Bangkok to ease some COVID-19 curbs despite rise in cases

[snoop1130]

FILE PHOTO: A woman from Klong Toey community receives coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Bangkok will ease bans on venues such as massage shops, clinics and parks applied to stop the spread of COVID-19, but schools, cinemas, gyms and zoos will remain closed, the Thai capital said in a statement on Monday.

 

Thailand has been battling since April its deadliest coronavirus outbreak so far. It reported 5,485 new cases on Monday, with 1,356 of those in Bangkok.

 

The Southeast Asian country also reported 19 new deaths on Monday, bringing to 1,031 the number of fatalities since the outbreak started.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it was relaxing restrictions in venues where there had been no clusters of infections "to ease the suffering of the business sector and allow people to go on with their jobs under strict measures."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-05-31

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[The Cipher]

On one hand, this is great because it signals the gradual normalization of life while the vaccine rollout is ongoing.

 

But on the other hand, spas being allowed to open before fitness venues is mind boggling.

[WineOh]

is this confirmation that I can get oiled up again in the near future??

[Danny Australia]

This is incredibly dangerous and stupid decision. How they can ease restrictions when the daily covid numbers are the highest ever?

The decision will encourage people to get out and do business as usual which will mean more sick people not only in Bangkok but it will spread to other provinces.

 

Very dangerous times ahead, I hope I am wrong. Keep safe everyone and don't be fooled by this foolish decision. This only means that they just threw the towel in despair admitting they can't control Covid and have no money to pay the people.

[Caldera]

Again, their priorities are baffling. Massage shops look pretty risky to me, while public parks should have been opened long before restaurants.

 

The number of business meetings and meet-ups of groups of friends I've witnessed at restaurants and coffee shops in the last few weeks makes me worry. Very obviously, the 25% occupancy and social distancing rules aren't being enforced properly.

[bkk6060]

Seems very dumb, odd and backward.

Good luck Bangkok won't be visiting soon.

 

[impulse]

Anyone else disturbed by that big bubble at the tip of the syringe in the photo?

 

[Danny Australia]

Decision to reopen 5 services in Bangkok tomorrow has now been overturned. No changes until at least 14 June

A banana republic would have been embarrassed by today's roller coaster events. Unbelievable. 

[smedly]

TVF quiz 

 

question 1 - if you wanted to select the 3 top places that might spread covid what would they be 

 

question 2 - if you wanted to open safe places were covid is unlikely to spread what would they be 

 

my guess is the answers would be the exact opposit of what these ######## are doing 

[smedly]

5 hours ago, impulse said:

Anyone else disturbed by that big bubble at the tip of the syringe in the photo?

 

stop being so impulsive lol

[smedly]

8 hours ago, WineOh said:

is this confirmation that I can get oiled up again in the near future??

 

new word for the English dictionary 

 

covidoiledup - scrabble here we come

[webfact]

Thai government reverses Bangkok's easing of virus measures

 

FILE PHOTO: 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 has reversed a decision by authorities in its capital Bangkok to ease some coronavirus restrictions, as the city battles its worst outbreak of the virus so far.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) late on Monday said the national coronavirus taskforce had overruled the city's move to allow massage shops, clinics and parks to reopen from Tuesday. It did not provide a reason.

 

Bangkok and the provinces around it are the epicentre of the two-month-old outbreak, during which the vast majority of Thailand's coronavirus cases and deaths have been recorded.

 

Massage shops, clinics and public parks must remain closed along with schools, cinemas, gyms and zoos for at least 14 more days.

 

The decision comes as the government faces growing public criticism for a slow and chaotic vaccine rollout, which is due to start on June 7.

 

Thailand reported 5,485 new cases on Monday, with 1,356 of those in Bangkok. It also reported 19 new deaths on Monday, bringing its total to 1,031 since the outbreak started.

 

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

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-06-01

 

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

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[RichardColeman]

 

 

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

 Thailand's government has reversed a decision by authorities in its capital Bangkok to ease some coronavirus restrictions, as the city battles its worst outbreak of the virus so far.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) late on Monday said the national coronavirus taskforce had overruled the city's move to allow massage shops, clinics and parks to reopen from Tuesday. It did not provide a reason.

 

The reason is obvious as Thailand approaches the daily infection rates that have triggered today's, 2-week lock-down in neighboring Malaysia.

 

Just to add that the spread of the new Indian variant is well under way here. There's four hospitalized in Udon Thani in the past 48-hours or so that have been positively identified with the highly infectious strain and three of those had traveled recently from Bangkok.

[Fex Bluse]

10 hours ago, Caldera said:

Again, their priorities are baffling. Massage shops look pretty risky to me, while public parks should have been opened long before restaurants.

 

The number of business meetings and meet-ups of groups of friends I've witnessed at restaurants and coffee shops in the last few weeks makes me worry. Very obviously, the 25% occupancy and social distancing rules aren't being enforced properly.

 

Risky, yes. But what the Thais will never directly admit is that those massages and accompanying sexual services are a HUGE part of the Thai economy. 

[inThailand]

Another day of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Chuck wh... most likely? 

[brucegoniners]

Are these people nuts?

[TheFishman1]

Seems like every day they change your mind when it comes to things to do about the virus TIT

[Skeptic7]

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

 

Risky, yes. But what the Thais will never directly admit is that those massages and accompanying sexual services are a HUGE part of the Thai economy. 

I know, right? Where's all my economy boosting baht gonna go now?!? ????

[Zack61]

The Indian variant certainly needs to be taken seriously. Transmission rate is much faster than Covid.01 and will spread like wild fire with poor controls in place to manage it. I'm not sure this mob are going to be up to it. Could be time to bunker down for the onslaught.   ????

[RAZZELL]

Read so many conflicting reports.

 

Are swimming pools to open? Massage but not spas/cosmetic places?

 

RAZZ

[10baht]

• 5,141 new cases and 141 new deaths in the United States

• 5,485 new cases and 19 new deaths in Thailand 

  From Worldometers today, It is not all about restrictions it is about ... Wait for it, don't google it :

  

   

  Vaccination overview

  From Our World in Data · Last updated: 2 days ago

  Thailand

  Doses given	Fully vaccinated	% of population fully vaccinated
  3.61M

  1.11M

  1.6%

   

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, WineOh said:

is this confirmation that I can get oiled up again in the near future??

You mean you never opted for home service?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The decision comes as the government faces growing public criticism for a slow and chaotic vaccine rollout, which is due to start on June 7.

I sincerely hope Thai people remember this Covid fiasco at the ballot box... if it ever gets used again.

[tigerfeet]

1 hour ago, inThailand said:

Another day of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Chuck wh... most likely? 

When the left hand starts to ache then they use the right hand easy.

[AussieinThaiJim]

Time for a change at the BMA!

[Sydebolle]

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

 

Risky, yes. But what the Thais will never directly admit is that those massages and accompanying sexual services are a HUGE part of the Thai economy. 

 

Cannot be, Thailand has no sleazy trades going on ...... so apologize and go back to your corner! 

[brewsterbudgen]

13 minutes ago, AussieinThaiJim said:

Time for a change at the BMA!

At least the BMA tried to do something, but were overruled by the all powerful Covid committee.  What a shambles!

[thurien]

15 hours ago, WineOh said:

is this confirmation that I can get oiled up again in the near future??

 

you always had a chance to get oiled up anywhere in this country - just depends on your local know how

[Phuketshrew]

2 hours ago, inThailand said:

Another day of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Chuck wh... most likely? 

I think they will know what their right hands are doing if the massage parlours remain closed ????