Thailand says Bangkok COVID-19 outbreak may take months to contain

[webfact]

A healthcare worker takes a nasal swab sample from a local resident for a COVID-19 test after hundreds of residents of Watthana district and the trendy Thonglor neighborhood tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, April 8, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A coronavirus outbreak in Thailand's capital may take more than two months to control, a health official said on Thursday, as authorities announced a broad ban on nightlife to tackle a new wave of infections and a highly contagious variant.

 

Authorities expect to arrest the outbreak in one or two months in the provinces, but it will likely take longer in Bangkok, the epicentre, said Kiatiphum Wongrajit, the ministry's permanent secretary.

 

"The main source of the infections is in Bangkok's entertainment venues, which could take longer to contain, depending on measures," Kiatiphum said in a statement.

 

The COVID-19 taskforce on Thursday said nightspots in Bangkok and 40 provinces, including pubs and karaoke bars, would be closed for two weeks. It did not specify when.

 

The taskforce also asked employers to let staff work from home and urged against non-essential travel.

 

Thailand reported 405 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, in an outbreak that has reached 20 provinces and forced nearly a third of cabinet minister to self-isolate due to exposure to cases.

 

The spike in infections comes at a tricky time for Thailand, ahead of next week's annual Songkran festival, known for big gatherings and notoriously crowded water fights that authorities have banned.

 

Adding to concerns, Thailand on Wednesday confirmed the presence locally of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 first identified in Britain.

 

It has been found in more than 100 countries and has been blamed for fuelling new waves of infections in record numbers. (https://tmsnrt.rs/3dFjSo6)

 

The army was setting up a field hospital with 3,000 beds in 10 army bases, braced for a possible surge in new patients, a spokesman said.

 

Thailand plans to start its mass immunisation campaign in June, when a locally-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available. It has so far immunised about 300,000 people, mostly health workers.

 

Thai experts are puzzled at how the UK variant evaded the country's strict quarantine system, which has helped keep overall cases to a relatively low 30,310 and deaths at just 95.

 

The taskforce said a reduction in the quarantine period introduced this month may be reconsidered.

 

Yong Poovorawan, a senior virologist, said the UK variant may have been brought to Thailand by land from Cambodia, where it is also present.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-09

 

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[n00dle]

Well, isnt that nice.

 

 

[Thaiwrath]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

The COVID-19 taskforce on Thursday said nightspots in Bangkok and 40 provinces, including pubs and karaoke bars, would be closed for two weeks. It did not specify when.

"it did not specify when"

Surely, if this "variant" is as powerful and dangerous as they claim, they have the powers to close anything they want with immediate effect, so why the delay, giving it more time to infect people before they act ?

[Petey11]

Really, months to control? They need to ramp up their testing rapid, speed up turnaround of tests so they can trace quicker. From the calls for people to come forward who have been to certain places I think there test and trace is at it's limit. At a certain case number per day, tracing becomes very difficult due to the sheer numbers of close contacts.

Edited April 8, 2021 by Petey11

[ThailandRyan]

Yet travel is only discouraged while more provinces start to imposex14 day quarantines on folks coming from Bangkok.  Stay safe folks.  This looks ugly.  Can not say I am shocked at this point just saddened I was possibly right as well as many others regarding testing needing to be done.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A coronavirus outbreak in Thailand's capital may take more than two months to control

well it will since it has been allowed to spread uncontrolled to the rest of the country over the next 2 weeks 

 

try controlling that

 

My only conclusion is utter stupidity or done on purpose 

[smedly]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Thailand's testing and vaccine roll out efforts

testing ?

 

what testing 

 

That costs money and they have no interest in spending it 

 

only filling of the pocket 

 

angry !!!!!!!!!

[FarFlungFalang]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand plans to start its mass immunisation campaign in June, when a locally-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available. It has so far immunised about 300,000 people, mostly health workers.

Apparently Australia is ditching the Astra vax for under 50's so they can have those if they become available.Also heard other countries are also ditching the Astra vax.What happens if the Astra vax takes a few years for the clotting thing to become more widespread?Scared people rushing in to be saved might find a different welcoming committee than expected.Line up and get your shots quick hurry as fast as you can and be saved!

[Pattaya Spotter]

I wonder if this outbreak will have any effect on the planned July 1 and October 1 tourist no quarantine re-opening plans.

[FarFlungFalang]

Just now, Pattaya Spotter said:

I wonder if this outbreak will have any effect on the planned July 1 and October 1 tourist no quarantine re-opening plans.

You mean the plan to earn trillions of Baht before the end of next week?Apparently they can't even keep up with the demand for tests as stated here.

 

"Many pubgoers responded to the call and rushed to get the PCR tests with the result that both public and private hospitals became overloaded. And, of course, when someone tests positive, his/her work colleagues or family members also have to go for a test and thus the demand for RT-PCR tests has exceeded the capacity of the hospitals."

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sees-a-run-on-hospitals-as-covid-19-cases-linked-to-entertainment-venues-are-reported/

[Bkk Brian]

2 hours ago, Petey11 said:

Really, months to control? They need to ramp up their testing rapid, speed up turnaround of tests so they can trace quicker. From the calls for people to come forward who have been to certain places I think there test and trace is at it's limit. At a certain case number per day, tracing becomes very difficult due to the sheer numbers of close contacts.

It can take months to control with its current pathetic performance, leading to deaths, serious sickness, overwhelmed health service. It can take just a few weeks maybe 4 at most to control if lockdowns and travel bans were imposed now, by far the better option. They've decided the only option now is to bury their heads in the sand.

[10baht]

But all the travelers have their temp. checked. Too bad less than 1% of the population have had a shot.

[Pattaya Spotter]

36 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

You mean the plan to earn trillions of Baht before the end of next week?Apparently they can't even keep up with the demand for tests as stated here.

 

"Many pubgoers responded to the call and rushed to get the PCR tests with the result that both public and private hospitals became overloaded. And, of course, when someone tests positive, his/her work colleagues or family members also have to go for a test and thus the demand for RT-PCR tests has exceeded the capacity of the hospitals."

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sees-a-run-on-hospitals-as-covid-19-cases-linked-to-entertainment-venues-are-reported/

 No I mean the plan to open the country to people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 without having to quarantine; initially in Phuket and later the rest of the country.

[ttrd]

RE - Thailand says Bkk covid-19 outbreak may take months to control

 

* We can only hope that less testing is not the preferred control method ....

 

 

[Phaser]

Until Thailand gets his act together with a serious vaccine program using highly effective vaccines there’s no chance this economy will reopen or tourism come back never mind international business travel be permitted without impractical quarantines

[FarFlungFalang]

2 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

 No I mean the plan to open the country to people who have been vaccinated for Covid-19 without having to quarantine; initially in Phuket and later the rest of the country.

I think that plan may well be put back into the too hard basket.

[Ralf001]

Most likely will have it contained once Songkran is over.

[PEE TEE]

 

It has been found in more than 100 countries and has been blamed !!!!!  Only one country to be blamed try China 

[Sharp]

Sorry just done believe the hype going round on variant and numbers !!PERIOD

[Rocking Robert]

8 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

 

It has been found in more than 100 countries and has been blamed !!!!!  Only one country to be blamed try China 

Yes but you’re not allowed to be saying that

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Authorities expect to arrest the outbreak

Right !

Straight to prison with this bad , bad thing .

 

But really , it's getting serious by now .

Only draconian measures will help .

The chinese would probably lock the whole city down ...

But Bangkok ? Thai's won't do this ...?

Better stock up ...

 

[onekoolguy]

We need vaccine now!

In the USA anyone over 18 can get free vaccine on demand.

Yet here we have to wait months longer, even if we are willing to pay for it?

Why?

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Apparently Australia is ditching the Astra vax for under 50's so they can have those if they become available.Also heard other countries are also ditching the Astra vax.What happens if the Astra vax takes a few years for the clotting thing to become more widespread?Scared people rushing in to be saved might find a different welcoming committee than expected.Line up and get your shots quick hurry as fast as you can and be saved!

Be buggered, keep the vaccine in Oz for those over 50.

[futsukayoi]

4 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yet travel is only discouraged while more provinces start to imposex14 day quarantines on folks coming from Bangkok.  Stay safe folks.  This looks ugly.  Can not say I am shocked at this point just saddened I was possibly right as well as many others regarding testing needing to be done.

Basewd on experience here in Koh Samui last time travellers from Bangkok were supposed to quarantine nothing will happen.  Then tens of thousands visited and absolutely none quarantined.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand reported 405 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, in an outbreak that has reached 20 provinces and forced nearly a third of cabinet minister to self-isolate due to exposure to cases

A tad embarrassing?

[BestB]

Limit interprovincial travel instead of closing bars to contain it. Is it really so hard to understand?

 

People travel, virus spreads, people can not travel, virus gets contained.

 

And then they call themselves "experts"

[Aussie999]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

A tad embarrassing?

I believe they can no longer hide the fact they haven't been testing, now the numbers have grown too high for them to hide it. Covid is well known in many provinces to have been in high numbers for a long time.

[dallen52]

The words self-inflicted come to mind.

Again.

[hotchilli]

4 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

I believe they can no longer hide the fact they haven't been testing, now the numbers have grown too high for them to hide it. Covid is well known in many provinces to have been in high numbers for a long time.

A mix of non-testing and people not going for tests when symptoms show, thus spreading the love... of course aided and abetted by entertainment venues that have their own idea on how things should be run !

[ChipButty]

Thailand to me seems to be dragging it's feet over getting everybody vaccinated, whats the problem?