File photo: REUTERS

 

Thailand on Monday (December 20) reported 2,525 new COVID-19 cases, 4,190 recoveries and 31 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. 

 

▶︎ Infections outside prisons: 2,502. Prisons: 23

▶︎ Recoveries: 4,190

▶︎ Total infections since April 1: 2,165,190

▶︎ Total recoveries since April 1: 2,105,122

 

Monday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 2,194,053 with 21,408 deaths.

 

The news comes as the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has stated that participants in New Year countdown events with at least 1,000 attendees must be fully vaccinated and have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to the event.

 

Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan, assistant spokesperson for the CCSA, said the requirements are in accordance with Section 9 of the emergency decree, implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19.

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

 

 

 

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PCR test positive cases, total of 2,525 official new infections. 31 official covid deaths recorded.

 

Rapid tests positive cases, 469 bringing the total of PCR and ATK results to 2,994

https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/

 

Rolling 7 day average chart (up to 18th Dec) and bar chart of both PCR and ATK totals

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/thailand

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1472729896271036418

 

5 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

PCR test positive cases, total of 2,525 official new infections. 31 official covid deaths recorded.

 

Rapid tests positive cases, 469 bringing the total of PCR and ATK results to 2,994

https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/

 

Rolling 7 day average chart (up to 18th Dec) and bar chart of both PCR and ATK totals

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/thailand

Looks like we are coming close to where we were in June at the trough after Songkran and before delta ripped on in and the numbers shot through the roof here in Bangkok and surrounding areas.  Lets hope that Omicron does not arrive as Delta did and explode.  However, with looking around at the west it seems they are already experiencing the sharp rise.  Remember that the actual cases we see have been said to be between 4 and 5 times fewer as people who might feel a little off do not get tested as well as those that are infected but asymptomatic.  The UK is seeing 90k cases or so a day and they figure there are 4 to 5 times as many actual infections based upon my previous sentence.  The other issue from reading about omicron is that many folks are not being seen in the hospitals for it but going because of some other medical reason that could be related to Omicron or not related and once tested are found to be infected with Omicron.  This is worrying also as those folks will be going to the general side of the hospital before being diagnosed instead of the more specialized Covid locations set up at the hospitals.

 

 

The number of Covid-19 cases crossed 14.58 million across Southeast Asia, with 23,980 new cases reported on Sunday (December 19). New deaths are at 349, bringing accumulated Covid-19 deaths in Asean to 300,123.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40010176

3 minutes ago, anchadian said:

 

 

The number of Covid-19 cases crossed 14.58 million across Southeast Asia, with 23,980 new cases reported on Sunday (December 19). New deaths are at 349, bringing accumulated Covid-19 deaths in Asean to 300,123.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40010176

Vietnams statistics are concerning.  What is the reason they are experiencing cases like they are as well as daily deaths.  Which variant is it they are seeing? is it still Delta or is it Omicron or a newer variant that has not been yet disclosed.  Not hearing much from the folks I know there as they are not hearing much other than its everywhere.

18 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

..... The other issue from reading about omicron is that many folks are not being seen in the hospitals for it but going because of some other medical reason that could be related to Omicron or not related and once tested are found to be infected with Omicron.  This is worrying also as those folks will be going to the general side of the hospital before being diagnosed instead of the more specialized Covid locations set up at the hospitals.

Why does this worry you? All indications at present are that the omicron variant is pretty harmless, furthermore, catching it would be a good thing if it does indeed give you natural immunity to further infection with Covid. 

The mainstream media seems to be determined to continue with their "we're all going to die" thematic. 

Of course we're all going to die, but I don't think I'll die from Covid.

UPDATE: 2,525 confirmed cases, 469 probable cases (ATK), and 31 deaths (0.98%). Out of 40,097 patients , 19,729 are in hospital, 18,162 in hospitel and 1,328 in home/community isolation. There are 899 in a serious condition (-29) with 246 on ventilators (-3) #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1472743874091106304

14 minutes ago, cooked said:

Why does this worry you? All indications at present are that the omicron variant is pretty harmless, furthermore, catching it would be a good thing if it does indeed give you natural immunity to further infection with Covid. 

The mainstream media seems to be determined to continue with their "we're all going to die" thematic. 

Of course we're all going to die, but I don't think I'll die from Covid.

The worrying part of this is that younger folks not knowing they may be infected can be transmitting it onwards to the older family members, especially at this time of year, as they get together for the holidays which can exacerbate things and medical conditions their parents and grandparents have.  However, I get what your trying to say. It is not about we are going to die, it is more about hospitals filling back up and the cancelation of the surgeries needed that do save lives.

Headline on Bloomberg says Thai cabinet to consider ending quarantine free travel. Looks well sourced. ie a return to quarantine for arrivals

    Oh dear!

More news coming out on this quoting Anutin, saying that a halt in quarantine free travel is to be considered. Baht is dropping on this  

3 minutes ago, wordchild said:

Headline on Bloomberg says Thai cabinet to consider ending quarantine free travel. Looks well sourced.

    Oh dear!

Surprising move with omicron seriously on the rise around the globe.

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Surprising move with omicron seriously on the rise around the globe.

I think this means the end of test and go and back to quarantine for new arrivals. That what Bloomberg is saying anyhow.

8 minutes ago, wordchild said:

I think this means the end of test and go and back to quarantine for new arrivals. That what Bloomberg is saying anyhow.

Sorry, looks like I misread.

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Sorry, looks like I misread.

Sorry my original post (to which you responded) was not clear. I have since edited it. 

24 minutes ago, wordchild said:

Headline on Bloomberg says Thai cabinet to consider ending quarantine free travel. Looks well sourced. ie a return to quarantine for arrivals

    Oh dear!

More news coming out on this quoting Anutin, saying that a halt in quarantine free travel is to be considered. Baht is dropping on this  

BREAKING: Public Health Minister Anuthin said govt considers re-imposing alternative state quarantine for foreign arrivals after omicron cases reached 63 with 20 more waiting to be confirmed, Anuthin told Nation TV.

https://twitter.com/PravitR/status/1472757491234754560

 

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

BREAKING: Public Health Minister Anuthin said govt considers re-imposing alternative state quarantine for foreign arrivals after omicron cases reached 63 with 20 more waiting to be confirmed, Anuthin told Nation TV.

https://twitter.com/PravitR/status/1472757491234754560

 

Its coming anyway, I don't see the point of this unless he is looking at just delaying its spread to the community so more people can get the booster?

22 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

BREAKING: Public Health Minister Anuthin said govt considers re-imposing alternative state quarantine for foreign arrivals after omicron cases reached 63 with 20 more waiting to be confirmed, Anuthin told Nation TV.

https://twitter.com/PravitR/status/1472757491234754560

 

I'm not sure of the wisdom of this. Omicron is going to get here sooner or later. They are already testing people on arrival and isolating them if they test positive so isolating people who test negative on arrival seems a bit OTT to me.

 

I guess what they are really saying is that the Covid tests are not accurate and there will be false negatives but given the inevitability of this variant getting a hold here it seems that they are really "whistling" in the wind.

 

On the other hand, it's not like millions of people are coming anyway so maybe they could argue they are only destroying the battered remants of the tourist industry anyway.

 

Either way, it's only a matter of time. Omicron is coming. It's a good job the symptoms are generally so mild.

49 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

BREAKING: Public Health Minister Anuthin said govt considers re-imposing alternative state quarantine for foreign arrivals after omicron cases reached 63 with 20 more waiting to be confirmed, Anuthin told Nation TV.

https://twitter.com/PravitR/status/1472757491234754560

 

Didn't he just say the other day he was ahead of Omicron and it wasn't a worry as he was boasting that he had millions and millions of vaccines, what a tosser.

Good news is good news. 

Add this proposal to reinstate quarantine, with the ongoing hesitancy to reopen schools and an incompetent unpopular Government, recipe for another disastrous year coming for Thailand. Let alone the rest of the world. I hope at least some Government's can hold the line.

A possible local infection..............

 

Thailand confirms 63 cases of Omicron including possibly its first local infection case found in a Thai woman. The rest were all imported, according to Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday.

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1472773552332222469

 

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

BREAKING: Public Health Minister Anuthin said govt considers re-imposing alternative state quarantine for foreign arrivals after omicron cases reached 63 with 20 more waiting to be confirmed, Anuthin told Nation TV.

https://twitter.com/PravitR/status/1472757491234754560

 

The Minister of Public Health is proposing for Test & Go to be scrapped and quarantine brought back for all international arrivals. This is despite the fact that only 0.14% of Test & Go arrivals tested positive. Even talking aloud about this plan will be disastrous for tourism.

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1472771217648394241

 

Thailand may cancel Test & Go due to Omicron: Anutin

 

FILE PHOTO: Thai health minister Anutin Charnvirakul attends a meeting to address the measures against coronavirus in Bangkok, Thailand February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

Thailand could be about to cancel its Test & Go scheme due to concerns over the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday morning. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243687-thailand-may-cancel-test-go-due-to-omicron-anutin/

yes sure.... And all the cases that are not counted?? 400 in a prison here 1100 in a prison there, new Omicron cases ... In a few days Thailand will not have any cases anymore....

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand may cancel Test & Go due to Omicron: Anutin

 

FILE PHOTO: Thai health minister Anutin Charnvirakul attends a meeting to address the measures against coronavirus in Bangkok, Thailand February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

Thailand could be about to cancel its Test & Go scheme due to concerns over the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday morning. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1243687-thailand-may-cancel-test-go-due-to-omicron-anutin/

So my return trip QR code for test n go is on the verge of extinction.  Looks like instead of a 1 day I will be forced into the Sandbox...not wanting to stay locked in a room in Bangkok.

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So my return trip QR code for test n go is on the verge of extinction.  Looks like instead of a 1 day I will be forced into the Sandbox...not wanting to stay locked in a room in Bangkok.

No guarantee that will continue either.

 

And not sure that T&G will be stopped or, if it is, that they will not honor existing TPs and just stop issuing new ones. At this point anything is possible.

There is one potential case of the first local transmission, said the Public Health Minister. @TNAMCOT

https://twitter.com/TNAMCOTEnglish/status/1472814814648954882

 

136,992 doses administered yesterday.

 

99,898,515 total doses

 

Ranking of 10 provinces with highest #COVID19 transmission, as of 20 December 2021

 

https://twitter.com/prdthailand/status/1472826507449954304

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I'm not sure of the wisdom of this. Omicron is going to get here sooner or later. They are already testing people on arrival and isolating them if they test positive so isolating people who test negative on arrival seems a bit OTT to me.

 

I guess what they are really saying is that the Covid tests are not accurate and there will be false negatives but given the inevitability of this variant getting a hold here it seems that they are really "whistling" in the wind.

 

On the other hand, it's not like millions of people are coming anyway so maybe they could argue they are only destroying the battered remants of the tourist industry anyway.

 

Either way, it's only a matter of time. Omicron is coming. It's a good job the symptoms are generally so mild.

Nobody don't have real data yet from omicron!All is speculation! They find out that 4 weeks ago! Mild symptoms yes because most people is vaxxed already! And they still get omicron, even normal mask's don't help almost nothing. They want people start to use FFP2 mask's!