By Erich Parpart and Cod Satrusayang

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha walked back the government’s deadline to open the country by October during censure debates on Wednesday and said he would only do so if it was “possible.”

 

Prayut said in June that he would reopen the country by October and that Thais must learn to live with Covid-19 or risk damaging the country’s economy further.

 

Covid-19 numbers spiked after his June statement with daily infection rates rising above 20,000 cases per day before the government implemented mandatory lockdown measures.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/32108/prayut-walks-back-october-reopening-for-the-country/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-09-02

 

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Flip - Flopping yet again Mr P, he doesn't know what planet he's on... 

whatever "truth" he uttered yesterday, is fake news today... should he not be in prison for that?

Thais must learn to live with Covid-19 because despite having plenty of time, enough money, and all the resources required at my disposal, I have totally failed in all critical decisions. Now just <deleted> off, leave me alone, and die off peacefully.

35 minutes ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Flip - Flopping yet again Mr P, he doesn't know what planet he's on... 

Well... It isn't like anybody thought an October opening was likely in the first place...

1 hour ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Flip - Flopping yet again Mr P, he doesn't know what planet he's on... 

Slithering and flopping about.  (Ngu-Ngu, Pla-Pla Thai expression)  It's hard to follow.  Every minute is a new day. 

18 minutes ago, baboon said:

Well... It isn't like anybody thought an October opening was likely in the first place...

I did, October 2022  ????

Depends on the daily case numbers. If they drop to the hundreds - no I am not smoking anything, could  happen, it's the Delta characteristic to shoot up shoot down - no reason not to open.

 

Plus vaccines. At nearly million a day should be able to get 60-70% in the main pop centers jabbed by the end of the month. Which are herd numbers.

 

Have faith in Prayut. Man's dumb as a ham sandwich. But he likes his job.

What a surprise????

Always a joy to see  military  personel "welcoming"  you to the country..........byjesus theyll  never  get it 

I hope Thais don't just live with this government and demand its change.

If anyone finds this surprising you've either been dropped on your head or you haven't been to Thailand.

Yea no worries, tourists love last minute canceling their long awaited trips. Should be great for the million people+ out of work here as well. They don’t mind having nothing for the foreseeable future.

Much as I dislike the PM, it's not just him or Thailand. Every country in the world has behaved exactly the same way. Flip-flop, changing policies, do this, do that. Say this, say that. Open this, close that. Nobody knows how to handle the pandemic 'properly'. Why should they?

They just want foreigners to pay more for the quarantene hotels for a longer time.Maybe a year more or so.They didnt reach the billions thai bath yet that they imagined earlier.And the phuket sandbox is a mess.

3 hours ago, baboon said:

Well... It isn't like anybody thought an October opening was likely in the first place...

Oh but they will still open up as he said sector by sector, whatever the hell that means, even though he nows better as per this statement from the article in the OP:

 

“I said that if it is possible to reopen the country in October we will reopen, if not then we open it sector by sector,” the prime minister said. “Even if we are open, there will not be that many visitors because the pandemic is still there.”

So, how much longer for Thailand to be re-opened?

3 hours ago, SiamAndy said:

I did, October 2022  ????

Never happen successfully while COE process continues.

3 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

Slithering and flopping about.  (Ngu-Ngu, Pla-Pla Thai expression)  It's hard to follow.  Every minute is a new day. 

Every minute is a new LIE

OMG the guy is the owner of so many flip flops he will have to extend his wardrobe 

"government implemented mandatory lockdown measures"? And what exactly were those? Closing restaurants and bars? People still moved freely about. It was the worst of everything. People lost their jobs and still contracted and died from the virus.

 

This is actually the first intelligent thing I've heard come out of his mouth. Reopening the country would be a disaster.

 

A real lockdown for 3-4 weeks is what's needed to crush the virus. Then maybe you can open November 1st and save the tourist season. Otherwise the country is screwed and many more will get sick and die.

2 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Always a joy to see  military  personel "welcoming"  you to the country..........byjesus theyll  never  get it 

Mask Mai?

Moon walk Puppet Man!

Totally confusing.

 

Business must be pi***d off.

 

You need some time to hire new staff, prepare the shop, advertise, etc.

 

Better not to make these assinine proclamations.

1 hour ago, bkk_bwana said:

Much as I dislike the PM, it's not just him or Thailand. Every country in the world has behaved exactly the same way. Flip-flop, changing policies, do this, do that. Say this, say that. Open this, close that. Nobody knows how to handle the pandemic 'properly'. Why should they?

Sorry, this is a false equivalence... 

 

Singapore, for example, has been almost perfect in its handling. And, now things there are effectively back to near normal. Economy grew at a good clip. Just for an example in the neighborhood. 

13 minutes ago, Tracyb said:

Mask Mai?

We don't need no stinking masks, were vaccinated folks, and we tested negative on your silly PCR test 72 hours prior.....yes sarcasm

4 hours ago, baboon said:

Well... It isn't like anybody thought an October opening was likely in the first place...

Come on cheer up ....it aint impossible ....there is a October in 2022 too....????

5 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Flip - Flopping yet again Mr P, he doesn't know what planet he's on... 

He is in pixie land!!!!

As Thailand isn't really closed, reopening to foreigners can only mean to get rid of those Covid regulations that keep most of them away, such as quarantine and/or a multitude of tests in a "sandbox". I don't think they're prepared to do this, fearing that new variants will enter unchecked.

5 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

Flip - Flopping yet again Mr P, he doesn't know what planet he's on... 

"Thais must learn to live with covid or risk damaging the countries economy".

There is an interesting documentary on Netflix about dictators, which quotes a dictators rule book, one of those was to blame everyone else, which clearly he has done with the above statement.

 

Translation: you people stop spreading this disease, I won't punish slave labor procurement, or smugglers of Myamer people into this country, spreading covid as they do so, just to keep the pineapple plantation owners wealthy.

I have gone to great lengths to keep these workers and construction workers enclosed in their workplaces, promised to feed them and even built field hospitals on plantations to keep them at bay, spending your tax payers money to protect them from infecting you.

We have spent considerable time negotiating with Chinese in the country to bring the price of Sino Vac down from 18 to 8 dollars yet you still complain.

 

We have opened the sandbox, yet you still try to sneak into Phuket and ruin my plans, I must open up and let the Hotels and shopping Malls sell their goods, they must be able to charge you exorbitant rates for covid testing, if we do not open Thai airways is over, not because it was fleeced by corruption ,but because you people must live with covid.

And further more you street vendors will not be allowed to open when the breaks come off, only shopping malls and Hotels that I say can open, will open.

Do not take notice of Joe Ferrari, he was only trying to protect his fellow officers from covid 19 spreading around the station .