Thailand to ease COVID-19 curbs on some construction projects

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: A health worker prepares a dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Central Vaccination Center, inside the Bang Sue Grand Station, Thailand, June 21, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to allow some construction projects to resume in its capital and surrounding provinces although most sites and workers' camps will remain closed as the Southeast Asian country deals with its biggest coronavirus outbreak to date.

 

The national COVID-19 task force has agreed to relax curbs on construction projects where they could cause damage or danger, the government said on its Facebook page on Sunday. It cited underground projects, scaffolding and those related to traffic safety as examples.

 

Construction projects related to COVID-19 control, such as field hospitals, will also be allowed to go ahead.

 

Movement of construction workers will be allowed for outbreak containment such as health screening and vaccinations, the government said, adding that further details would be announced later.

 

But construction sites and workers' camps in Bangkok, the epicentre of the outbreak, and five surrounding provinces, will mostly be closed until late this month to contain COVID-19 infections and deaths.

 

Thailand has been dealing with its deadliest coronavirus outbreak Since April. It reported 5,916 new coronavirus cases and 44 deaths on Sunday, bringing total cases to 283,067 and 2,132 deaths.

 

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-05

[Wiggy]

I can only assume somebody important is losing money. 

[mikebell]

Bribes paid & youre good to go.

[Excel]

And it is a sure bet as to which 2 construction companies will be on the list for "easing", amongst others of course for appearances sake.

[Excel]

14 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

I can only assume somebody important is losing money. 

Losing money is perhaps the wrong term. Perhaps more accurately "reduction in profit margins"

[Mr Meeseeks]

Not before time. It's costing us a fortune in lost revenue with all our Burmese labourers lazing about doing nothing. Some even had the sheer affrontery of asking me personally for money. We pay them 200thb per day! What do they do with all that money?

[ThailandRyan]

The One Bangkok construction site kicked off at 6 am this morning after being silent for 1 week.  Hundreds of workers streaming in wearing the familiar Orange shirts with the name of Anutin's familial company emblazoned on them.  Did not figure it would be long.  Read the article after I had observed the goings-on this morning and yes for sure money talks.....hopefully they are testing these workers every few days to ensure there is no community spread as many of them eat in the local community and shop in the area as well. 

[jacko45k]

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

and shop in the area as well. 

Do they pour into the 7-11 at lunchtime too.... that would be a worry?

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

Do they pour into the 7-11 at lunchtime too.... that would be a worry?

Not sure if they leave the property during lunch time, but at shift change they do walk to the local 7's where they pick up some items and then stop at the food carts or pick up some items from those trucks that sell fruit out the back on their way home.  Many carry a lunch pail and what appears to be a small water container with them.  I wonder where these workers have come from if they have locked down the housing they live in. 

[thailand49]

All for the sake of $$$$,  aside from allowing to open don't see it in the article? has everyone been tested especially the new workers being added particularly the illegal migrants?  Any plans to clean up the living conditions in which they live in just because they are labors doesn't mean companies for the sake of the all mighty Baht don't need to follow rules just like everyone else.

[DrJack54]

Today 6166

Death 50.

Good time to get worker camp up and running

[ftpjtm]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Construction projects related to COVID-19 control, such as field hospitals, will also be allowed to go ahead.

 

Did they actually shut down construction of COVID field hospitals due to COVID ????

[Orinoco]

39 minutes ago, mtbre said:

whats the point building,nobody buys...

The Chinese are on the way.

 

[konaboy]

Doesn't anyone worry about BKK sinking anymore? LOL 

[hotchilli]

20 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Today 6166

Death 50.

Good time to get worker camp up and running

Apparently the Chinese will ignore all these statistics and come in droves once Prayut has fully opened Bangkok.

They miss buying all the cheap trinkets.

[hotchilli]

7 minutes ago, konaboy said:

Doesn't anyone worry about BKK sinking anymore? LOL 

I think it's sinking faster than ever, just no water involved this time.

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, hotchilli said:

I think it's sinking faster than ever, just no water involved this time.

Yep just overloaded and extra heavy from the BS dished out on a daily level from those in Government house.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Apparently the Chinese will ignore all these statistics and come in droves once Prayut has fully opened Bangkok.

They miss buying all the cheap trinkets.

I'm not so sure.

I see that Labor party in UK urging border closures with Thailand. 

My guess is that China will continue with restrictions on travel of its citizens.

Just one opinion.

Edited July 5, 2021 by DrJack54

[herfiehandbag]

31 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

All for the sake of $$$$,  aside from allowing to open don't see it in the article? has everyone been tested especially the new workers being added particularly the illegal migrants?  Any plans to clean up the living conditions in which they live in just because they are labors doesn't mean companies for the sake of the all mighty Baht don't need to follow rules just like everyone else.

You need to look at which companies they are. For a variety of reasons (influence, connections and good old fashioned cash) rules are sometimes less assiduously enforced...

[hotchilli]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm not so sure.

I see that Labor party in UK urging border closures with Thailand. 

My guess is that China will continue with restrictions on travel of its citizens.

Just one opinion.

Not sure China worries what UK wants, but I bet they are watching what's going on over here, and they get the truth from Chinese people living in Thailand, not what the Thai government try to project to the world.

[wensiensheng]

Opening to ensure safety at some sites is sensible, we can all see that.
But we also know that every construction site will now be making the case that they need some work to continue for “safety” reasons. 
 

those that have influence will be approved. Those that don’t will be the veneer of lockdown required to make it seem as though something was done.

 

of course the virus will know not to go those that are open as the workers are doing important stuff and shouldn’t be disturbed.

[WEBBYB808]

The worst outbreak yet!  You could fool me, with all the renovations,  construction,  weekend visitors, and crowds I see everywhere.  There were more restrictions in place for the weaker Variants.  Twisted be the way of the culture!

Edited July 5, 2021 by WEBBYB808

[spidermike007]

Sounds like somebody made a major donation to the "army retirement fund". 

[Excel]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

Sounds like somebody made a major donation to the "army retirement fund". 

Or perhaps a major shareholder has more "clout"

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Wiggy said:

I can only assume somebody important is losing money. 

Yes, finance tends to rule everywhere.

In the UK construction workers were about the first to go back to work.

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

to allow some construction projects to resume

Sino-Thai's by any chance????

[Nanaplaza666]

13 minutes ago, Excel said:

Or perhaps a major shareholder has more "clout"

Wish they had a "clot" 

[Nanaplaza666]

13 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Yes, finance tends to rule everywhere.

In the UK construction workers were about the first to go back to work.

Yeah , but how many have been fully vaccinated in the UK ?? And how many here ?? 

[Excel]

3 minutes ago, Nanaplaza666 said:

Wish they had a "clot" 

Indeed a clot with some clout and a clot for the clot would be Karma with some clout

Edited July 5, 2021 by Excel

[bstafford214]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

The One Bangkok construction site kicked off at 6 am this morning after being silent for 1 week.  Hundreds of workers streaming in wearing the familiar Orange shirts with the name of Anutin's familial company emblazoned on them.  Did not figure it would be long.  Read the article after I had observed the goings-on this morning and yes for sure money talks.....hopefully they are testing these workers every few days to ensure there is no community spread as many of them eat in the local community and shop in the area as well. 

This does not surprise me at all.  It is how much money a Thai person has that makes all the difference. My Thai wife tells me the government is too corrupt and does not care about the people much. But wouldn't it be honest to say that it probably happens in any country?  If you have money, you will probably get what you want, bribes or other activities to achieve it.  If your company is losing profits, would you not try to do something about? Honest rich people maybe would not do bribes, but what other things are people capable of to make money. I always remember the saying, "Money talks"!