From winner to loser: Thailand’s downhill battle with COVID

[webfact]

Rescue volunteers from the Siam Nonthaburi foundation prepare for the funerals of people who died after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi on May 5, 2021. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

The ongoing third wave of COVID-19 underlines one thing: Thailand is no longer a champion in managing the contagion, and that has a lot to do with its government.

 

As of May 6, the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Thailand since the epidemic began stood at 76,811. Of these, 336 have died and 29,680 remain hospitalized.

 

However, a closer look at the statistics shows the caseload has exploded this year. On December 1, 2020, before the second wave of infections, Thailand had recorded just 4,008 COVID-19 cases and 60 deaths. The country was winning international praise for its control of the disease.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/from-winner-to-loser-thailands-downhill-battle-with-covid/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-07

 

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[whiteman]

who would have thought  maybe this will be a new Hub for them to talk about

[4MyEgo]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

On December 1, 2020, before the second wave of infections, Thailand had recorded just 4,008 COVID-19 cases and 60 deaths. The country was winning international praise for its control of the disease.

 

This is what you get when the military moves into government and doesn't listen to the science, not wanting to lose face.

 

"As of May 6, the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Thailand since the epidemic began stood at 76,811. Of these, 336 have died and 29,680 remain hospitalized".

 

That is the result of total incompetence of a military power grab to try and govern a country, failed, failed, failed.

Edited May 7, 2021 by 4MyEgo

[Danderman123]

1 minute ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

And then, everybody go for your Songkran holidays before it spreads worse than it is, brilliant idea, hence the reason they lost ! 

Actually, there was not a big spread of infections from Bangkok out into the provinces. It looks like the big spread came from Bangkok and stayed in Bangkok.

[Boomer6969]

So it was idiot's luck twice, and now we are in deep excrement.

Edited May 7, 2021 by Boomer6969

[4MyEgo]

4 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Actually, there was not a big spread of infections from Bangkok out into the provinces. It looks like the big spread came from Bangkok and stayed in Bangkok.

 

Don't tell me that you believe the actual numbers.

[ThailandRyan]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

The ongoing third wave of COVID-19 underlines one thing: Thailand is no longer a champion in managing the contagion, and that has a lot to do with its government.

 

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, a closer look at the statistics shows the caseload has exploded this year. On December 1, 2020, before the second wave of infections, Thailand had recorded just 4,008 COVID-19 cases and 60 deaths

 This just clearly indicates they are still trying to corral the virus by using the same testing procedures as before and felt they had it in check.  There is never time to rest on past laurels when the pandemic is still moving around you and the virus is looking for a way in.  They created the perfect storm and way for the virus to start to invade Areas it had not been in before with allowing the Songkran travel.  Time for the Czar to stand up and tell Thailand he flummoxed it and the same with Anutin.  

[Surelynot]

10 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

This is what you get when the military moves into government and doesn't listen to the science, not wanting to lose face.

 

 

That is the result of total incompetence of a military power grab to try and govern a country, failed, failed, failed.

You need to stop dancing around the subject and say what you mean.............best to get it all out.......5555

[ThailandRyan]

8 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Actually, there was not a big spread of infections from Bangkok out into the provinces. It looks like the big spread came from Bangkok and stayed in Bangkok.

So then tell me how it ended up finally reaching all 77 provinces, if there was not a spread from Bangkok and it stayed in Bangkok.  I think you have finally lost the plot.  The Bangkok clusters just kept growing as people came and left and then carried it elsewhere.  The clusters are now expanding to cover other areas in Bangkok and they are way behind the curve because of a lack of testing and Random testing in Areas they have not seen cases yet, however, they are now testing on the outside of the clusters starting today from several reports I have seen and heard.

[sapson]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

: Thailand is no longer a champion in managing the contagion

 

Utter boll@cks !!

 

How does testing less than 1% of the 69 million population over the course of a year make you a champion of anything other than total negligence and irresponsibility!

[Surelynot]

The scary thing is 'we' are currently battling just the UK variant.........with the Brazilian, South African and Indian variants knocking at the door.......yikes.....????

[Excel]

13 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

This is what you get when the military moves into government and doesn't listen to the science, not wanting to lose face.

 

"As of May 6, the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Thailand since the epidemic began stood at 76,811. Of these, 336 have died and 29,680 remain hospitalized".

 

That is the result of total incompetence of a military power grab to try and govern a country, failed, failed, failed.

Failed for the majority of Thais maybe but for those who put them there ( and keep them there ) then they have succeeded in increasing their wealth significantly so in their eyes, a very successful shift of power from a truly elected democracy to whatever it is now.

[Ventenio]

This is going to be a good fictional novel...

 

purposely infect bad person, throw him in the market, arrest him, blame his country, attack!!!!!

 

i'm surprised this hasn't been done more often........99% of sheep will say, "OMG, what a horrible person!!!!  attack!!!!"

 

hold on, someone's at my door with free hugs.....  lol   

 

 

[internationalism]

with 5 deaths per mln still far behind champions with 2500.

But this wave will last another 4-6 months, so tens of thousands can perish.

The indian mutation is responsible for 30% infections in Malaysia, so it must be already in southern thailand.

 

it the PBS preparing ground for yet another military coup? 

playing against this government they are preparing for the new one. And it won't be the opposition one, yet

Edited May 7, 2021 by internationalism

[orchis]

"Thailand’s downhill battle with COVID"
Shouldn't that be 'uphill' battle?

[OneMoreFarang]

I am really fed up with these bad attitude articles like "From winner to loser"

Loser? Thailand has currently 336 Covid death. Not 336 thousand. 336!

The USA has even now more Covid death per day than Thailand since the beginning of the crisis.

 

What do people expect? No Covid cases at all? Get real! The situation in Thailand is very good compared to many other countries, including those countries that pretend to be the first world.

 

Yes, Thailand is not perfect. But a lot better than many other countries and at least I am happy that I am here and not "back home".

[Bkk Brian]

17 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So then tell me how it ended up finally reaching all 77 provinces, if there was not a spread from Bangkok and it stayed in Bangkok.  I think you have finally lost the plot.  The Bangkok clusters just kept growing as people came and left and then carried it elsewhere.  The clusters are now expanding to cover other areas in Bangkok and they are way behind the curve because of a lack of testing and Random testing in Areas they have not seen cases yet, however, they are now testing on the outside of the clusters starting today from several reports I have seen and heard.

He has absolutely no clue. Yet keeps on with the pretense.

[Danderman123]

23 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So then tell me how it ended up finally reaching all 77 provinces, if there was not a spread from Bangkok and it stayed in Bangkok.  I think you have finally lost the plot.  The Bangkok clusters just kept growing as people came and left and then carried it elsewhere.  The clusters are now expanding to cover other areas in Bangkok and they are way behind the curve because of a lack of testing and Random testing in Areas they have not seen cases yet, however, they are now testing on the outside of the clusters starting today from several reports I have seen and heard.

I am not saying there was no spread from Bangkok, just that it wasn’t a big spread.  Most of the new infections have remained in Bangkok.

[Surelynot]

Just now, Danderman123 said:

I am not saying there was no spread from Bangkok, just that it wasn’t a big spread.  Most of the new infections have remained in Bangkok.

To be fair we simply don't know what the spread is or will be like.............fingers crossed it will be contained in the multitude of small Issan villages which is where most poor Bangkokiinas will have travelled for Songkran.

[Danderman123]

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

To be fair we simply don't know what the spread is or will be like.............fingers crossed it will be contained in the multitude of small Issan villages which is where most poor Bangkokiinas will have travelled for Songkran.

Songkran was a long time ago.

 

 

We are not seeing any big wave of infections in the villages.

[LomSak27]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand is no longer a champion in managing the contagion, and that has a lot to do with its government.

 

Uh huh. Or perhaps Thailand got lucky initially. A happy combination of environmental, & cultural factors. The prompt removal of initial vector group, IE the Chinese government gave the order for all tourists to return, and inflow was stopped. Yes, they did a good job in a few other areas. However, while some doctors or medical people understood that. The Government heartily congratulated itself as if they, and ‘thainess’ were somehow responsible and would always protect them from the virus. 
 

As heads swelled, it was decided, why not go cheap, make a buck and rehabilitate a ‘happy narrative’ with a vaccination program. That would be a big winner. Of course it would take more time, but they had the time, because they were not like those other countries. Dirty places. It's all good.

Too bad the Wuhan had other ideas. 

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, Danderman123 said:

Songkran was a long time ago.

 

 

We are not seeing any big wave of infections in the villages.

How long do you think it was brewing in Bangkok before it surfaced and exploded?

[Surelynot]

Just now, Danderman123 said:

Songkran was a long time ago.

 

 

We are not seeing any big wave of infections in the villages.

Just spoken to my mother in law, she is a health worker. The village (1000 ish?) has two cases and she knows of another two cases in the nearest town.

 

Songkran was 4 weeks ago..........not a long time ago in virus spreading terms by any means.

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, LomSak27 said:

he Chinese government gave the order for all tourists to return, and inflow was stopped

Single biggest factor I feel........Prayut was all for allowing travel to continue unabated 

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

I am not saying there was no spread from Bangkok, just that it wasn’t a big spread.  Most of the new infections have remained in Bangkok.

And with the population of Bangkok actually housing over 1/6th of Thailand's population that surprises you how?  Population density is where the issues are and why testing more here is needed.

[Danderman123]

44 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Don't tell me that you believe the actual numbers.

Do you think the numbers are fake, or do you believe the numbers are real, but understated because of lack of testing?

[Eric Loh]

11 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am really fed up with these bad attitude articles like "From winner to loser"

Loser? Thailand has currently 336 Covid death. Not 336 thousand. 336!

The USA has even now more Covid death per day than Thailand since the beginning of the crisis.

 

What do people expect? No Covid cases at all? Get real! The situation in Thailand is very good compared to many other countries, including those countries that pretend to be the first world.

 

Yes, Thailand is not perfect. But a lot better than many other countries and at least I am happy that I am here and not "back home".

I do agree with you that relatively speaking, Thailand is not doing badly even compare with neighbouring Malaysia who has imposed MCO for KL and JB to corral the daily infection rising cases. They registered 3,788 new infections just last Friday. Thailand infection cases has kind of remained steady but deaths are of grave concern. India is just sad. However, the government did dropped the ball when they allow Songkran travelling to proceed, didn't tightened the immigration that allowed other variants to slip in and didn't impose strict rules on clubs.  Thailand is still better but we certainly not out of the woods and need lots of self discipline to mitigate the spread. 

[FarFlungFalang]

42 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

The scary thing is 'we' are currently battling just the UK variant.........with the Brazilian, South African and Indian variants knocking at the door.......yikes.....????

The variants don't need to knock they just slip through the cracks literally (as can be seen in Oz hotel quarantine) and I think the idea of airborne transmission is starting to catch on if you'll pardon the intentional pun there.If the virus is able to slip through the cracks of doors and aircon ducts what other cracks and gaps is the virus slipping through?Only one guess allowed.

[holy cow cm]

The way it looks by how they are acting is it is simply collateral damage in order to get to a point having a certain lab supplier here that saves the day. Wasn't it said just before Songkran - Que Sera Sera, Whatever Will Be Will Be? Or am I mixing up the correct saying? Anyway I like the Doris Day song. My folks used to sing it - When I was just a little boy.

[holy cow cm]

Just now, internationalism said:

according Ch3 News the government urges temples to pray special sutra every day, until virus is gone.

That's how dramatic things look like from the government poit of view.

They have failed and expect worse in the near future

I wonder if they also sing Que Sera Sera as a chorus.