The Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street Market in Phuket Town is back in full swing. Photo: PR Phuket

 

PHUKET: The Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham has come forward to urge people to go ahead and live their normal lives, but remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19.

 

“Don’t be careless. Don’t panic. Live with COVID-19,” Dr Weerasak said in a video posted over the weekend.

 

“Safely expect the COVID-19 situation to last another year,” he said plainly.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/live-your-lives-normally-but-carefully-says-vachira-director-81959.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-11-08

 

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

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

15 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street Market in Phuket Town is back in full swing. Photo: PR Phuket

I was there last Sunday and can confirm it was busy and full of life, had a great meal in a Greek restaurant had a belly dancer there too..555

Nice to see many people wearing mask.  But social distancing would be difficult.

How can I live my life normally when the pubs are closed?

27 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

How can I live my life normally when the pubs are closed?

I thought the same when the movie theatres closed, but some permanently, and the gyms, and have off and on repeatedly over the 7 or so, "Not-a-lock down" lock downs and curfews. It's been crushing, the isolation, but adjust, adapt, make changes to see those needs met in other ways until those aspects of life return, if ever, life goes on, differently, it's not the old normal, or that ridiculous expression "New Normal", it just is, adapt, experience what is without longing for the past, and move forward 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham has come forward to urge people to go ahead and live their normal lives, but remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19.

Best advice ever... after you've had two worthwhile vaccinations.

5 minutes ago, blackprince said:

No of course masks don't "sort it all out", but research shows that they are far more effective than 10%.

Well ventilated areas including outdoor areas also cut the risk substantially, and that's a big plus for the Thai lifestyle and climate.

I'm sure the high transmission rate in Bkk was largely in enclosed areas where masks were not needed to counteract air pollution.

I suppose the point is - humans running around wearing masks is not normal and never will be, if it serves a purpose then fine - going forward I do not see mask wearing in my future

13 minutes ago, smedly said:

I suppose the point is - humans running around wearing masks is not normal and never will be, if it serves a purpose then fine - going forward I do not see mask wearing in my future

Yes there has been a mind-bogglingly (is that a real word!) crazy resistance to masks by certain groups in some western countries, notable in my native UK.

 

But masks have been common in Asian countries at least since SARS (yes I know SARS wasn't a big factor in Thailand).

Masks are also very common in Thailand for motorbike riders.

Masks are also common in Thailand in the poor air quality season.

So all in all the resistance to masks among Thais is extremely low I'd say.

 

Then there's another factor which seems to have been forgotten by just about everyone over the last 18 months: the Thai wai is much more hygienic than the western handshake! You can't transmit covid via a wai ????

 

Personally, I started wearing masks about 25 years ago when I observed the conditions at major air transport hubs like Dubai airport. The worldwide virus soup at that airport would be a great research topic for a virologist!

 

7 minutes ago, blackprince said:

Yes there has been a mind-bogglingly (is that a real word!) crazy resistance to masks by certain groups in some western countries, notable in my native UK.

 

But masks have been common in Asian countries at least since SARS (yes I know SARS wasn't a big factor in Thailand).

Masks are also very common in Thailand for motorbike riders.

Masks are also common in Thailand in the poor air quality season.

So all in all the resistance to masks among Thais is extremely low I'd say.

 

Then there's another factor which seems to have been forgotten by just about everyone over the last 18 months: the Thai wai is much more hygienic than the western handshake! You can't transmit covid via a wai ????

 

Personally, I started wearing masks about 25 years ago when I observed the conditions at major air transport hubs like Dubai airport. The worldwide virus soup at that airport would be a great research topic for a virologist!

 

I agree with most of what you said, mask wearing in SEA is quite common but it is definately more to do with diminishing air quality but it certainly is not normal for humans to wear masks and never will be, if that is the world you see in our future then that really is disturbing 

6 minutes ago, smedly said:

I agree with most of what you said, mask wearing in SEA is quite common but it is definately more to do with diminishing air quality but it certainly is not normal for humans to wear masks and never will be, if that is the world you see in our future then that really is disturbing 

Actually, I didn't say what I see in the future. I said what I've seen in the past to date. But minor points aside...

 

To me what is far more disturbing than the wearing of masks is the sheer refusal of certain sections of western society to take elementary precautions against serious illness.

 

The UK is a case in point. A large section of society has become extremely complacent about masks and distancing since the successful vaccination rollout, with the consequence that the UK has been catapulted back into the worst decile worldwide and getting worse every week.

8 minutes ago, blackprince said:

Actually, I didn't say what I see in the future. I said what I've seen in the past to date. But minor points aside...

 

To me what is far more disturbing than the wearing of masks is the sheer refusal of certain sections of western society to take elementary precautions against serious illness.

 

The UK is a case in point. A large section of society has become extremely complacent about masks and distancing since the successful vaccination rollout, with the consequence that the UK has been catapulted back into the worst decile worldwide and getting worse every week.

If the UK wasn't testing you wouldn't know much about it, there are certainly breakthrough infections were a few may need treatment but the vast majority (small numbers) needing treatment are the very old or those already quite ill or those not vaccinated, a booster shot seems to deal with the issue very well 

 

Society in general is fed up with this virus over the last 2 or so years and want to get back to normal - not "new normal" but normal life, life is short and this virus has robbed me of over 2 years of mine - we need to move on and put it behind us

7 minutes ago, smedly said:

If the UK wasn't testing you wouldn't know much about it, there are certainly breakthrough infections were a few may need treatment but the vast majority (small numbers) needing treatment are the very old or those already quite ill or those not vaccinated, a booster shot seems to deal with the issue very well 

 

Society in general is fed up with this virus over the last 2 or so years and want to get back to normal - not "new normal" but normal life, life is short and this virus has robbed me of over 2 years of mine - we need to move on and put it behind us

100% agreed.  Most of the hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated.  Time to get tough on them.  Like Singapore.  I want to get back to "normal" also!!!

51 minutes ago, blackprince said:

Yes there has been a mind-bogglingly (is that a real word!) crazy resistance to masks by certain groups in some western countries, notable in my native UK.

 

But masks have been common in Asian countries at least since SARS (yes I know SARS wasn't a big factor in Thailand).

Masks are also very common in Thailand for motorbike riders.

Masks are also common in Thailand in the poor air quality season.

So all in all the resistance to masks among Thais is extremely low I'd say.

 

Then there's another factor which seems to have been forgotten by just about everyone over the last 18 months: the Thai wai is much more hygienic than the western handshake! You can't transmit covid via a wai ????

 

Personally, I started wearing masks about 25 years ago when I observed the conditions at major air transport hubs like Dubai airport. The worldwide virus soup at that airport would be a great research topic for a virologist!

 

A lot of the Thai women where I work are extremely irritated by wearing masks, some of them having to get specialist treatment for skin problems that have developed by having to wear them in the office 9 hours a day.  

 

Just because they don't complain as much, doesn't mean they're OK with it.

 

As for the OP, when I want advice on how to live my life from some hospital director I'll ask for it. Until then, he should keep busy working out more ways to overcharge foreigners for medical treatment and keep his advise to himself. 

12 minutes ago, smedly said:

If the UK wasn't testing you wouldn't know much about it, there are certainly breakthrough infections were a few may need treatment but the vast majority (small numbers) needing treatment are the very old or those already quite ill or those not vaccinated, a booster shot seems to deal with the issue very well 

 

Society in general is fed up with this virus over the last 2 or so years and want to get back to normal - not "new normal" but normal life, life is short and this virus has robbed me of over 2 years of mine - we need to move on and put it behind us

Your first paragraph is simply untrue. The NHS (National Health Service) is close to overload again.

 

As for your second paragraph, it would be better if you spoke for yourself rather than try to claim the role of speaking for society as a whole. Also, as I'm sure you know, the virus has robbed over 5 million people of their lives (dead) and countless millions of others of a productive life (long covid).

 

"Putting it behind us" would be nice and I'm sure we're all looking forward to doing that, but at the moment it's not possible because it's still in front of us.

 

And for the 3rd time now - Thai and SEAsian people in general are not averse to masks. If you are not happy with that perhaps you are in the wrong place.

 

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

A lot of the Thai women where I work are extremely irritated by wearing masks, some of them having to get specialist treatment for skin problems that have developed by having to wear them in the office 9 hours a day.  

 

Just because they don't complain as much, doesn't mean they're OK with it.

 

As for the OP, when I want advice on how to live my life from some hospital director I'll ask for it. Until then, he should keep busy working out more ways to overcharge foreigners for medical treatment and keep his advise to himself. 

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/face/prevent-face-mask-skin-problems

2 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I agree it should be, but the point is it isn't up to you - mask wearing is (supposedly) mandatory.

Which is why I wear one... others seem to disagree.

2 minutes ago, Harrith1954 said:

A madk only is looking safe, but the virus easely come through the holes in the material, because the virus is much smaller.

IT give fake safety, that is why the virus still spreads.

A mask is primarily to stop the infected from spreading the virus.  As you may know, many have the virus and don't even know it.  Thus, the need for everyone to wear a mask.

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

A lot of the Thai women where I work are extremely irritated by wearing masks, some of them having to get specialist treatment for skin problems that have developed by having to wear them in the office 9 hours a day. 

None of the Thai women I work with are worried about wearing masks and none has developed a skin problem by doing so.

 

An unventilated office is one of the best places to catch covid if you don't wear a mask. A Thai friend caught covid in an unventilated office months ago, he was  discharged from hospital after 2 weeks, but he has long covid and he has still not been able to come back to work. He is still very sick,

I think in Thailand, people are already back to their normal life with C19 since the pandemic started, because I never seen Thailand really lockdown like other countries except only closing all the bars and entertainment areas. 
Most people are tired, having seen it and experienced it so they know what they has to be done.

 

4 minutes ago, Harrith1954 said:

A madk only is looking safe, but the virus easely come through the holes in the material, because the virus is much smaller.

IT give fake safety, that is why the virus still spreads.

This idea was debunked over 18 months ago.

Yes, the virus spores are small enough to get through masks, but the spores don't have wings or any other means of independent propulsion, they are transported on spittle (for want of a better word), the drops of which are indeed too large to get through the masks.

 

11 minutes ago, blackprince said:

Your first paragraph is simply untrue. The NHS (National Health Service) is close to overload again.

 

As for your second paragraph, it would be better if you spoke for yourself rather than try to claim the role of speaking for society as a whole. Also, as I'm sure you know, the virus has robbed over 5 million people of their lives (dead) and countless millions of others of a productive life (long covid).

 

"Putting it behind us" would be nice and I'm sure we're all looking forward to doing that, but at the moment it's not possible because it's still in front of us.

 

And for the 3rd time now - Thai and SEAsian people in general are not averse to masks. If you are not happy with that perhaps you are in the wrong place.

 

Can I just pick up on one point, the NHS. Currently there are approx 9,160 people being treated in hospitals for covid and now starting to come down, its not close to overload, in its worst peak wave months ago it hit a peak in hospitalizations of around 39,254, if it was near overload it would have been then. Positive cases are also now starting to drop.

 

If you compare that to patients being treated in real hospitals in Thailand as of today that is still 41,872

28 minutes ago, blackprince said:

the virus has robbed over 5 million people of their lives

5 million - are you serious

 

and for the record this is a discussion - I don't speak for other people but I think it is safe to assume that "society" (normal people) would like to get back to "normal", maybe you are different and I quite frackly could care less 

 

I like to read posts on here from people that add value to the discussion, I have decided that your contribution is a waste of my time so welcome to my ignore list - very few in the past meet the test so consider yourself special ????

21 minutes ago, blackprince said:

None of the Thai women I work with are worried about wearing masks and none has developed a skin problem by doing so.

 

An unventilated office is one of the best places to catch covid if you don't wear a mask. A Thai friend caught covid in an unventilated office months ago, he was  discharged from hospital after 2 weeks, but he has long covid and he has still not been able to come back to work. He is still very sick,

I think you misunderstood. I am saying that none of them like wearing a mask and the ones that I know well have complained that it is uncomfortable and causing them skin problems. That doesn't mean they would stop doing it given the choice, they would still do it because they have been indoctrinated to think that not doing so means likely death even though they are all double vaxed.

 

If Thai's were so fine with wearing masks, you wouldn't see so many of them wearing them as chin straps.

 

I think there are some benefits to masks, for example if someone in an outdoor restaurant sneezes the mask will catch most of the spray. However, if you're sat next to someone who has Covid in an unventilated office for 9 hours a day for a few days, I don't believe a mask will do much good since they are not sealed, people remove them to drink water etc. The virus will be present in the atmosphere, and eventually some of it will get past the mask unless it is absolutely airtight, which it isn't.

 

Covid isn't going anywhere, like Flu. To suggest people need to wear masks for the rest of their lives is unrealistic IMO.

24 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Can I just pick up on one point, the NHS. Currently there are approx 9,160 people being treated in hospitals for covid and now starting to come down, its not close to overload, in its worst peak wave months ago it hit a peak in hospitalizations of around 39,254, if it was near overload it would have been then. Positive cases are also now starting to drop.

 

If you compare that to patients being treated in real hospitals in Thailand as of today that is still 41,872

some people seem to make it up as they go - only one way to deal with that lol

41 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Which is why I wear one... others seem to disagree.

for the moment I do also, but it becomes rather extreme to wear a mask outdoors or in your own car alone or even with family - on public transport or in enclosed spaces there certainly is a case for it  

Live life normally, but always look over your shoulder, dress like a zombie with your mask on, and relax. Right. 

 

Masks are minimally effective, and way overblown in Thailand. Fear of the Zombie Apocalypse! 

 

There has to be a balance between crushing, punitive, sadistic regulations, and safety protocols. At this rate, the majority of those businesses will never reopen. Why? They will have lost it all. Was it worth it? We never closed before during flu season. During 54 major pandemics stretching over 6 centuries since 1366, they never shut down the economy like they did during Covid madness. And the nation has not closed its highways, even though over 300 people a day die on them. 

 

I hope the youth continue to seek the ouster of the incompetent dinosaurs. May their cause prevail. May Thailand finally wake up, and be able to move in a forward direction. 

 

15 minutes ago, smedly said:

5 million - are you serious

 

and for the record this is a discussion - I don't speak for other people but I think it is safe to assume that "society" (normal people) would like to get back to "normal", maybe you are different and I quite frackly could care less 

 

I like to read posts on here from people that add value to the discussion, I have decided that your contribution is a waste of my time so welcome to my ignore list - very few in the past meet the test so consider yourself special ????

re your 1st para - yes it's over 5 million worldwide - easily verified

 

re your 2nd para - you say you don't speak for other people, yet you claim to speak for society, nuff said ????

 

as for your 3rd para - my gosh, you claim to welcome discussion but evidently can't take discusioon that's based on verifiable facts

 

 

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Live life normally, but always look over your shoulder, dress like a zombie with your mask on, and relax. Right. 

 

Masks are minimally effective, and way overblown in Thailand. Fear of the Zombie Apocalypse! 

 

There has to be a balance between crushing, punitive, sadistic regulations, and safety protocols. At this rate, the majority of those businesses will never reopen. Why? They will have lost it all. Was it worth it? We never closed before during flu season. During 54 major pandemics stretching over 6 centuries since 1366, they never shut down the economy like they did during Covid madness. And the nation has not closed its highways, even though over 300 people a day die on them. 

 

 

"masks are minimally effective" Actually research disagrees with you. But if you don't like research just consider the recent empirical evidence from the UK: since the successful vaccination programme a large section of the population has stopped wearing masks (and social distancing), with the consequence that the UK has been catapulted back into the worst decile worldwide and getting worse every week.

 

"There has to be a balance between crushing, punitive, sadistic regulations, and safety protocols" true, and there has to be a balance between rational discussion and purple prose hyperbole.

 

"At this rate, the majority of those businesses will never reopen" Most of the businesses that have closed are lightweight businesses requiring little investment. They can open and reopen at will. The bigger issue is the lack of a taxation system and tax base to support meaningful social security (welfare).

 

"We never closed before during flu season." Covid is not flu in any usual form.

 

"During 54 major pandemics stretching over 6 centuries since 1366, they never shut down the economy like they did during Covid madness." Actually some previous pandemics wiped out entire societies and economies.  Displays an anachronistic misunderstanding of the history of the world and how economies evolved (just to clarify - economies were not managed by "they" until well into the capitalist period).

 

"And the nation has not closed its highways" Those of us that use Thai highways a lot know that at various times over the last 18 months inter-province travel was substantially controlled, even if not closed 100%. 100% closure of course would have prevented your favourite wine being stocked at your favourite supermarket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

Nice to see many people wearing mask.  But social distancing would be difficult.

From what has been drummed into us is the virus enters through the nose and mouth and can carry through the air and can stay on soft and hard surfaces ,including clothing, for up to 24/48 hours. cant really see how much more vigilant the public can be.

" Live your Lives normally, but carefully "

Its plain to see from the Header Photo what carefully means to many.