COVID-19: Thailand reports 7,133 new coronavirus cases, 12 deaths, 3,306 recoveries

[anchadian]

Thai News Reports: Top 10 Provinces for new cases: Bangkok has reclaimed 1st position from Chonburi with Samut Prakan moving down to 3rd place. There were two new entries, 9th Pathum Thani and 10th Buriram. #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1480765275658063872

[ThailandRyan]

31 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Virologist says Omicron variant becoming dominant in Thailand faster than anticipated

 

Senior Thai virologist Dr. Yong Poovorawan said today (Tuesday) that the Omicron variant is becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Thailand faster than predicted, overtaking Delta.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/virologist-says-omicron-variant-becoming-dominant-in-thailand-faster-than-anticipated/

Well it has moved pretty fast elsewhere as well.  If there is no better time to move from Pandemic to Endemic now would be the time as they sure are not testing en-mass.  So why test, just keep certain rules and regulations in place for awhile longer and then move onward...I know crazy talk from me right?

[anchadian]

It’s really sad that we’re seeing signs like this again that say THAIS ONLY. Covid-19 doesn’t care about our nationality. Food vendors shouldn’t either. Fortunately, the owner of this stall in #Bangkok is in a minority. Most Thais I have met are kind hearted souls. #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1480772251943247872

[Bkk Brian]

10 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well it has moved pretty fast elsewhere as well.  If there is no better time to move from Pandemic to Endemic now would be the time as they sure are not testing en-mass.  So why test, just keep certain rules and regulations in place for awhile longer and then move onward...I know crazy talk from me right?

Not at all crazy, imo Thailand just needs to ensure the hospitals/health system does not get overwhelmed. If they can get through that period when Omicron is at its most prevalent then looking to add Omicron/covid as endemic is something most countries are planning I think. 

 

The UK in a sense let it rip through London with minimal measures, nothing like the restrictions we have here and they are on the other side already. Not saying we should just let it rip here as too many unknowns yet but trying to slow it is useless.

 

[ThailandRyan]

Driven by fear and statements stated by government people that foreigners only carry the virus and have caused Omicron because of the test and go arrivals.

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Not at all crazy, imo Thailand just needs to ensure the hospitals/health system does not get overwhelmed. If they can get through that period when Omicron is at its most prevalent then looking to add Omicron/covid as endemic is something most countries are planning I think.

 

The UK in a sense let it rip through London with minimal measures, nothing like the restrictions we have here and they are on the other side already.

 

They also canceled pre flight PCR Covid testing.  That was huge.

[Bkk Brian]

COVID-19 leading many Thais into stress, depression, burnout or suicidal thoughts

 

Many Thai people are suffering from stress, depression, burnout or are at risk of committing suicide as a result of the two-year long COVID-19 pandemic.

Director-general of the Department of Mental Health Amporn Benjaponpitak said today (Tuesday) that the department conducted an online survey and assessment of the mental health of more than 2.5 million people, via the www.วัดใจ.com or Mental Health Check-in systems.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-19-leading-many-thais-into-stress-depression-burnout-or-suicidal-thoughts/

[ThailandRyan]

16 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

COVID-19 leading many Thais into stress, depression, burnout or suicidal thoughts

 

Many Thai people are suffering from stress, depression, burnout or are at risk of committing suicide as a result of the two-year long COVID-19 pandemic.

Director-general of the Department of Mental Health Amporn Benjaponpitak said today (Tuesday) that the department conducted an online survey and assessment of the mental health of more than 2.5 million people, via the www.วัดใจ.com or Mental Health Check-in systems.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-19-leading-many-thais-into-stress-depression-burnout-or-suicidal-thoughts/

The unfortunate thing is it is not just within Thailand that there is strees.  The work from home in many other nations has caused an issue where there has been a lack of socialization amongst colleagues and their friends.  My daught is now having issues with returning to the work place and amongst her peers, Covid fatigue is a real issue and so is newly acquired mental disorders.  She was seen by a counselor yesterday and a phycologist today and is borderline bi-polar now.  The vallowed her to continue working from home and I will be there soon and can assist her.

[Petey11]

These numbers just show the Thai authorities for what they truly are, all about the lies and save face. BS.

[Bluetongue]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well it has moved pretty fast elsewhere as well.  If there is no better time to move from Pandemic to Endemic now would be the time as they sure are not testing en-mass.  So why test, just keep certain rules and regulations in place for awhile longer and then move onward...I know crazy talk from me right?

Well at least you have your insight. I think what we are seeing is the increased use of rapid tests, followed by not reporting positive results to authorities. People have to work, even if they have a day or two off, they cant afford 10 days or two weeks, most of my extended Thai family have no financial resources beyond a couple of days, and that's with kicking every bill they can down the road. I went and got a PCR test at Bangkok Hospital Chantaburi for travel on Friday and am dreading some phone call. The clinic was not busy. Today a whole lot of local schoolchildren including very little ones were tested with RATs. I've got a feeling that locally we reached a peak some time around the middle to the end of last year, when I often saw the modified Covid pickups racing round, who knows maybe some level of community immunity was reached.

[worrab]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

They also canceled pre flight PCR Covid testing.  That was huge.

Makes my life easier if that does not change, as I am looking to fly to UK end of June for 4 weeks. Just waiting to see what hoops will need to be jumped through on return!! But will be going regardless as last visit was in 2019!!

[worrab]

Have a drop here today as well from 101 yesterday. Will this continue tomorrow??

 

Health officials on Tuesday (Jan 11) reported 83 new COVID-19 cases, 62 of which were found in Hua Hin.

Elsewhere in the province, 6 cases were found in Pranburi, 3 cases in Sam Roi Yot, No-case in Kuiburi, 2 cases in Thap Sakae, zero cases in Bang Saphan, zero cases in Bang Saphan Noi, and 6 cases in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan. No new deaths were reported today. A further 4 cases were found in people who had travelled to Hua Hin from overseas.

 

https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/jan-11-prachuap-reports-83-new-covid-19-cases-62-cases-in-hua-hin/

[mrfill]

5 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

15,345 Tests only, over a period of nearly 10 weeks. !!!!!!!

Thats about 1,534 per week

Or, 219 or so, Per Day

Spread that over77 Provinces, and you have a test rate of 2.84 Tests per Province, per Day.

I guess they only work in the testing labs from 10.00 to 11.00 on alternate Tuesdays to process these tests.

 

 

The first case of omicron in Thailand was reported on December 5th so the figure is unrepresentative anyway. Most countries noted a doubling of cases every 2-3 days, except of course Thailand where it appeared to gradually increase for a few days and then start dropping... conveniently.

[jerrymahoney]

6 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This is Delta not Omicron.

"The findings show that the variant is spreading rapidly and will surpass Delta as the dominant variant before the end of January as initially anticipated, he said."

 

According to the CCSA yesterday, the Omicron variant represented 70.3% of random samplings of new COVID-19 cases diagnosed between January 2nd and January 8th.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/virologist-says-omicron-variant-becoming-dominant-in-thailand-faster-than-anticipated/

 

Not every case is Omicron.

 

 

[Pattaya Spotter]

Inching closer and closer to single digit deaths...and then zero days. 

[Mr Derek]

4 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

COVID-19 leading many Thais into stress, depression, burnout or suicidal thoughts

 

Many Thai people are suffering from stress, depression, burnout or are at risk of committing suicide as a result of the two-year long COVID-19 pandemic.

Director-general of the Department of Mental Health Amporn Benjaponpitak said today (Tuesday) that the department conducted an online survey and assessment of the mental health of more than 2.5 million people, via the www.วัดใจ.com or Mental Health Check-in systems.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-19-leading-many-thais-into-stress-depression-burnout-or-suicidal-thoughts/

I've definitely been suicidal but not because of Covid but because of the pathetic collapse of society at every level that I have witnessed these two years. Mass formulation hysteria... paranoia... ceaseless bickering and pettiness... catastrophic pusillanimity... all built on pharmaceutical-dependency like a sort of cargo cult...

Society has lost all credibility in my eyes and my respect for humanity and confidence in its prospects has never been lower.

[2 is 1]

6 hours ago, Petey11 said:

These numbers just show the Thai authorities for what they truly are, all about the lies and save face. BS.

Many times said here if you test you find. In Thailand has now about 100 infected/100000 people!

Here is finland situation today from every "state". In hole Finland 1657,4/ 100000 people.

If come even close Finland number's then Thailand going to have over 100k case every day!

[Petey11]

6 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well it has moved pretty fast elsewhere as well.  If there is no better time to move from Pandemic to Endemic now would be the time as they sure are not testing en-mass.  So why test, just keep certain rules and regulations in place for awhile longer and then move onward...I know crazy talk from me right?

Endemic is when a virus or disease is present in low levels without any restrictions to prevent it. I think you'll find were a way from that yet. The UK government was spouting that and the scientists pounced on it.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

"The findings show that the variant is spreading rapidly and will surpass Delta as the dominant variant before the end of January as initially anticipated, he said."

 

According to the CCSA yesterday, the Omicron variant represented 70.3% of random samplings of new COVID-19 cases diagnosed between January 2nd and January 8th.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/virologist-says-omicron-variant-becoming-dominant-in-thailand-faster-than-anticipated/

 

Not every case is Omicron.

 

 

"Well I guess then you likely don't have the Covid19 as one of the most common symptoms is loss of sense-of-smell." Your words. You referred to anosmia and I said this is Delta and not Omicron. I don't understand your reply. As for anosmia it is well known this is only one symptom of Delta which may or may not present. 

[anchadian]

WHO warns against treating Covid-19 like flu

 

COPENHAGEN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned against treating COVID-19 as an endemic illness like flu, rather than as a pandemic, saying the spread of the Omicron variant has not yet stabilized.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-warns-against-treating-covid-19-like-flu-2022-01-11/

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, anchadian said:

WHO warns against treating Covid-19 like flu

 

COPENHAGEN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned against treating COVID-19 as an endemic illness like flu, rather than as a pandemic, saying the spread of the Omicron variant has not yet stabilized.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-warns-against-treating-covid-19-like-flu-2022-01-11/

True it has not yet stabilized but many countries who have seen the Ice Pick spike are in the downward trends now.  Of course the deaths in some have climbed upwards but is it from Covid or some other medical issue the person had that Omicron may have helped along.  Lets take this one day at a time, but eventually it will be seen as slowing and become endemic.

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Petey11 said:

Endemic is when a virus or disease is present in low levels without any restrictions to prevent it. I think you'll find were a way from that yet. The UK government was spouting that and the scientists pounced on it.

Going from what I've read, a country declaring an infectious disease endemic is a decision based on their level of acceptance to the impact of it on society, ie deaths, severe illness and the health service. So yes it has to be at a low enough level for those aspects to be taken into account.

 

Flu is endemic but a lot of work goes on behind the scenes by public health depts for vaccinations and preparing for particularly bad strains that can come. Thailand would need to be constantly monitoring the level of infection for covid to remain low enough to be endemic, not something I trust them doing so much due to their poor testing even when their is a full blown outbreak.

 

Anyway I do recommend this twitter thread by an epidemiologist and assistant professor from Boston Public Health on the complexities of classifying covid endemic what it means and what needs to be done to keep it that way.

 

Well worth a read of the full string of tweets:

 

"Everyone keeps talking about covid becoming endemic, but as I listen to the conversation, it’s becoming more & more clear to me that very few of you know what “endemic” means. So here’s a thread on how pandemics end.

 

https://twitter.com/EpiEllie/status/1444088804961304581

 

[jerrymahoney]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

. I don't understand your reply.

Noted.

[Bluetongue]

2 hours ago, Mr Derek said:

I've definitely been suicidal but not because of Covid but because of the pathetic collapse of society at every level that I have witnessed these two years. Mass formulation hysteria... paranoia... ceaseless bickering and pettiness... catastrophic pusillanimity... all built on pharmaceutical-dependency like a sort of cargo cult...

Society has lost all credibility in my eyes and my respect for humanity and confidence in its prospects has never been lower.

Ok I've seen  no one has had a go at answering this one. And I kind of agree with your first paragraph although I think there might be a debate elsewhere about mass formulation hysteria, and whether it is actually a thing or not.  In any case the mass has been tweaked there is no doubt. Pharmaceutical dependency is one way of describing how the health system works. There is always an argument that prevention is better than cure, but in the real world cure wins over serious illness or death nearly every time, after prevention didn't happen for whatever reason. Cowardice from politicians I will agree with that. The ceaseless bickering and pettiness comes from the bureaucracy and social media and is present , one must deal with it or ignore it. An example: I have traveled 4 times since the pandemic, and simply put I can travel to do what I want but have to put up with pettiness or I don't travel.

 

Society is still functioning in my purview, there's a lot of rubbish that ordinary people have to put up with but thank goodness they do. I hope to never give up hope of some return to better times.

[dinsdale]

4 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Noted.

It would be nice if you quote my full reply for context.

[Bluetongue]

17 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Going from what I've read, a country declaring an infectious disease endemic is a decision based on their level of acceptance to the impact of it on society, ie deaths, severe illness and the health service. So yes it has to be at a low enough level for those aspects to be taken into account.

 

Flu is endemic but a lot of work goes on behind the scenes by public health depts for vaccinations and preparing for particularly bad strains that can come. Thailand would need to be constantly monitoring the level of infection for covid to remain low enough to be endemic, not something I trust them doing so much due to their poor testing even when their is a full blown outbreak.

 

Anyway I do recommend this twitter thread by an epidemiologist and assistant professor from Boston Public Health on the complexities of classifying covid endemic what it means and what needs to be done to keep it that way.

 

Well worth a read of the full string of tweets:

 

"Everyone keeps talking about covid becoming endemic, but as I listen to the conversation, it’s becoming more & more clear to me that very few of you know what “endemic” means. So here’s a thread on how pandemics end.

 

https://twitter.com/EpiEllie/status/1444088804961304581

 

I found that very interesting thanks. Although she is obviously very clever and only mildly annoying imo she doesn't know what is going to happen any better than the rest of them

[Bkk Brian]

20 minutes ago, Bluetongue said:

I found that very interesting thanks. Although she is obviously very clever and only mildly annoying imo she doesn't know what is going to happen any better than the rest of them

Agree, this is to an extent a walk into the unknown for all experts, she was not making predictions just explaining what endemic actually means, lets face it, Omicron did not evolve from Delta or Alpha, its linage came before that so many unknowns yet.

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, Mr Derek said:

I've definitely been suicidal but not because of Covid but because of the pathetic collapse of society at every level that I have witnessed these two years. Mass formulation hysteria... paranoia... ceaseless bickering and pettiness... catastrophic pusillanimity... all built on pharmaceutical-dependency like a sort of cargo cult...

Society has lost all credibility in my eyes and my respect for humanity and confidence in its prospects has never been lower.

Nup. Maybe by society you mean government because I think society has been quite resilient. Of course the part of society I'm talking about doesn't include the rich. These sort of things don't bother them to much. Humanity? Most people are pretty good but sure there's lots of ....s. As for pusillanimity sure. If the WHO had any balls they should have come out and stopped international travel and the CCP should be before some sort of international court. As for humanity as long as megalomanics run things the future isn't bright.....except for the rich.

[dinsdale]

10 hours ago, anchadian said:

Virologist says Omicron variant becoming dominant in Thailand faster than anticipated

 

Senior Thai virologist Dr. Yong Poovorawan said today (Tuesday) that the Omicron variant is becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Thailand faster than predicted, overtaking Delta.

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/virologist-says-omicron-variant-becoming-dominant-in-thailand-faster-than-anticipated/

And yet infections are going down. 

[ThailandRyan]

52 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

And yet infections are going down. 

Yup you hit the nail on the head.