SURVEY: Is it time to abandon the Sandbox concept?

[Scott]

With the rise in cases in Thailand in general and the appearance of variants such as the Delta variant being reported in Phuket, is it time to abandon the sandbox concept to bring back tourists?

 

Please feel free to leave a comment.

[bdenner]

Should never been implemented in the 1st place. They can't come to terms with the concept that vaccinated people can still spread the virus even if protected themselves.

[mtls2005]

Most saw this for what it was, a creaky old bus, with bad brakes being driven by a drunkard.

 

That it has crashed, and the driver claimed "brake failure" before doing a runner, should hardly come as a surprise.

 

 

 

[champers]

It has only been up and running for just over a week. There have been a few issues to sort out but nothing major or catastrophic. Islands would seem to be the best location for sandboxes for now.

[BE88]

 

It is too early to give an evaluation, also because the so-called tourists seem rather like residents who try to return to Thailand to take care of their condos and houses abandoned for two years.

 

 

[Misty]

23 minutes ago, bdenner said:

Should never been implemented in the 1st place. They can't come to terms with the concept that vaccinated people can still spread the virus even if protected themselves.

I agree. Why not try an intermediary step first.  Not for tourists, but for returning, fully vaccinated long-term residents of Thailand.  Start off with quarantine. After one week, if everyone on the plane still tests negative, then allow this group to forgo further quarantine. 

 

That would serve two purposes.  It would help folks who are returning.  It would also provide a learning experience for the hospitality industry so that when conditions are right they can try to open up more fully.

 

Jumping right into tourism just seemed like a bad idea, both in practice as well as what it says to the rest of the country about priorities.

[Rookiescot]

Actually I would stop the tourists but keep it open for people who live here returning from overseas.

Two weeks stuck in a hotel room must be an absolute nightmare.

[spidermike007]

We don't need to abandon it. The international tourists already have. Word is spreading all over, via Twitter, Instagram, FB, YouTube, TripAdvisor, etc. Don't bother coming. Nothing to see. Most places closed. Only over priced hotel food and a half dozen restaurants. Go to one of the 60 or more nations with no restrictions and vibrant economies. Do not come here. Thailand is imploding. The meltdown has begun. 

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, bdenner said:

Should never been implemented in the 1st place. They can't come to terms with the concept that vaccinated people can still spread the virus even if protected themselves.

Nonsense. The incoming tourists are the ones taking the risk by coming in contact with the Thais. They have not only been fully vaccinated, with a real vaccine, but they have passed multiple, different Covid tests. They should not even be subject to ANY restrictions. 

[rabang]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

We don't need to abandon it. The international tourists already have. Word is spreading all over, via Twitter, Instagram, FB, YouTube, TripAdvisor, etc. Don't bother coming. Nothing to see. Most places closed. Only over priced hotel food and a half dozen restaurants. Go to one of the 60 or more nations with no restrictions and vibrant economies. Do not come here. Thailand is imploding. The meltdown has begun. 

There is nothing appealing in Thailand right now. Places closed, more looming restrictions and lockdowns, need to wear a *** mask everywhere in a hot and humid climate. The only thing I miss are a few friends living there. It is madness going there, most of the west (US and Europe) are returning to normalcy or already have.

[KarenBravo]

Won't the Snadbox be automatically ended when Covid cases reach 90?

So says our Illustrious Leader.

[KarenBravo]

Just now, rabang said:

There is nothing appealing in Thailand right now. Places closed, more looming restrictions and lockdowns, need to wear a *** mask everywhere in a hot and humid climate. The only thing I miss are a few friends living there. It is madness going there, most of the west (US and Europe) are returning to normalcy or already have.

And you think that it'll stay that way, even as the medical professionals of these countries are warning of another wave consisting of the Delta variant?

[rabang]

1 minute ago, KarenBravo said:

And you think that it'll stay that way, even as the medical professionals of these countries are warning of another wave consisting of the Delta variant?

Oh, the doom and gloom variant crowd strikes again. Yes, several experts in different countries have said it is time to move on and concentrate on other things than just the number of infections as the vaccines are working against the new strains as well and they are not causing a heavy toll on hospitals (similar to the effect of flu for a vaccinated population).

[KarenBravo]

1 minute ago, rabang said:

Oh, the doom and gloom variant crowd strikes again. Yes, several experts in different countries have said it is time to move on and concentrate on other things than just the number of infections as the vaccines are working against the new strains as well and they are not causing a heavy toll on hospitals (similar to the effect of flu for a vaccinated population).

Yes, they work against variants, but, Sinovac is ineffective against the Delta variant.

Guess which vaccine was used for the majority of Thai people.......

[Pattaya Spotter]

One premise of the "sandbox" was that tourists would spend their first two weeks in Phuket and then were free to travel around and see the rest of the country. However, Bangkok is now in lockdown and many other areas have implemented local quarantines for non-locals entering their area. We now see that domestic travel is again shutting down, with AA canceling all domestic flights for July and most inter-provincial bus travel being shuttered. If tourists just want to visit Phuket, the scheme may work for them.

[OneMoreFarang]

Mostly it seems to work until now.

Tourists know the rules before them come. If they accept the rules, fine.

 

What does Phuket or Thailand lose by letting people in who are vaccinated and tested for Covid?

Of course there is always a rest risk. But which risk is higher? A vaccinated tourist with Covid flying into the country? Or none-vaccinated locals arriving into Phuket over the sea?

 

Worst case they stop the sandbox idea if the Covid situation in Phuket gets as bad as in the rest of Thailand. What do they lose with that concept? Nothing!

[BobinBKK]

1 hour ago, bdenner said:

Should never been implemented in the 1st place. They can't come to terms with the concept that vaccinated people can still spread the virus even if protected themselves.

Oh come on man!!! We all know these variants were already here and not reported. They needed the sandbox excuse to once again blame the outside world for all their problems. So yes, the sandbox was necessary...

[Sheryl]

They need to allow in only fully vaccinated people who received one of the vaccines that are effective against the variant.

 

Problem is that they are accepting people vaccinated only with Sinovac or Sinopharm. 

[rabang]

10 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Yes, they work against variants, but, Sinovac is ineffective against the Delta variant.

Guess which vaccine was used for the majority of Thai people.......

Sinovac is not used in western countries as far as I know, except for Hungary and Serbia if I recall correctly (?) and maybe a few others but not in large scale and I was talking primarily about the situation western countries.

[KarenBravo]

2 minutes ago, rabang said:

Sinovac is not used in western countries as far as I know, except for Hungary and Serbia if I recall correctly (?) and maybe a few others but not in large scale and I was talking primarily about the situation western countries.

I see that the penny hasn't dropped.

Just because you have been vaccinated (with any of the vaccines), this doesn't stop you being a carrier. As the Delta variant is now the dominant strain in the West, this can be passed on to Thais whose vaccine offers no protection.

[Pravda]

No, it's time to bring more.

 

Susu!

[MajorTom]

i would say open the entire country right now for anyone fully vaccinated thats crazy enough to come. Its going to make zero difference to the epidemic already in Thailand. And skip the SHA+ money grab.

But cancel the Chinese vaccines like they did in Singapore.

[madmitch]

The people using the sandbox have access to the same media as those of us living here. They should be fully aware of the issues that may get them hospitalised or put into quarantine and that rules can be changed and provincial borders closed at the drop of a hat, not to forget the increasing number of infecions. In reality, sandbox tourists are not a problem in transmitting the virus.

 

So, let it continue, let the number of arrivals drop as potential "tourists" realise the reality of the scheme and watch as the TAT, the Government andthe Phuket Government find excuses as the project dwindles.

[Karma80]

I live in Phuket, but you would seriously need your head examined to come here right now.

41 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Yes, they work against variants, but, Sinovac is ineffective against the Delta variant.

Guess which vaccine was used for the majority of Thai people.......

And working expats in Phuket all got Sinovac.

[Tony125]

Vaccinated people can transmit the delta variant—and 3 other things to know about the dominant Covid strain

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/vaccinated-people-can-transmit-the-delta-variant—and-3-other-things-to-know-about-the-dominant-covid-strain/ar-AALY0ZX?li=BBnb7Kz

 

Plus the draw is supposed to be that you can leave the island after 14 days to travel around Thailand. Where ? Bangkok is in lockdown and Air Asia not flying .

Edited July 11, 2021 by Tony125

[Boedog]

PM says can not stop the Sandbox l not take my salary for 3 months to help the situation which l have caused from my ineptness and Stupidity so l need brown envelopes to survive, my 120 day plan to reopen the country not look good but maybe ok l wait and see

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, KarenBravo said:

Won't the Snadbox be automatically ended when Covid cases reach 90?

So says our Illustrious Leader.

He says a lot of stuff…I’ve got quite a pile of salt now, those pinches add up…

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, rabang said:

Oh, the doom and gloom variant crowd strikes again. Yes, several experts in different countries have said it is time to move on and concentrate on other things than just the number of infections as the vaccines are working against the new strains as well and they are not causing a heavy toll on hospitals (similar to the effect of flu for a vaccinated population).

Ah huh…

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/10/public-alarm-grows-at-boris-johnsons-plan-for-covid-freedom-day?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[sapson]

How about another survey  ..........never mind the quicksand boxes

 

isnt it time to stop the excessive greed with everything motivated by personal fiscal gain and stop the red tape and excuses  and actually make taking care of all the people in this country an absolute priority now ....not next month or next year!

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Nonsense. The incoming tourists are the ones taking the risk by coming in contact with the Thais. They have not only been fully vaccinated, with a real vaccine, but they have passed multiple, different Covid tests. They should not even be subject to ANY restrictions. 

And of those that have arrived at least 20 of them are unfortunately now in an ALQ and 2 children are in the hospital, so make of it what you will.  So tell me how they should not be restricted if this is how they are treated when someone from their group or on the plane they flew in tests positive or becomes ill such as the children who are not vaccinated.