Just now, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm not sure if has made a huge difference.  Seems like the kids got infected from playing with other kids in the condo common areas.

Geez, in that case let's open up the schools tomorrow. 

 

"Seems like the kids got infected from playing with other kids in the condo common areas"

 

That means no chance of catching it at school. 

 

You kidding surely. Inane post.

<deleted>.

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Another way of keeping official numbers down.

 

Hospitals advising family members not to get tested despite the mother being in hospital and the kids showing symptoms.

But the end result seems to be the desired outcome. I know that’s what I would be doing despite what the hospital has advised. My gf daughter and son in law were feeling unwell ,went to a Bkk hospital and sent to stay home. Not happy drove to Burriram, tested  and admitted for two weeks. Now no income, possibly no jobs to return to, kids in limbo. What’s the best to do if you feel unwell...dilemma for everyone really.

45 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

After a year, we have met no more than 10 people, at a guess, on the 'lifts'..........in a condo with 480 rooms.....

Same here in our Condo.  We must use it during the off times after everyone has left, gone to work, or returned home.

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Testing limitations evident with this dip, the true number of infected will carry on increasing despite lack of testing and the situation will not be resolved until testing and measures are increased significantly

 

By all common accounts, the virus infections at present are spreading far and wide. The Delta variant, increased numbers in the outlying provinces. Siriraj Hospital in BKK having to close their ER because of being overwhelmed. Limits/unavailability of testing, etc etc...

 

There's nothing I can think of or see, in the real world of Thailand, that would suggest any legitimate reason for any reduction in real infection levels in the country.... 

 

About testing

Two weeks ago I flew out of Thailand so I needed to get tested for the flight. My first test was in Korat. There were maybe seven people at the government hospital waiting to be tested, this was around 10 in the morning. I went back the next day to pick up my results around 2 in the afternoon, there were three people there. One of the nurses told me that most of the testing staff was sent to Bangkok since they were only getting people that were traveling.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to postpone my flight for a few days and had to get tested again. This time  I was in Ayutthaya. The first hospital I went to there was no one there besides me to be tested. I didn't get tested there because they insisted that I had to pay another 500 baht for a second printed result that they said I would need at my 2 hr layover in Japan, not true, so I went to another hospital. There were maybe 5 waiting to be tested at 3 in the afternoon, one who had been in contact with an infected person. They did all the lab work at night so I was there around 8 the next morning. The nurse brought out a shoe box sized container with what looked like 15 to 20 envelopes and gave me one.

From what could see there is not much testing going on. The government hospital was the cheapest of the three at 2600 baht for Thai, and 3000 for me.. As has been said before, that is about a weeks wages for a farmer and then there is a chance you will be send off for an unexpected holiday during growing season. I would say not even 1 percent of the population is being tested.

Of 12 family members the GF has here in Thailand 10 of them have covid now.  That's just in the Bang Na Area.  Three of the aunts and their Thai husbands have businesses which have had to be shut.  One of the businesses supplies rice to the local area for planting as well as consumption and with that business closed folks in the Area are having to source the product elsewhere.  

15 minutes ago, Olmate said:

But the end result seems to be the desired outcome. I know that’s what I would be doing despite what the hospital has advised. My gf daughter and son in law were feeling unwell ,went to a Bkk hospital and sent to stay home. Not happy drove to Burriram, tested  and admitted for two weeks. Now no income, possibly no jobs to return to, kids in limbo. What’s the best to do if you feel unwell...dilemma for everyone really.

I agree, its a massive dilemma especially for Thai's who if test positive are then quarantined despite having no symptoms and losing their income from work.

 

It reflects the whole government response to this and its inadequacy in providing assistance to its citizens in way of some form of cash hand out to those affected by quarantine.

 

The alternative that happens is they deliberately avoid getting tested knowing doing so would place them in quarantine and so lose money. They opt to carry on working to make ends meet but that can also of course lead to further spread.

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

Thailand is Bangkok.................with bits added to its periphery...........like the UK is England with bits added on.

And the Eurozone is Germany with extra toppings etc/etc...

The MoPH produced this chart the other day showing their progress, or lack there of, in vaccinations and rates of vaccinations for various target groups up through July 1.

 

It claims they've come close to meeting their 70% target for fully vaccinating medical personnel. But less than 15% of both the age 60 and above  and chronic medical condition group targets have been met in terms of getting a first shot, and low single digit percentages in meeting the targets for those groups getting second shots thus far.

 

The 50 million total target population number at the bottom of the chart represents the government's goal of fully vaccinating 70% of the nation's 70+ million population by the end of the current calendar year.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/356183892666608/?type=3

 

The most recent version of this same chart, but not yet translated into English, is here updated thru July 3:

 

https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/357489042536093/?type=3

 

 

 

1 hour ago, morrobay said:

Elevators ,?  These days no avoidable risk is acceptable - Take the stairs.

There was a guy on them who had had a heart attack.... not wearing a mask, so concerned about stepping over him!

2 hours ago, anchadian said:

Exactly.  The website concentrates on only two hospitals in central Bangkok.

 

Those that live outside of central Bkk and especially those with underlying health conditions, are they going to travel to central BKK?

 

Pathetic.

 

 

I know those ruining (sorry I spelt running incorrectly there) the country (couldn't organise a sh!t fight in a sewage plant) but it seems the further down the system one gets the more organised they get (it's true that most turds float to the top) so I've been registered for about a month even though I tried not to be,Mrs FFF is one of those her way or the highway types.There is one woman in the village that has been vaccinated because (village headman's wife) she assists the doctors, but so do about 5 others but they didn't get a vaccination.There's no news as to when the vaccines will get here but I'm pretty sure foreigners won't be left out as out here they don't have sewage treatment plants like Bangkok where the Grubbyment is located.I've done a lot of brown fishing in sewer manholes in my days as a survey assistant so I'm quite knowledgable in the field of turds.

Yet another Day where the Double vaxxed numbers are fairly stagnant around 2.25 Million, and the single shot numbers are rising steadily.

As was pointed out yesterday, this could be due to people waiting for their second shot that had the initial Vaccination in early June.

 

 

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The Intervac website has been updated with the promise of vaccines becoming available for foreigners age 60 and above and those with chronic medical conditions:

 

 

https://www.thailandintervac.com/

 

This time, the latest version appears to abandon having foreign nationals make appointments online at the government website, and instead appears to be directing foreigners to contact and book appointments directly thru the two hospitals.

 

 

No Thanks

3 minutes ago, club said:

No Thanks

Darwin had it nailed.

2 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Thailand is Bangkok.................with bits added to its periphery...........like the UK is England with bits added on.

 

Very true, Bangkok Metropolital Region is over 46% of the total GDP in Thailand.

They're struggling giving out one shot let alone 3!

 

The government said that a third booster shot will be needed after new statistics revealed that 50% of new cases in Bangkok and 30% of new cases around the country were the Delta variant.

https://twitter.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1412266998776561668

 

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

They're struggling giving out one shot let alone 3!

 

The government said that a third booster shot will be needed after new statistics revealed that 50% of new cases in Bangkok and 30% of new cases around the country were the Delta variant.

https://twitter.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1412266998776561668

 

Should get booster some time in 2023

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Geez, in that case let's open up the schools tomorrow. 

 

"Seems like the kids got infected from playing with other kids in the condo common areas"

 

That means no chance of catching it at school. 

 

You kidding surely. Inane post.

<deleted>.

I'm not kidding; unfortunately, I can't see the current rates declining dramatically for a long time, and vaccinating the population will take even longer.  So should schools remain closed for 3 months, 6 months, a year?   When would you open schools?

The Nation has an article today reporting on the latest virus variant testing results for Bangkok. They're saying 52% of the more easily transmitted Delta (India) variant from the latest round of testing in Bangkok:

 

Increasing number of Covid patients in Bangkok infected with Delta variant

 

"A total of 487 cases of the Delta variant were detected in Bangkok from June 28 to July 2, accounting for 52 per cent of the province’s total cases during that period.

 

Meanwhile, 447 cases are of the Alpha variant (47.8 per cent) and two cases are of the Beta variant (0.2 per cent).

 

“The two Beta patients are from the same family who had travelled from Narathiwat,” said the department’s director-general, Dr Supakit Sirilak."

 

(more)

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002885

 

AND

 

"The government said that a third booster shot will be needed after new statistics revealed that 50% of new cases in Bangkok and 30% of new cases around the country were the Delta variant."

 

https://www.facebook.com/ThaiEnquirer/posts/351681922986014

 

I think the above comment re a third booster shot is regarding shots for Thai medical personnel, as the MoPH had an announcement in TH earlier today saying they planned to proceed with third shots for that group (but didn't specify which vaccine brand was going to be used for that purpose).

 

Although, the AZ vaccine, which Thailand has supplies of now, is likely more effective at preventing symptomatic COVID illness and more serious outcomes from the Delta variant compared to the Sinovac vaccine.

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

My colleague is self-isolating in his condo with 3 young kids, all of whom have had Covid symptoms.  His wife is in hospital with Covid, after being tested while there for another reason.  The hospital have advised them all to remain in self-isolation and not to get tested.  The kids got over their symptoms in a day or so, my colleague felt rather sick for a while but is feeling better now.  His wife is due to be released from hospital in a few days.

Better than the advice a friend of mine in Sweden got (I was stuck there for 5 months early March to early Aug and couldn't get back). You should stay at home. No, testing necessary, wife should go to work, kids should go to school as normal unless they show symptoms. And threats to parents who refused to send the kids to school - We have "school duty" in Sweden and you have a duty to ensure that your children go to school unless they really are sick = show symptoms...  

14 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm not kidding; unfortunately, I can't see the current rates declining dramatically for a long time, and vaccinating the population will take even longer.  So should schools remain closed for 3 months, 6 months, a year?   When would you open schools?

 

In Thailand where multi generation households are common, obviously, when kids infected in school don't risk killing their extended family any longer. Even more obvious when the health care system is overwhelmed as it is now or starting to get upcountry.

 

21 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm not kidding; unfortunately, I can't see the current rates declining dramatically for a long time, and vaccinating the population will take even longer.  So should schools remain closed for 3 months, 6 months, a year?   When would you open schools?

I as well see no end in sight either.  Just give them their certificates and send them to work, yes sarcasm.  It is ridiculous and yet we have not been offered a refund on fees paid or a reduction either.

TIMELINE: Pattaya and Chonburi informs residents who visited places in relation to most recent Covid -19 confirmed cases

 

Buriban Market in Bang Plasoi, Mueang Chonburi from June 22nd to July 3rd from 6:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M..

Mala shop (in front of 7-Eleven Baan Na) in Huayyai, Banglamung from June 22nd to June 26th and from June 29th to June 30th from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M..

Meat Ball shop at Chaiyapruek Market in Nongprue, Banglamung from June 22nd to June 26th from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M..

PT gas station Na Wang branch in Takean Tia, Banglamung from June 22nd to July 4th from 5:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M..

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/07/06/timeline-pattaya-and-chonburi-informs-residents-who-visited-places-in-relation-to-most-recent-covid-19-confirmed-cases-7/

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry plans to ask the Finance Ministry for 10 billion baht in soft loans to help operators prepare their businesses for the mid-October reopening of the country.

 

Minister Phlipat Ratchakitprakarn said that, if the Phuket “sandbox” project runs smoothly, the Tourism and Sports Ministry will use the opportunity to hold discussions with the Finance Ministry over an allocation of soft loans, from the government's 500-billion-baht borrowing, to help relieve the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

He said, if the tourism soft loans are approved, operators can use a cross-guarantee measure, which allows firms to act as loan guarantors for each other.

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10158123152967050

10 minutes ago, anchadian said:

TIMELINE: Pattaya and Chonburi informs residents who visited places in relation to most recent Covid -19 confirmed cases

 

Buriban Market in Bang Plasoi, Mueang Chonburi from June 22nd to July 3rd from 6:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M..

Mala shop (in front of 7-Eleven Baan Na) in Huayyai, Banglamung from June 22nd to June 26th and from June 29th to June 30th from 3:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M..

Meat Ball shop at Chaiyapruek Market in Nongprue, Banglamung from June 22nd to June 26th from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M..

PT gas station Na Wang branch in Takean Tia, Banglamung from June 22nd to July 4th from 5:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M..

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/07/06/timeline-pattaya-and-chonburi-informs-residents-who-visited-places-in-relation-to-most-recent-covid-19-confirmed-cases-7/

The one at the PT Gas station seems to have been ongoing, around 2 weeks!!!!!!

40 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm not kidding; unfortunately, I can't see the current rates declining dramatically for a long time, and vaccinating the population will take even longer.  So should schools remain closed for 3 months, 6 months, a year?   When would you open schools?

Using that argument, wouldn’t you just open everything and let the virus spread like crazy because infection rates aren’t declining.

 

hard to debate sensibly when you are using logic like that.

 

 

Just now, wensiensheng said:

Using that argument, wouldn’t you just open everything and let the virus spread like crazy because infection rates aren’t declining.

 

hard to debate sensibly when you are using logic like that.

 

 

There will be another along in a minute telling us that restaurants and bars should be open

4 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry plans to ask the Finance Ministry for 10 billion baht in soft loans to help operators prepare their businesses for the mid-October reopening of the country.

 

Minister Phlipat Ratchakitprakarn said that, if the Phuket “sandbox” project runs smoothly, the Tourism and Sports Ministry will use the opportunity to hold discussions with the Finance Ministry over an allocation of soft loans, from the government's 500-billion-baht borrowing, to help relieve the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

He said, if the tourism soft loans are approved, operators can use a cross-guarantee measure, which allows firms to act as loan guarantors for each other.

 

https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10158123152967050

Maybe he needs to use that money on vaccines or their wont be any businesses 

Transparency... Not!

 

Details of vaccine procurement cannot be made public because contracts say so – DPM Wissanu

 

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam explained today (Tuesday) that details of all vaccine procurement contracts, signed between the country’s Ministry of Public Health and vaccine producers, either for government inoculation programs or on behalf of private companies, cannot be made public because the contracts say so.

 

Talking to the media this morning at Government House, before the cabinet is due to consider the Public Health Ministry’s contract to procure the Pfizer vaccine, the deputy prime minister said that only contracts which need funding from the government need to be approved by the cabinet.

 

He insisted that COVID-19 vaccines are a sensitive issue, unlike other products, because the producers or the vendors, have the bargaining power.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/details-of-vaccine-procurement-cannot-be-made-public-because-contracts-say-so-says-dpm-wissanu/

 

Thailand sets new pandemic records today for COVID hospitalized patients in critical condition and the share of those on ventilators -- 2,350 in critical condition and 643 of those on ventilators.

 

The prior high for those in critical condition was the 2,199 reported just yesterday. The 643 on ventilators surpassed the prior high of 616 reported on July 4.

 

Total COVID hospitalizations also set a new record, with 65,297 COVID cases hospitalized in some kind of facility -- regular hospital, field hospital, or "hospitel".

 

 

Screenshot from government televised news briefing