly contagious variant.

 

“This variant is very viral and can spread 1.7 times faster than the usual strain,” Yong Poovorawan, a senior virologist from Chulalongkorn University told a health ministry briefing.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-thailand-variant-idUSL4N2M0260

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[LosLobo]

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

"Thailand’s northeastern provinces of Buri Ram and Bueng Kan have imposed restrictions on all travellers from the red zone provinces which are Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi by requiring mandatory quarantine, to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10157934009722050

 

No reason for anyone to go to Buriram now as they now have 2 confirmed cases and have cancelled their Songkran Festival event.

[ThailandRyan]

22 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Then why is there not restricted travel within the country during Songkran .............

Does this symbol "$" maybe answer your question.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

No reason for anyone to go to Buriram now as they now have 2 confirmed cases and have cancelled their Songkran Festival event.

 

The number of Thailand's provinces that are/have been COVID free (at least based on the official reports) has been steadily shrinking.

 

Today, the government said of Thailand's 77 provinces, only 9 currently have no reported COVID cases.

 

"Daily Press Briefing of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on April 7, 2021

• 9 out of 77 provinces in Thailand remain COVID-19 free area"

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/videos/267530374979309/

 

"CCSA allows inter provincial travels during Songkran period however people are advised to learn some restrictions and measures imposed by each province before travelling. For example, Buriram province requires fourteen day quarantine or rapid Covid-19 test for visitors from five high-risk provinces including Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, and Nakhon Pathom."

 

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[ThailandRyan]

17 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

"Thailand’s northeastern provinces of Buri Ram and Bueng Kan have imposed restrictions on all travellers from the red zone provinces which are Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi by requiring mandatory quarantine, to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10157934009722050

 

So can you drive through to get elsewhere?

[Bkk Brian]

8 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

And Reuters on the UK strain report:

 

Thailand detects first domestic cases of UK coronavirus variant - expert

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has detected 24 cases of the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 first detected in Britain, a virologist said on Wednesday, its first reported domestic transmission of the highly contagious variant.

 

“This variant is very viral and can spread 1.7 times faster than the usual strain,” Yong Poovorawan, a senior virologist from Chulalongkorn University told a health ministry briefing.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-thailand-variant-idUSL4N2M0260

 

If this isn't reason enough to ban Songkran travel nothing is and those in charge should be held accountable for the further spread of covid, sickness, deaths and of course the economic impact this will have as a result of not containing it sooner.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So can you drive through to get elsewhere?

 

Long on announcements... Short on implementation details...

 

[ripstanley]

26 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Then why is there not restricted travel within the country during Songkran .............

There should be a cancellation of Songkran and total travel restrictions but the Government are to gutless to call it. I live up north and have seen Bangkok registered cars with roof racks full arriving here already.

[ThailandRyan]

Hotel I am staying in here in Chiang Mai just had 3 range rovers full of Hi-So families from Bangkok arrive.  All at the pool now.  Bangkok plates on their vehicles as well. Travel has started.  Guess they could see the writing on the wall as well and got out of dodge to escape the potential....

Edited April 7, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

Almost seems deliberately timed..

Yes, covid-19 is very intelligent, it's fully aware of the best time to strike. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

In the wake of the CCSA's meeting and briefing today, the government is circulating a new provinces chart that designates Bangkok and 8 other mostly central provinces (except for Tak) as "provincial control areas".  That presumably means the local governors can enact their own local measures as required. No red provinces on the latest map.

 

The orange listed provinces in that map, besides Bangkok, are Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Tak.

 

https://www.facebook.com/thaimoph/posts/281973833412527

 

And now an EN version of their new provinces map. No red zones.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10157934136367050

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[overt2016]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

They care more about the domestic tourism and money, and trying to keep the economy from imploding I am afraid.  I don't want to see more people suffer.  They screwed around for to long with their vaccine and vaccination programs and this is just a small part of how they are failing the people.

Seems to be a case of people who not experienced relying on others

who are not experienced.

[onthedarkside]

A trolling / misinformation post has been removed.

 

[AlfHuy]

50 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So can you drive through to get elsewhere?

Through Bueng Kan? To go where. That's the end of the country.

[starky]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

So much for in the near future opening a bubble with Australia and NZ for new low cases .

To be fair Queenslanders aren't allowed into Western Australia so hard to see how Thailand would get a run.

 Actually this is how ridiculous Australia is Kiwis will be able to enter WA approximately 2 weeks before anyone in Queensland will. 

Edited April 7, 2021 by starky

[unblocktheplanet]

TV loungers are pretty divided on this issue. If interprovincial travel is allowed, it will be many years before tourists want to come back. Thailand will be just one more int'l disaster zone.

STAY HOME, FOLKS!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The Bangkok governor's spokesman is now reporting that their roster of entertainment venue COVID clusters has expanded to 21 different venues in 8 different areas of Bangkok. Said to be involving 267 confirmed cases thus far, based on testing this week.

 

They're interested in anyone who may have visited any of the below venues since March 22.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/earthpongsakornk/posts/497764111633489

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The Bangkok governor's spokesman is now reporting that their roster of entertainment venue COVID clusters has expanded to 21 different venues in 8 different areas. Said to be involving 267 confirmed cases thus far, based on testing this week.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/earthpongsakornk/posts/497764111633489

 

All I can say is this; Complacency.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

Half hour EN newscast, the first 20 minutes of which relate to the CV headlines. Actual newscast starts at the 2 minute, 10 second point into the video.

 

https://www.facebook.com/ThaiPBSWorld/videos/715711352456328/

 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

BMA considers field hospitals as health officials warn COVID-19 infections may increase exponentially

 

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Ministry of Interior and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to arrange space for the setting up of a field hospital in Bangkok, in case COVID-19 infections increase beyond the capacity of the capital’s regular hospitals.

 

He assured, however, that the current situation in Bangkok is still under control, but warned the public not to lower their guard and to observe basic safety guidelines strictly, such as wearing face masks, observing social distancing and avoiding high risk venues.

 

While expressing concern over the pandemic situation, the prime minister said that he does not want to order all entertainment outlets nationwide to close, while noting that those which fail to follow the guidelines strictly will be shut down immediately.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bma-considers-field-hospitals-as-health-officials-warn-covid-19-infections-may-increase-exponentially/

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There's a ton of different information in the following long news report, far more than can be quoted here. But it's a worthwhile read.

 

Thailand’s third wave of COVID-19 dampens Songkran festivities

 

including mention of some of the various well-known Thai figures who have been diagnosed with COVID lately...

 

"On Wednesday, Transport Minister and Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general Saksayam Chidchob tested positive for the virus – very likely because one of his team members was infected.  He becomes the highest-ranking official in Thailand to have contracted the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease.

...

"During the past week, several high-profile figures from various other sectors have also confirmed they are infected. Among them are famous singer Apiwat “Stamp” Eurthavornsuk, actor Nutchapan “PePo” Paramacharenroj, and Nadao executive Jongjit Inthung.

...

"Government public relations chief Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd has also been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is receiving treatment at Phramongkutklao Hospital. He was reportedly infected while playing football with friends."

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-third-wave-of-covid-19-dampens-songkran-festivities/

 

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

Dr. Yong proposes virtual visits to elderly over Songkran to limit COVID-19 spread

 

Thailand’s top virologist, Dr. Yong Poovorawan, says the current rate of COVID-19 infection is more serious than a year ago and suggests that the tradition of visiting the elderly, to receive their blessings, be replaced with virtual visits, to reduce the risk of infection.

 

Citing the triple-digit daily new infections this month, mostly related to entertainment venues in Bangkok, compared to the dual-digit increases during the same period last year, he blamed the worsening situation on lax restrictions and the fact that most of the infected are young people, who show mild or no symptoms at all, unknowingly spreading the disease.

...

Last year, he said, the Songkran festival was effectively cancelled, all related activities were banned, bars and pubs were closed and most people strictly observed social distancing and wore face masks, but all these measures have been eased this year.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/dr-yong-proposes-virtual-visits-to-elderly-over-songkran-to-limit-covid-19-spread/