PM Prayut downplays severity of Thailand's COVID-19 situation, claims other countries have it worse

[webfact]

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha came to power in a 2014 coup. (File photo: AFP/Chalinee Thirasupa)

 

By Pichayada Promchertchoo

 

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday (Jul 29) downplayed the COVID-19 situation Thailand, while claiming that other nations are dealing with higher caseloads.

 

In a special interview held at the Government House, he said: “If we contemplate the transmission in our country, it may seem shocking, given the daily fatalities. I want you to try paying attention to these numbers in our neighbouring countries and others for a change.”

 

“At present, every country in the world has more or less felt the impact. There are many top-ranking countries, as you can see, whose numbers are many times higher than ours.”

 

Full story: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thailand-covid-19-prayut-interview-shocking-transmission-15336466

 

-- © Copyright Channel NewsAsia 2021-07-31

 

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[RichardColeman]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

“At present, every country in the world has more or less felt the impact. There are many top-ranking countries, as you can see, whose numbers are many times higher than ours.”

Maybe he would like to explain Thailand's fall from grace, of going from 144th for infections to 44th and running in line with poor African for vaccine roll out !

[daveAustin]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

There are many top-ranking countries, as you can see, whose numbers are many times higher than ours.”

Ah, but they test and know their figures. Do you? Better off asking the cat what’s going on in Thailand. But what an hour idiotic thing to even say for a country ‘leader’. Can you imagine someone as dense making it to high office without a gun?

[Thunglom]

Such an immature argument to suggest others doing badly in anyway mitigates the government's handling off the situation.

[Thunglom]

4 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

Starting to gain respect for this guy.

 

About time someone realizes how overblown this is.  99.8% survival rate and the .2% who die are overwhelmingly above 60 years old.

Now the US CDC is admitting that the vaxx doesn't really offer much protection to muh delta variant as there isn't a statistically significant difference of infection and ability to pass it between unvaxxed, and vaxxed.

 

It is well known that as viruses mutate they become less deadly but more easily spread.  Science has proven that for decades.  It also makes logical sense, why would a virus mutate to kill the host instead of remaining active for years?

Every point you make in your post is incorrect - you need to get up to speed on Covid and viruses in general. I would suggest th ladybird book of viruses is not the best place to start.

[Rampant Rabbit]

26 minutes ago, Thunglom said:

Every point you make in your post is incorrect - you need to get up to speed on Covid and viruses in general. I would suggest th ladybird book of viruses is not the best place to start.

Maybe he's reading Janet and  John, needs  more  pictures  less  words????

[harada]

The smirk says it all.

[retsdon]

Basically, he's saying shut up and stop complaining. But even if that's what he's thinking, when so many people's lives and livelihoods are being disrupted or worse only a particularly inept or insensitive person would come out and say it.

 

 

[Scrotobike]

Am imaginary conversation between the general and his doctor.

 

I have grit in my eye

Wash it out

No I will leave it

You will eventually loose your sight

Ah its ok - the man next door is blind so I will be doing better than him

[Denim]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

. I want you to try paying attention to these numbers in our neighbouring countries and others for a change.”

Nice deflection but the fact is two wrongs don't make a right and this government has handled the vaccine role out very badly.

[Hayduke]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday (Jul 29) downplayed the COVID-19 situation Thailand

 

“Well Private Somchai, it's too bad you lost your leg when the General and his pals got drunk and shot you while playing with their AKs. But stop whining, there are other soldiers who have lost both legs….or an arm and a leg. So be happy, you have much to be thankful for, and remember you don’t need two legs to shine shoes or scrub floors. Now apologize to the nice General for creating all this trouble.”

 

 

[LomSak27]

Ah, the 'what-about-ery' defense. A Thai standard used by locals and expats alike. The gold standard for deflecting.

WHAT ABOUT Bogota? What about Birmingham? 
What about Taiwan? What about Amsterdam?
What about Walla Walla? Is it true what Onion farmers do  
What about Karachi? What about Kazakhstan?

 

 

 

[itsari]

Try telling the relatives of the covid 19 casualties that .

[internationalism]

whatever.

blood is on your hands.

lese majeste for thanathorn for pointing out over reliance on the AZ?

thonglor cluster<deleted> and "lets do covid songran parties"?

predicted from a mathematical model 400-500 deaths daily at it's pick in September.

Way to go, pal

 

[Tarteso]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

whose numbers are many times higher than ours.”

Two in distress makes sorrow less.. 
Right Mr PM ?

[mtls2005]

I can translate his message to the press, and public.

 

"Stop talking about how bad the situation is here in Thailand.

 

Start talking about how bad it is elsewhere."

 

"Squirrel" leadership.

 

 

 

 

[mikebell]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

'There are many top-ranking countries, as you can see, whose numbers are many times higher than ours.

So far.  Local experts are pointing ominously to Black September. 

[brewsterbudgen]

3 minutes ago, mikebell said:

So far.  Local experts are pointing ominously to Black September. 

Who are these "experts" and where are they "local" to?

[rct99q]

Oh my. People around my neck of the woods are just looking for some clear directions. I don't think they are looking to place blame, they just need a clear message. This sitting around waiting for something to happen seems to be stressing people out more.

Telling the truth would help. Give accurate timelines. If they are thinking lockdown then just get on with it. 

Comments like..things will get better. More vaccines coming...lockdown measures may be extended.

 

Make a decision and live, or die, with it. Regardless of outcome the current leadership will maintain control so other than suppressing dissenters not sure what all the dilly-dallying is all about.

 

 

[mtls2005]

2 minutes ago, rct99q said:

they just need a clear message.

 

2 minutes ago, rct99q said:

Telling the truth would help. Give accurate timelines.

 

 

Exactly. People want the truth, and they can handle the truth.

 

In desperate times this is even more important.

 

But part of the Thai psyche/social contract seems to require one to avoid giving bad news (hence the faux smile). Bad news disappoints the audience, and reflects badly on the person delivering the bad news. 

 

But leadership needs to fight through that reflex and be honest. It will be painful initially, but longer term it will have proven to be beneficial for all.

 

 

[JoePai]

Is that not a face you would like to bury your fist into !

[Sydebolle]

Is this an "unclean" smile - to put it politely?

Question to the primus-inter-pares; does Thailand not also fare better on Ebola figures than some African states - asking for a friend ???? 

 

[Scouse123]

As usual he is talking out of his hair dye!

[nikmar]

my son used a similar argument when he messed up in a maths test. 

 

"But Dad, I did better than some other kids in my class."

 

He was 11 years old then!

[retsdon]

Oh look! A squirrel!

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday (Jul 29) downplayed the COVID-19 situation Thailand, while claiming that other nations are dealing with higher caseloads.

Correct, they are dealing with it.

YOU'RE NOT !

[Scrotobike]

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Today 18,912

Die 178

RIP the 178 (mostly) needless deaths - why were the 18yos in the sandbox <deleted>UBAR and various other "priority" areas vaccinated before the old and sick?

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 hours ago, Thunglom said:

Such an immature argument to suggest others doing badly in anyway mitigates the government's handling off the situation.

Indeed, but it was the go to argument on here for a long while.

 

I don't care about other countries, I care about Thailand, where I live and work. 

 

This man is a total buffoon and unfit for office.

[peterpaintpot]

Imagine a poor Thai citizen, mourning the losses in his close family and also in the extended family - he is at his wits end. He may live in Isaan or Bangkok, it makes no difference to Covid. He must be relieved that his country has a Prime Minister with so much empathy for the people of Thailand.

[peterpaintpot]

Imagine a poor Thai citizen, mourning the losses in his close family and also in the extended family - he is at his wits end. He may live in Isaan or Bangkok, it makes no difference to Covid. He must be relieved that his country has a Prime Minister with so much empathy for the people of Thailand.

What a clown the leader is!