Thailand extends pandemic measures, expands lockdown areas

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Beds are seen as the Thai government prepares to convert an air cargo warehouse into a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) field hospital at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand July 28, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/Files

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand on Sunday extended tighter containment measures in the capital and high-risk provinces probably until the end of August in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 as the country deals with its biggest outbreak to date.

 

Thailand reported 18,027 infections and 133 deaths on Sunday, bringing the cumulative total to 615,314 cases and 4,990 fatalities, mostly from an outbreak since April that is being fuelled by the highly transmissible Alpha and Delta variants.

 

The restrictions, including travel curbs, mall closures and curfews, will be expanded to 29 provinces classified as "dark red zone" from 13, Apisamai Srirangsan, spokeswoman for the government's COVID-19 task force, told a televised news briefing.

The measures will start on Tuesday for 14 days and will be reviewed on Aug. 18, she said.

 

"If the situation does not improve and is still worrying, the curbs will be extended to Aug. 31," she added.

 

Earlier on Sunday, government sources said the curbs would continue until the end of the month.

 

The number of infections in the provinces is now higher than in Bangkok, so containment measures have to be tightened to curb the spread, Apisamai said.

 

Restaurants in shopping malls will be allowed to open only for deliveries, while construction camps can also resume under "bubble and seal" measures, Apisamai said.

 

Last month, the government called on people to follow the restrictions, warning without cooperation record daily could reach 30,000 under a worse-case scenario.

 

The curbs has hit economic activity, and the finance ministry on Thursday slashed its 2021 economic growth forecast to 1.3% from 2.3% seen earlier.

 

Thailand started its mass vaccination drive in June and aims to inoculate 50 million people by the end of the year. But so far, only 5.8% of its more than 66 million population are fully vaccinated, while about 21% have received at least one dose.

 

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat Editing by Louise Heavens)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-01

 

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

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

Dark red zone provinces from August 3

 

Bangkok,  Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Narathiwat, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Prachinburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Singburi, Songkhla, Suphanburi, Ang Thong,Tak and Yala.

 

 

 

[internationalism]

yes, vax will be coming sometimes to the end of year.

until then extentions 

[smedly]

33 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

while construction camps can also resume under "bubble and seal" measures, Apisamai said.

anybody see anything wrong with this

[DrJack54]

54 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The restrictions, including travel curbs,.......,.

Don't say 'travel curbs'. That means NOTHING.

Under current travel restrictions for inter province travel you don't even need to list reason.

It's farcical.

[nightfox]

All they are doing is extending the hardship to the millions of people that are out of work who cant make a living thanks to these restrictions.

[Emdog]

Please tell me those aren't US flags sewn together to make bed covers....

Psychology experiment? Pairing a (hopefully) neutral stimulus (the flag) with a negative experience (covid isolation) ought to lead survivors into Pavlovian association of US with awfulness.

Wonder why they didn't use Chinese flags? (not)

[it is what it is]

 

the right decision, hopefully not too late.

 

maybe they should revisit the 'open in 120 days' plan?

[Meat Pie 47]

So tell me guys does anybody who lost his/her job get any assistance from the self elected government? Most government in the west give some assistance for people affected by this virus

[BKKTRAVELER]

36 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

So tell me guys does anybody who lost his/her job get any assistance from the self elected government? Most government in the west give some assistance for people affected by this virus

Yep! they got the 50/50 campaign to save 1,500B until October and then another 1,500B until the end of the year! All is good, nothing to see here. Who needs more than that?

 

In all seriousness, I know there are programs with social security and such, but I don't know exactly who it covers, in any case I wish everyone good luck.

[tokyoblond]

1 hour ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

So tell me guys does anybody who lost his/her job get any assistance from the self elected government?

Hi Meat Pie. I can only provide my personal experience, as I don't know how others have fared.

If the business and staff pay into the Social Security scheme (including foreigners), they can get up to 50% of their salary for up to 3 months, up to a maximum salary of 15,000 Baht, meaning that the most they will receive is 7,500 Baht per month. Bear in mind that the business and staff must have paid into the scheme for a period before becoming eligible. And each time my Thai staff applied they felt like we were fighting the SSO to get them to pay out, dodging obstacles put in our way by staff, e.g. "the database is being updated and it will take about 3 weeks to process your claim", "are you sure that the foreigner paid into the system, we can't find the records", etc.

As for business help? Nothing. Not 1 Baht in assistance. We even tried for one of the "soft-loans" but we were "not the right type of business" and it was suggested that the "foreigner could get money from their home country" (that elusive gold-plated bank account that we are all assumed to have back home).

Right now, income is down to about 20% of what it was before Covid struck and now we have entered another lockdown, meaning the business will be forced to shut down again, so no more income for the next month at least; yet the rent still has to be paid, we are still required to pay into the SSO monthly and so on - the costs don't just stop.

I, very foolishly (I realize now, too late) used my savings to keep things afloat "in the short term", keeping salaries, rent, internet, electricity, water, etc. up to date. I love my business and staff and it was a bloody good little business before this debacle. Initially, I hoped that we would come out of this in a short time. Of course, once I started using up my savings, when the next lockdown came, and again, and again, I kept dipping in, in in the vane hope that "it will get better soon". It didn't get better soon and now all of the money is gone. The pot is empty.

I'll be 60 soon, so very little chance of me 'starting again' at my age; I am virtually unemployable in my home country (I already checked), even if I could scrape together enough money to escape back home. Plus, having been out of the country for an extended period, there would be no support once I arrived back home anyway (I already checked, in desperation).

TLDR: No, this government have given NO help to small businesses. Of course, the big boys are coming out smelling of roses. Maybe that was the plan all along....

Oh, and for the usual "never invest more that you're willing to loose" crowd, save it! I know.

Edited August 1, 2021 by tokyoblond
typo

[Walker88]

1 hour ago, tokyoblond said:

Oh, and for the usual "never invest more that you're willing to loose" crowd, save it! I know.

I hear you.

 

No one who didn't have on his Bingo Card "Worldwide Pandemic that Kills Millions and Eviscerates Economies" can criticize you for your current plight. There is no better example of Nassim Taleb's Black Swan than Covid-19. It's a Fat Tail scenario against which few immunized themselves.

 

Obviously different countries have addressed the economic fallout in different ways, depending on cultural and/or financial considerations. Major Western nations, who tend toward having a kind of paternalistic culture, have the ability simply to print money, and so far the market has accepted that as a justifiable way to deal with the crisis. Smaller countries, or those with smaller financial markets, lack the ability to print (and have markets accept it without spiking interest rates or decimating a currency). Also, some countries seem to be run by people who give scant consideration to the plight of the Non-Donor Class (Donor being a term with a range of meanings, from political donor to outright corruption). There are also likely countries where everyone is expected to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, so no aid will ever be forthcoming.

 

Thailand is somewhere in the middle of those. Thailand does have, at least on paper, some $234 billion in foreign reserves as well as a debt-to-GDP ratio better than the US or any EU nation. It does not, however, have any history of the government opening coffers or taking on debt in order to aid the disadvantaged........aiding the already-advantaged perhaps, but not the common person. Of course, Thailand has never faced the situation it is currently in, which has wider impact than even the 1997 Asian Crisis.

 

It remains to be seen if the government will additionally open its coffers to aid the millions of employees and business owners hurt by Covid. Given the govt's current unpopularity, opening the coffers would be a wise political move.

 

While the odds there was ever any 'plan' to do what Covid is doing is next to zero, the somewhat old adage of 'never let a crisis go to waste' is likely true, and those who 'have' are going to get a lot more. Already some 75% of Thailand's wealth is in the hands of less than 1% of the populace, and that number will increase as 'vulture capitalists' scoff up the carcasses left in the street by Covid.

 

So I have no answer, but do have empathy for your plight. Of course that is no help. Sorry.

Edited August 1, 2021 by Walker88

[sammieuk1]

Welcome to Arlington penitentiary ????

 

 

[Pattaya Spotter]

6 hours ago, internationalism said:

yes, vax will be coming sometimes to the end of year.

until then extentions 

Pretty much...except in Phuket, which is supposedly 60-70% vaccinated. 

[webfact]

Semi-lockdown extended for two more weeks, now covers 29 provinces instead of 13

 

A man crosses the road on Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok on July 12, 2021, on the first day of stricter lockdown restrictions to try to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP

 

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has decided to extend current semi-lockdown restrictions, due to expire on Monday, for two more weeks and to expand the COVID-19 “Dark Red” zone provinces put under these restrictions from the current 13 to 29.

 

The extension and expansion of the semi-lockdown measures came amid continual surges in COVID-19 cases and deaths,  as Thailand recorded 133 more deaths and 18,027 new cases were recorded in Thailand today. According to the CCSA, if the situation does not improve in the next two weeks, the restrictions may be extended until the end of the month.

 

The 16 new “Dark Red” provinces are Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachin Buri, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi and Ang Thong.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/lockdown-restrictions-in-29-thai-provinces-extended-to-end-of-august/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-02

 

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

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

[Scrotobike]

Here is the rub:

Add further factory areas to the deep red zone

This allows the prioritisation of those zones for vaccines

So possibly the HiSo factories get the vaccine - again possibly diverting from the old and sick (who are still not fully vaccinated) and looking after the "GDP" - Greedy Despicable People.

 

[HaoleBoy]

What "travel restrictions" are they talking about?  One can travel from Bangkok to Jomtien / Hua Hin / Chiang Mai with no problem (and they are).  There are a couple of roadblocks set up, but these are unmanned all day.

 

This is a total lark.

[tonray]

Interestingly....a local textile (clothing) factory which was closed from around July 4th thru July 18th, has been open and operating since here in  Nonthaburi. So I guess if you have the right connections anything is possible.  I was in a taxi heading past there on Saturday at noon and the workers were heading out for their lunch breaks. Central Westgate Mall, which is 2 kilometers away, shuttered like a beach house in a Hurricane (except for Tops supermarket). My guess is the local authorities are the same guys who own the factory ? Also the night market which again was closed from July 4th thru 18th...open since every night. Very inconsistent rules it would seem

[brucegoniners]

Do these guys even remember what they did last year?

 

Impose new stay at home orders and watch this thing disappear again.

 

Do I need to call the PM myself?

 

Is there a reason why this isn't being done? 

 

This is a bandaid on a massive head wound. As long as people aren't told to stay home, guess what, they won't!

 

Lock things down or soon they'll be forced into a Wuhan type lockdown and nobody wants that.

[mikebell]

12 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The restrictions, including travel curbs, mall closures

Except for trainloads of sick people being dispersed to all other areas in Thailand!  Presumably the mall closures will be similar to the rules affecting supermarkets: you can buy food and talcum powder but not light bulbs!

[AhFarangJa]

9 hours ago, tokyoblond said:

Hi Meat Pie. I can only provide my personal experience, as I don't know how others have fared.

If the business and staff pay into the Social Security scheme (including foreigners), they can get up to 50% of their salary for up to 3 months, up to a maximum salary of 15,000 Baht, meaning that the most they will receive is 7,500 Baht per month. Bear in mind that the business and staff must have paid into the scheme for a period before becoming eligible. And each time my Thai staff applied they felt like we were fighting the SSO to get them to pay out, dodging obstacles put in our way by staff, e.g. "the database is being updated and it will take about 3 weeks to process your claim", "are you sure that the foreigner paid into the system, we can't find the records", etc.

As for business help? Nothing. Not 1 Baht in assistance. We even tried for one of the "soft-loans" but we were "not the right type of business" and it was suggested that the "foreigner could get money from their home country" (that elusive gold-plated bank account that we are all assumed to have back home).

Right now, income is down to about 20% of what it was before Covid struck and now we have entered another lockdown, meaning the business will be forced to shut down again, so no more income for the next month at least; yet the rent still has to be paid, we are still required to pay into the SSO monthly and so on - the costs don't just stop.

I, very foolishly (I realize now, too late) used my savings to keep things afloat "in the short term", keeping salaries, rent, internet, electricity, water, etc. up to date. I love my business and staff and it was a bloody good little business before this debacle. Initially, I hoped that we would come out of this in a short time. Of course, once I started using up my savings, when the next lockdown came, and again, and again, I kept dipping in, in in the vane hope that "it will get better soon". It didn't get better soon and now all of the money is gone. The pot is empty.

I'll be 60 soon, so very little chance of me 'starting again' at my age; I am virtually unemployable in my home country (I already checked), even if I could scrape together enough money to escape back home. Plus, having been out of the country for an extended period, there would be no support once I arrived back home anyway (I already checked, in desperation).

TLDR: No, this government have given NO help to small businesses. Of course, the big boys are coming out smelling of roses. Maybe that was the plan all along....

Oh, and for the usual "never invest more that you're willing to loose" crowd, save it! I know.

Same problems with my Wife's restaurant / bar.

When she applied for assistance she was told firstly that all the funds were allocated. Next time she was told that she had to apply where her tabian bahn is listed. Next, and this is the latest, she is told that her i.d. number is incorrect, and does not match their records !!!

Just any excuse not to pay out. Now she says she will not pay any tax and insurance in the future, I cannot put down here the comments she has made about the p.m. and his cronies.

[Misterwhisper]

10 hours ago, Emdog said:

Please tell me those aren't US flags sewn together to make bed covers....

Psychology experiment? Pairing a (hopefully) neutral stimulus (the flag) with a negative experience (covid isolation) ought to lead survivors into Pavlovian association of US with awfulness.

Wonder why they didn't use Chinese flags? (not)

Now just imagine the U.S. (or ANY other country for that matter) used Thai flags as mattress covers in their field hospitals. It would trigger angry outrage not only from the Thai government but also from  even angrier Thai "netizens". "How dare they abuse our sacred flag???!!!" the chorus would sound.

 

And you're rightfully asking, "why no Chinese flags?" But I guess it was a rhetorical question anyway. It's of course because communist China's nationalistic sentiments are just as blown out of sensible proportion as those of their autocratic-feudalistic Thai "brethren". Besides... you don't want to anger the big overlord whose quasi-vassal state you have become, right? I mean, who else would buy all these durian? 

[Strongheart]

12 hours ago, internationalism said:

yes, vax will be coming sometimes to the end of year.

until then extentions 

All that is being extended here is the destruction of the Thai economy. After tourism local business is now being sacrificed on the altar of the COVID-Cult.

[meechai]

11 hours ago, Emdog said:

Please tell me those aren't US flags sewn together to make bed covers....

 

Silly rabbit those are the beds reserved for American Expats

Next two and a half rows above are for Brazilians & above those are all for the Brit's

 

All the beds on the right side of pic are for Thai's...Note they have no bed cover ????

Edited August 2, 2021 by meechai

[Cat Boy]

The grid at the bottom of the article appears to be out of date, correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that restaurants in shopping malls may only serve by delivery, that is ordering online with some service like Grab or LineMan delivering from the restaurant to the destination, NOT for in-person take-away orders.

[maddermax]

As to be expected, the construction sites are to continue operating despite being one of the biggest spreaders of the virus. Shameful!

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't say 'travel curbs'. That means NOTHING.

Under current travel restrictions for inter province travel you don't even need to list reason.

It's farcical.

I had to go to my provincial immigration office this morning to do my 90 address report [online not working] deep red zone. Around 09:30 roads were as busy as ever?

[James105]

1 hour ago, brucegoniners said:

Do these guys even remember what they did last year?

 

Impose new stay at home orders and watch this thing disappear again.

 

Do I need to call the PM myself?

 

Is there a reason why this isn't being done? 

 

This is a bandaid on a massive head wound. As long as people aren't told to stay home, guess what, they won't!

 

Lock things down or soon they'll be forced into a Wuhan type lockdown and nobody wants that.

Just to be clear, you want to impose a Wuhan type lockdown to avoid imposing a Wuhan type lockdown that nobody wants?   

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I had to go to my provincial immigration office this morning to do my 90 address report [online not working] deep red zone. Around 09:30 roads were as busy as ever?

I'm not up with the actual restrictions.

Yes I'm aware of the curfew.

The inter province travel has me completely confused as it seems possible and easy.

As I type this from my condo Bangkok a couple of Thai here assembling 2 wardrobes from Homepro.

Tomorrow a company coming to pick up and remove 2 lounge room suites.

So seems business as usual in many ways. 

Edited August 2, 2021 by DrJack54

[brewsterbudgen]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I had to go to my provincial immigration office this morning to do my 90 address report [online not working] deep red zone. Around 09:30 roads were as busy as ever?

In Bangkok, many people are using their car rather than risk travelling on crowded public transport.  

[tonray]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Presumably the mall closures will be similar to the rules affecting supermarkets: you can buy food and talcum powder but not light bulbs!

Actually I learned something interesting yesterday. While in Big-C. Apparently there is no legal prohibition against buying items that are roped off. If you summon a staff member and indicate what you want, they can retrieve it for you and you can then pay for it at the register. I did this with a tea kettle as mine flamed out and I can't live without my morning tea !