Thailand starts stricter COVID-19 shutdown, but experts say not enough

[snoop1130]

A closed bar is seen on Friday afternoon as the country struggles with a third wave of infections of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19, in Sukhumvit road, in Bangkok, Thailand April 23, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

 

Thailand's government slapped restrictions on travel from India on Monday over concerns of imported coronavirus cases and closed more venues in Bangkok, even as it came under fire for not doing enough to contain a spike in infections.

 

The government has ordered parks, gyms, cinemas and day-care centres in its capital, the epicentre of the latest wave of infections, to shut from April 26 until May 9.

 

It has also introduced a 20,000 baht ($635) fine for not wearing masks in public.

 

But unlike last year, malls and restaurants have been allowed to operate with earlier closing times, fuelling concerns this could quickly lead to more infection clusters and prompting calls for the resignation of the country's health minister.

 

Comparing the government's COVID-19 response to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole, Thira Woratanarat, a professor at Chulalongkorn University's Preventive and Social Medicine, warned "shutting places and activities one at a time would not be enough".

 

People should prepare for more clusters especially in work places, food courts and pubic transportation, he cautioned in a post on Facebook.

 

Thailand has managed to keep its caseload lower than many countries, but the latest outbreak has resulted in 57,508 infections and 148 deaths in just under 30 days. It reported 2,048 new cases on Monday, of which 901 were in Bangkok.

 

"They shouldn't wait until there is a new outbreak to come up with regulations," said Ungkana Kesornphud, who owns a massage shop in Bangkok.

 

The president of Thailand's Thoracic Society, Nithiphat Chiarakun, also urged the government to take "decisive measures to stop the movement of people as quickly as possible".

 

An online petition on Change.org calling for the resignation of health minister Anutin Charnvirankul had garnered over 160,000 signatures in two days.

 

Anutin has said he will not resign.

 

INDIA TRAVEL CURBS

 

Amid growing criticism of the government, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha wrote on Facebook that Thailand plans to procure more vaccines from several producers with a vaccination goal of 300,000 doses per day to inoculate at least 50 million people by end-2021.

 

Thailand has a population of about 66.1 million.

 

Thailand will consider additional restrictions later this week, Apisamai Srirangsan, a spokeswoman for its coronavirus taskforce said at a briefing, after the country announced curbs on travel from India where infections have set a global record for a fifth straight day.

 

The Thai embassy in New Delhi said in a statement that certificates of entry for non-Thai nationals travelling from India will be suspended until further notice.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) denied reports that private jets carrying wealthy people from India were flying into Thailand.

 

"We confirm that no chartered flights from Indian millionaires have sought permission from the CAAT to come to Thailand," it said in a statement over the weekend.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-26

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Antiparovian]

Am puzzled as to the relevance of a photo of an Irish Pub.

[ETatBKK]

compare the restrictions in the first outbreak (March 2020) and the second outbreak (Dec 2020), WHY the third outbreak (with 2 times of caseload per day) but has less restrictive measures ?

 

[Fromas]

1 hour ago, Antiparovian said:

an Irish Pub

the caption says Sukhumvit Road!

[brewsterbudgen]

"Experts"?

 

"They shouldn't wait until there is a new outbreak to come up with regulations," said Ungkana Kesornphud, who owns a massage shop in Bangkok."

 

"The president of Thailand's Thoracic Society, Nithiphat Chiarakun, also urged the government to take "decisive measures to stop the movement of people as quickly as possible".

 

 

[Jeffr2]

11 hours ago, Fromas said:

the caption says Sukhumvit Road!

It's not even on Suk! LOL.  But a great pub with great live music.  LOL

 

 

[Thailand]

A situation created by General Incompetence and the incompetence of generals.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Comparing the government's COVID-19 response to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole,

Summed up nicely.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

"The president of Thailand's Thoracic Society, Nithiphat Chiarakun, also urged the government to take "decisive measures to stop the movement of people as quickly as possible".

Even he's two weeks too late in urging the government.

[realfunster]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) denied reports that private jets carrying wealthy people from India were flying into Thailand.

 

"We confirm that no chartered flights from Indian millionaires have sought permission from the CAAT to come to Thailand," it said in a statement over the weekend.

 

However, there was a flight by RTAF to pick up Embassy staff from Delhi.

I hope they strictly follow the quarantine process....

 

[Bradmeister]

Reuters is even being Bias and racial....

 

Scruffy Murphy's is an Irish Name.... on Soi 23.. 

 

Its a restaurant and a bar, thats still allowed to operate.  

 

Probably a message parlor, dance studio workout/fitness or Gym or any of the other places that arecurrently closed may have been mord appropriate. 

 

Restaurants are still open. 

 

[digibum]

16 hours ago, ETatBKK said:

compare the restrictions in the first outbreak (March 2020) and the second outbreak (Dec 2020), WHY the third outbreak (with 2 times of caseload per day) but has less restrictive measures ?

 

Not justifying, simply guessing based on observations.  
 

The March lockdown was devastating to the Thai economy on the micro level.  There were huge jumps in suicides.  Food pantries were common to help people struggling with no income.  
 

I think the gov, especially a specific person in government, was concerned that cancelling Songkran two years in a row and going into lockdown might be, shall we say, destabilizing to their future employment prospects.  

[Jeffr2]

3 minutes ago, digibum said:

Not justifying, simply guessing based on observations.  
 

The March lockdown was devastating to the Thai economy on the micro level.  There were huge jumps in suicides.  Food pantries were common to help people struggling with no income.  
 

I think the gov, especially a specific person in government, was concerned that cancelling Songkran two years in a row and going into lockdown might be, shall we say, destabilizing to their future employment prospects.  

Well put.  But in the end, it seems they might have done more damage to the economy by promoting Songkran than by canceling it.  We weren't in a problem until after Songkran.  IMHO!

[digibum]

44 minutes ago, Bradmeister said:

Reuters is even being Bias and racial....

 

Are you under the impression that the journalist writes a story and then sends a photographer out to capture the perfect image to accompany it?  
 

The way many newsrooms operate is a staff writer writes an article, often just rehashing other news reports, sprinkled with some new info and they turn that in to their editor who proofs it and then tells someone to go through their image database and select a photo for the story.  
 

I highly doubt there’s any malice intended. It’s simply someone picking a current photo that seems to show a semi-deserted street to give the story some mood.  

[digibum]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Well put.  But in the end, it seems they might have done more damage to the economy by promoting Songkran than by canceling it.  We weren't in a problem until after Songkran.  IMHO!

Well, I’m not sure we have enough data to say one way or the other and I don’t want to speculate.  
 

Surely it didn’t help.  But would we be looking at similar numbers but only more concentrated in specific areas thus making the medical problem more difficult due to not enough resources in those concentrated areas?  Hard to say.  
 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it was the right decision though.  
 

Im just saying that a problem like this has multiple facets to it.  
 

In order to judge whether it was right or wrong, you would need to know what the information/projections (political, health, economic, etc) were for not cancelling Songkran.  
 

The other thing to keep in mind is that even the PM answers to someone (unfortunately, that is seldom the voters).  You can only stay PM with the support of other people with power (and no, I’m not talking about a specific individual).  

So your public health people might be giving you advice but, maybe, some very rich and powerful business owners that will make money from Songkran going ahead, let you know that they might start backing a different horse if they’re forced to endure two missed Songkrans and another lockdown.  
 

 

[unblocktheplanet]

Dear Lord, I have to say it AGAIN! HARD LOCKDOWN NOW! For 30 days, at minimum.

[Paul Kernell]

As of last year, my local evening market has 100s if not 1,000s visit every evening, crammed in typical Thai style, many are just walking around to see. A breeding ground for any disease I'm sure. I know not to get between a Thai and their market but if you controlled the numbers and the time you could shop it would help to restrict the spread, even if they stayed open longer.

[webfact]

UPDATE:

 

Thailand starts stricter COVID-19 shutdown, but experts say not enough

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng

 

A shopkeeper is seen behind a protecting plastic curtain as the country struggles with a third wave of infections of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok Thailand April 26, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's government slapped restrictions on travel from India on Monday over concerns of imported coronavirus cases and closed more venues in Bangkok, even as it came under fire for not doing enough to contain a spike in infections.

 

The government has ordered parks, gyms, cinemas and day-care centres in its capital, the epicentre of the latest wave of infections, to shut from April 26 until May 9.

 

It has also introduced a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($635) for not wearing masks in public, with even the prime minister falling foul of mask-wearing rules.

 

But unlike last year, malls and restaurants have been allowed to operate with earlier closing times, fuelling concerns this could quickly lead to more infection clusters and prompting calls for the resignation of the country's health minister.

 

Comparing the government's COVID-19 response to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole, Thira Woratanarat, a professor at Chulalongkorn University's Preventive and Social Medicine, warned "shutting places and activities one at a time would not be enough".

 

People should prepare for more clusters especially in work places, food courts and public transportation, he cautioned in a post on Facebook.

 

Thailand has managed to keep its caseload lower than many countries, but is dealing with a new outbreak and on Monday reported 2,048 new cases, of which 901 were in Bangkok.

 

It has reported a total of 57,508 infections and 148 coronavirus-related fatalities since the pandemic began last year.

 

"They shouldn't wait until there is a new outbreak to come up with regulations," said Ungkana Kesornphud, who owns a massage shop in Bangkok.

 

The president of Thailand's Thoracic Society, Nithiphat Chiarakun, also urged the government to take "decisive measures to stop the movement of people as quickly as possible".

 

An online petition on Change.org calling for the resignation of health minister Anutin Charnvirankul had garnered over 160,000 signatures in two days.

 

Anutin has said he will not resign.

 

The city of Bangkok fined Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha 6,000 baht ($190) after he posted a photo of him not wearing a mask during a meeting.

 

The photo was later removed.

 

Thailand plans to procure more vaccines from several producers with a vaccination goal of 300,000 doses per day to inoculate at least 50 million people by end-2021, the prime minister posted.

 

Thailand has a population of about 66.1 million.

 

INDIA TRAVEL CURBS

Thailand will consider additional restrictions later this week, Apisamai Srirangsan, a spokeswoman for its coronavirus taskforce said at a briefing, after the country announced curbs on travel from India where infections have set a global record for a fifth straight day.

 

The Thai embassy in New Delhi said in a statement that certificates of entry for non-Thai nationals travelling from India will be suspended until further notice.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) denied reports that private jets carrying wealthy people from India were flying into Thailand.

 

"We confirm that no chartered flights from Indian millionaires have sought permission from the CAAT to come to Thailand," it said in a statement over the weekend.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panu Wongcha-um and Jiraporn Kuhakan; Editing by Ed Davies, Himani Sarkar and Toby Chopra)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

[bartender100]

I do start to feel things are getting a lot worse in Thailand, can't see holiday trips there this year now

[Excel]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

UPDATE:

 

Thailand starts stricter COVID-19 shutdown, but experts say not enough

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng

 

A shopkeeper is seen behind a protecting plastic curtain as the country struggles with a third wave of infections of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok Thailand April 26, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's government slapped restrictions on travel from India on Monday over concerns of imported coronavirus cases and closed more venues in Bangkok, even as it came under fire for not doing enough to contain a spike in infections.

 

The government has ordered parks, gyms, cinemas and day-care centres in its capital, the epicentre of the latest wave of infections, to shut from April 26 until May 9.

 

It has also introduced a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($635) for not wearing masks in public, with even the prime minister falling foul of mask-wearing rules.

 

But unlike last year, malls and restaurants have been allowed to operate with earlier closing times, fuelling concerns this could quickly lead to more infection clusters and prompting calls for the resignation of the country's health minister.

 

Comparing the government's COVID-19 response to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole, Thira Woratanarat, a professor at Chulalongkorn University's Preventive and Social Medicine, warned "shutting places and activities one at a time would not be enough".

 

People should prepare for more clusters especially in work places, food courts and public transportation, he cautioned in a post on Facebook.

 

Thailand has managed to keep its caseload lower than many countries, but is dealing with a new outbreak and on Monday reported 2,048 new cases, of which 901 were in Bangkok.

 

It has reported a total of 57,508 infections and 148 coronavirus-related fatalities since the pandemic began last year.

 

"They shouldn't wait until there is a new outbreak to come up with regulations," said Ungkana Kesornphud, who owns a massage shop in Bangkok.

 

The president of Thailand's Thoracic Society, Nithiphat Chiarakun, also urged the government to take "decisive measures to stop the movement of people as quickly as possible".

 

An online petition on Change.org calling for the resignation of health minister Anutin Charnvirankul had garnered over 160,000 signatures in two days.

 

Anutin has said he will not resign.

 

The city of Bangkok fined Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha 6,000 baht ($190) after he posted a photo of him not wearing a mask during a meeting.

 

The photo was later removed.

 

Thailand plans to procure more vaccines from several producers with a vaccination goal of 300,000 doses per day to inoculate at least 50 million people by end-2021, the prime minister posted.

 

Thailand has a population of about 66.1 million.

 

INDIA TRAVEL CURBS

Thailand will consider additional restrictions later this week, Apisamai Srirangsan, a spokeswoman for its coronavirus taskforce said at a briefing, after the country announced curbs on travel from India where infections have set a global record for a fifth straight day.

 

The Thai embassy in New Delhi said in a statement that certificates of entry for non-Thai nationals travelling from India will be suspended until further notice.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) denied reports that private jets carrying wealthy people from India were flying into Thailand.

 

"We confirm that no chartered flights from Indian millionaires have sought permission from the CAAT to come to Thailand," it said in a statement over the weekend.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panu Wongcha-um and Jiraporn Kuhakan; Editing by Ed Davies, Himani Sarkar and Toby Chopra)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-28

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

Hope that is not too late to stop the Indians coming here with their virus mutation. Note that they denied the arrival of charter flights but since when do the fabulously rich and well connected charter flights to come to Thailand when they all have their private jets. I'm sure though that the flying sleuths could identify exactly which planes arrived in Thailand in the last week from India on Flightradar24.

Just  looking at Sky News and if that Indian mutation has got here already then it will make the latest outbreaks in Bangkok look like a drop in the ocean. Absolutely terrible situation there.

[brucegoniners]

More bandaids on a large wound.

 

They did it right the first time. It's being poorly done this time.

 

The cases and deaths will grow.

 

I'm so glad I'm getting out of here in a couple of weeks for a month.

 

Even the USA is better now, lol

[Andycoops]

On 4/26/2021 at 7:20 PM, AdamXXX said:

Would it not be great if the general public could actually question the experts in a public forum. Is it too much to ask if the data can be independently audited? 

That would require a transparent democracy which Thailand doesn't have.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand starts stricter COVID-19 shutdown, but experts say not enough

Shame it's not the experts making the decisions.

[mtls2005]

So now the solution is to give the PM more powers? Go figure.

 

PM appointed Thailand’s “COVID Czar” in sole charge of handling the pandemic

 

The Thai cabinet today (Tuesday) designated Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as the sole authority in charge of all responsibilities and duties, previously vested in his ministers, to deal with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The powers vested in various ministers, by virtue of various laws regarding the issuance of orders, permits and approvals which will help in preventing or containing COVID spread or in helping the people, will be vested in the prime minister on temporary basis.

 

According to the cabinet, the concentration of powers with the prime minister is to ensure efficiency in the efforts to deal with the disease.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-appointed-thailands-covid-czar-in-sole-charge-of-handling-the-pandemic/

 

 

[meechai]

19 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Dear Lord, I have to say it AGAIN! HARD LOCKDOWN NOW! For 30 days, at minimum.

 

Impossible in a country like Thailand

 

How would you have a hard lock down in a country that is Talad/fresh market based for their daily needs?

 

Do you know any Thai's at all that do not shop daily for food?

 

Thailand has to hope it never see's something like India’s double mutant variant

Yes they can close shops, gyms,bars, what ever but they cannot stop the close contact that is Thailand's daily markets

Edited April 28, 2021 by meechai

[Danderman123]

Reported cases have been flat for about a week. That may indicate this outbreak is flattening.

[brewsterbudgen]

3 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Reported cases have been flat for about a week. That may indicate this outbreak is flattening.

Good news indeed.

[Joinaman]

34 minutes ago, meechai said:

 

Impossible in a country like Thailand

 

How would you have a hard lock down in a country that is Talad/fresh market based for their daily needs?

 

Do you know any Thai's at all that do not shop daily for food?

 

Thailand has to hope it never see's something like India’s double mutant variant

Yes they can close shops, gyms,bars, what ever but they cannot stop the close contact that is Thailand's daily markets

But still only 129 deaths up to 24/4/2021, so doing quite well considering the limited closures and lockdowns

Yes it COULD get much bigger, but also COULD slow down 

Still  more chance of dying on the toilet for most elderly people on here 

[Danderman123]

To all the people who want a lockdown: exactly what new restrictions should be implemented?

[Jeffr2]

3 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

To all the people who want a lockdown: exactly what new restrictions should be implemented?

I don't think anyone wants a lockdown.  Only if the virus is starting to rage.  It would suck for us to become like Brazil or India where it's out of control.