MOPH Tightens Measures to Cope With Omicron

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health asked the Centre for Covid-19 Situation to introduce tougher measures to curb the latest Covid-19 outbreak. The CCSA will consider various measures that may come into effect including banning alcohol consumption in restaurants.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul said the CCSA will be asked to ban alcohol consumption which is believed to be one of the risk factors in the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, areas with severe infections will be marked based on a color-coded system to identify provinces impacted by the outbreak.

 

The tougher measures will also require returnees and arrivals from foreign countries to undergo quarantine, the minister said.

 

Mr. Anutin expected that the number of deaths would be lower than previous outbreaks as the majority of people have already been vaccinated.

 

Permanent secretary for public health, Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit said by raising the warning level, it would encourage people to avoid being in risky areas and be more protective. He said Thailand is facing a fast outbreak. Many provinces have seen a significant rise in daily cases.

 

Director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong said based on the rise in infections reported in previous days, daily infections could surpass 10,000. He said members of the public should avoid non-essential trips and public transport.

 

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Sanan Angubolkul said he would disagree if the government uses lockdown measures again.

 

He said lockdown will cause huge damage to Thailand’s recovering economy as well as public confidence.

 

He stressed that several sectors have just seen a promising restart for their businesses. Any lockdown would halt the country’s progression.

 

Mr. Sanan said the government should instead focus on only provinces with high infections by increasing hospital beds and preparing an isolation system. He said most people have already been vaccinated and the country’s public health system can handle new patients.

 

He added the private sector is ready to adapt by allowing staff to work from home to curb the spread.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-07

 

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[fangless]

Order/suggestion, counter order/suggestion, complete chaos.  In the space of ten minutes ASEAN NOW has reported the Government as saying no change to alcohol rules but now saying that banning is now being propossed!

How the hell can anyone tell or plan for what is going on or off?

Edited January 7, 2022 by fangless

[fangless]

My above comments are now history as a third "Order" has now come out!

So order/counter order/disorder is now the order of the day!

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ministry of Public Health asked the Centre for Covid-19 Situation to introduce tougher measures to curb the latest Covid-19 outbreak. The CCSA will consider various measures that may come into effect including banning alcohol consumption in restaurants.

Should have started that pre- Christmas.

A tad late now the damage has been done.

[TooMuchTime]

Trust The Science.

 

No alcohol, double mask, stay home, quad injections, be quiet.

[Danderman123]

14 hours ago, fangless said:

Order/suggestion, counter order/suggestion, complete chaos.  In the space of ten minutes ASEAN NOW has reported the Government as saying no change to alcohol rules but now saying that banning is now being propossed!

How the hell can anyone tell or plan for what is going on or off?

I am amazed they allow drinking in restaurants, while Omicron is infecting thousands. 

[vandeventer]

16 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

Trust The Science.

 

No alcohol, double mask, stay home, quad injections, be quiet.

A road too far!!!

[Stargeezr]

People in restaurants seem to behave differently than people in bars, so I do hope that 

restaurants are not locked down while the international tourists who do not have their own

cooking facilities like expats have, will have to leave and return to their countries too soon.

  If people can get an alcoholic drink in the restaurant, well great.  Total lock down

and all businesses closed, not so great.  It is supposed to be high season for

tourism by the way. So tighten some measures but try not to make a reason for

visitors to leave early.

[atpeace]

11 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

I am amazed they allow drinking in restaurants, while Omicron is infecting thousands. 

and how many are dying or in hospitals?  Your fear is quite hard to relate to at this point.  The sky seems to be always falling but in reality it has never moved except in your imagination.  Also, is getting infected by Omicron such a bad thing.  It might end up being what puts an end to this virus.  Wide spread natural immunity, most likely better than the vaccine, induced by a less potent version of the virus doesn't sound all that bad.

[Danderman123]

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

and how many are dying or in hospitals?  Your fear is quite hard to relate to at this point.  The sky seems to be always falling but in reality it has never moved except in your imagination.  Also, is getting infected by Omicron such a bad thing.  It might end up being what puts an end to this virus.  Wide spread natural immunity, most likely better than the vaccine, induced by a less potent version of the virus doesn't sound all that bad.

Can you remind us where you obtained your medical degree? 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, atpeace said:

Also, is getting infected by Omicron such a bad thing.  It might end up being what puts an end to this virus.  Wide spread natural immunity, most likely better than the vaccine, induced by a less potent version of the virus doesn't sound all that bad.

 

Thailand has about the same fully vaccinated rate as the U.S., although the U.S. vaccinations overall are of better quality/efficacy. But here's what's going on in the U.S. with Omicron, which is the dominant strain there now:

 

From the U.S. CDC on Friday:

 

"On January 5, 705,264 new cases were reported, more than doubling the January 2021 peak. The entire country is now experiencing high levels of community transmission. Hospitalizations are also on the rise. While early data suggest Omicron infections might be less severe than those of other variants, the increases in cases and hospitalizations are expected to stress the healthcare system in the coming weeks."

 

"New Hospital Admissions

The current 7-day daily average for December 28, 2021–January 4, 2022, was 16,458. This is a 60.2% increase from the prior 7-day average (10,271) from December 21–December 27, 2021."

 

 

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?ACSTrackingID=USCDC_2145-DM73048&ACSTrackingLabel=01.07.2022 - COVID-19 Data Tracker Weekly Review&deliveryName=USCDC_2145-DM73048#new-hospital-admissions

 

Deaths

The current 7-day moving average of new deaths (1,246) has increased 14.4% compared with the previous 7-day moving average (1,089). As of January 6, 2022, a total of 829,740 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the United States.

 

 

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?ACSTrackingID=USCDC_2145-DM73048&ACSTrackingLabel=01.07.2022 - COVID-19 Data Tracker Weekly Review&deliveryName=USCDC_2145-DM73048#trends_dailydeaths

 

To my eyes, NONE of the above -- cases, hospitalizations, deaths -- look like they're good trends. That's not a road Thailand wants to go down...

 

 

Edited January 8, 2022 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[herfiehandbag]

On 1/8/2022 at 7:50 AM, TooMuchTime said:

Trust The Science.

 

No alcohol, double mask, stay home, quad injections, be quiet.

I'm not convinced that is so much " the science" as the blethering of government and officialdom obsessed, for personal and political reasons with maintaining a tight grip on their population.

 

I do not have any medical or scientific qualifications ( beyond O level Biology!) but I do credit myself (perhaps overambitious here) with the sense to read widely various opinions and statistical interpretations of those who do.

 

As the "Jockinese" would put it:" I hae ma doubts!"

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 1/7/2022 at 5:32 PM, fangless said:

Order/suggestion, counter order/suggestion, complete chaos.  In the space of ten minutes ASEAN NOW has reported the Government as saying no change to alcohol rules but now saying that banning is now being propossed!

How the hell can anyone tell or plan for what is going on or off?

This is absolutely normal for Thailand.

[thaiman]

Trying to lay down more "sandbags" for the coming tsunami!  Covid can't be stopped!  All attempts are futile, but it sure makes those in charge look good doesn't it?

[fjb 24]

All Pattaya restaurants now require customers to show Negative Covid-19 Test

Is this order still in place and being enforced, or unenforced?

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/all-pattaya-restaurants-now-require-customers-to-show-negative-covid-19-test-385022

[Bangkokian2019]

34 minutes ago, fjb 24 said:

Is this order still in place and being enforced, or unenforced?

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/all-pattaya-restaurants-now-require-customers-to-show-negative-covid-19-test-385022

The MOPH on inspection tour in Pattaya last night:

 

 

They cannot possibly check and enforce everything.

 

Here's the provincial order that says that of 9 January serving alcohol is only allowed until 9 p.m. and that all staff and customers must provide a negative covid test:

Edited January 9, 2022 by Bangkokian2019