As Thailand battles its 5th wave of Covid outbreaks, health authorities have announced they intend to manage the transition of COVID-19 into an endemic by delaying its spread and switching to the use of ATKs as the frontline screening method.

 

Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit said Thailand has entered the 3rd year of its fight against COVID-19, which was initially predicted to be dealt with and contained in manners similar to bird flu and SARS.

 

However, the disease developed into a pandemic with recurring outbreaks, with Thailand having experienced large numbers of outbreaks from May to August of 2021. Dr. Kiatiphum said that since then, vaccination has been rapidly undertaken and the country reopened to tourists as Thailand planned to co-exist with COVID-19 in order to allow its economy to progress.

 

New infections have been dropping since, until the start of 2022 when the current wave resulting from a mutated coronavirus variant took hold. Dr. Kiatiphum said public health authorities will be managing this wave of infections in a way that enables Covid to transition into an endemic, as more people gain immunity.

 

Department of Medical Sciences Director-General Supakit Sirilak said at present, Covid is not causing severe symptoms but transmissions are occurring more rapidly.

 

This necessitates a shift of the disease screening method from the time-consuming and expensive RT-PCR test to the ATK (Antigen Test Kit) method, in order for resources to be better utilized. Dr. Supakit added that billions of baht have been spent by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) on RT-PCR tests.

 

The director-general explained that from now on, individuals suspected of being infected will be tested via the ATK method and entered into home isolation (HI) or community isolation (CI) if they test positive and display mild or no symptoms of Covid. If symptoms increase, the RT-PCR test will be applied and the individuals will enter the treatment process.

 

Those testing negative but with a history of exposure to the virus are to self-quarantine and take an ATK test every 3 days, or 2 days after the latest test if symptoms increase.

 

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Source: https://www.facebook.com/nbtworld/posts/10158449790232050

 

-- © Copyright NBT WORLD2022-01-11

 

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

As Thailand battles its 5th wave of Covid outbreaks, health authorities have announced they intend to manage the transition of COVID-19 into an endemic

The virus dictates where this goes from here not you 

 

You can manage the efffects which you have failed miserably these last 2 years doing untold damage with stupid rules and quite frankly poor choices - I don't see that changing while the same poeple are running the show

Well, now that the Sinovac windfall has come to a close for a certain company that invested in it, it's time to move on to the next money maker, test kits. Sold at the stores owned by the same people with the investment in Sinovac?

This is good news, That means COVID-19 should soon be treated like the flu. No more lockdowns, quarantines, and the likes...

I have covid and I'm happy ???? don't tell the Thai government since I'm flying next week and don't need a pcr-test so will fly positive. However, it will be more than 7 days since I got it.????

21 minutes ago, DjSilver said:

I have covid and I'm happy ???? don't tell the Thai government since I'm flying next week and don't need a pcr-test so will fly positive. However, it will be more than 7 days since I got it.????

So you plan to fly and spread the virus across your journey. Very considerate, not. Irresponsible, yes.

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

authorities will be managing this wave of infections in a way that enables Covid to transition into an endemic, as more people gain immunity.

 

Department of Medical Sciences Director-General Supakit Sirilak said at present, Covid is not causing severe symptoms but transmissions are occurring more rapidly.

Could that be classed as an oxymoron?

As the W.H.O. first declared that covid 19 as  pandemic in March 20, on a global scale, can not see how Thailand can downgrade to an Epidemic, only in the way the virus is handled by Anutin and his cronies. 

5 minutes ago, Jiggo said:

As the W.H.O. first declared that covid 19 as  pandemic in March 20, on a global scale, can not see how Thailand can downgrade to an Epidemic, only in the way the virus is handled by Anutin and his cronies. 

They think their number one..other countries around the world close pubs and more...thailand opens more and more.Today another city in China lockdown..the city Anyang with 5,5 million citizens.

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

Well, now that the Sinovac windfall has come to a close for a certain company that invested in it, it's time to move on to the next money maker, test kits. Sold at the stores owned by the same people with the investment in Sinovac?

Guess I am glad I own stock in Boots, Watsons and a few others.  Sinovac was not a money maker if it had to be donated.  Neither was the Astrazenica as it was sold at cost.  Why do some people want to insist this is just about Big Pharma making gazillions..

In case no one has mentioned this in a while, the writers here really need need to proof read their material before publishing.  

1 hour ago, SymS said:

This is good news, That means COVID-19 should soon be treated like the flu. No more lockdowns, quarantines, and the likes...

Only have to shove swabs up your nose and down your throat to get into the pub.

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/no-home-covid-19-tests-allowed-to-enter-pattaya-bars-385845

 

If that's Thailand's new normal, they can keep it.

The tourist figures over the next 9 months will back that up.

How wrong many of us where when we thought that tourism's 20% of GDP would be badly missed 

The hi-so's couldn't care less.

36 minutes ago, Jiggo said:

As the W.H.O. first declared that covid 19 as  pandemic in March 20, on a global scale, can not see how Thailand can downgrade to an Epidemic, only in the way the virus is handled by Anutin and his cronies. 

it says ENdemic, not EPIdemic...i.e. a disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area. i.e. we live with it as with flu for example.

Sounds a good policy in line with many other countries including the UK.

43 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Could that be classed as an oxymoron?

both statements are true, and do not contradict, so no...not an oxymoron

21 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Only have to shove swabs up your nose and down your throat to get into the pub.

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/no-home-covid-19-tests-allowed-to-enter-pattaya-bars-385845

 

If that's Thailand's new normal, they can keep it.

The tourist figures over the next 9 months will back that up.

How wrong many of us where when we thought that tourism's 20% of GDP would be badly missed 

The hi-so's couldn't care less.

The ATK tests are very easy now and your reaction seems a bit hysterical.  There is no 'shoving'. Many ATK tests don't involve nasal swabs at all. The issue is that Customers  are being tested on location rather than bringing in their own tests which are subject to  falsification. It's a temporary  measure not the new normal. What some people can't see is that these attempts  to develop  strategies  are TO KEEP BARS OPEN rather than closing down night life. If somebody os too soft or too delicate  to do an ATK test they are definitely  too soft for Pattaya  bars! lol

30 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Only have to shove swabs up your nose and down your throat to get into the pub.

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/no-home-covid-19-tests-allowed-to-enter-pattaya-bars-385845

 

If that's Thailand's new normal, they can keep it.

The tourist figures over the next 9 months will back that up.

How wrong many of us where when we thought that tourism's 20% of GDP would be badly missed 

The hi-so's couldn't care less.

Bit of a bummer when it turns out you are not so important as you thought you were.

 

as part of Thailand’s strategy to become a developed and high income economy by 2036 and wean itself off foreign tourism.

 

 

Endemic?

Isn't that the same as Pandemic but restricted to a locality?

Are they saying Covid is endemic in Thailand even when other nations no longer have a significant problem?

48 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Only have to shove swabs up your nose and down your throat to get into the pub.

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/no-home-covid-19-tests-allowed-to-enter-pattaya-bars-385845

 

If that's Thailand's new normal, they can keep it.

The tourist figures over the next 9 months will back that up.

How wrong many of us where when we thought that tourism's 20% of GDP would be badly missed 

The hi-so's couldn't care less.

History usually repeats itself after previous pandemic hypo inflation followed by great depression and WW2. Lets hope if does not

29 minutes ago, alant said:

Endemic?

Isn't that the same as Pandemic but restricted to a locality?

Are they saying Covid is endemic in Thailand even when other nations no longer have a significant problem?

endemic to is different  to epidemic in

 

Gradual exposure to Omnicom infection would provide protection against Delta and eventually wipe it out. That's the government's best way of endemic success by relaxing some lockdowns etc, NOT totally isolating people, which would be counter-productive. Yes there will be huge spikes but low hospital cases and deaths if the science from other countries is accurate.

 

Currently, the UK are following this pattern and it's the latest solution to end the pandemic, and to live with the endemic instead, without needing booster shots every few months.

 

Goodness, this actually sounds like a sensible policy.  Too bad I just shelled out 2k on a pcr because govt policy still requires it.

 

The doctor I spoke to told me the ATK tests are not that reliable with Omicron????

1 hour ago, Jiggo said:

As the W.H.O. first declared that covid 19 as  pandemic in March 20, on a global scale, can not see how Thailand can downgrade to an Epidemic, only in the way the virus is handled by Anutin and his cronies. 

Many European countries already have assumed that COVID is endemic, meaning heard immunity is highly unlikely and COVID will be around for the foreseeable future.  I read this past spring about the Spanish flu, that the pandemic ended in 1919/1920, having become endemic and not officially ending until 1959/1960.  Even then, a variant od the same flu was the cause for the flu pandemic of the late 2000s, early 2010s 

Cambodia declared it an endemic disease last November.

 

Endemic = normally present in the population.

 

 

50 minutes ago, Dialemco said:

History usually repeats itself after previous pandemic hypo inflation followed by great depression and WW2. Lets hope if does not

Good grief.

Spanish flu 1918-19

Great depression 1929

WW2 1939

 

I suppose Spanish flu was also to blame for the Tsumami of 2004 and the GFC in 2009?

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Bit of a bummer when it turns out you are not so important as you thought you were.

 

as part of Thailand’s strategy to become a developed and high income economy by 2036 and wean itself off foreign tourism.

 

 

You should know.

Thailand has the most unequal distribution of wealth of any country in SE Asia and a disgrace of an education system.

Combined with no furlough support for their citizens during the pandemic and a pitiful vaccination campaign that still hasn't 70% double jabbed and only 11% with a booster.

It's going to take decades to replace 20% of tourism GDP.

Thailand always goes back to lying on it's back and opening it's legs to earn a dollar.

Guess that's what brought you here in the first place.

 

 

 

Yes, "endemic" as in corruption!

Unfortunately, they can call it anything they want, but the definitions of pandemic and endemic aren't subject to local interpretation.  They are quite clear and internationally known.

 

Hopefully, it won't matter anyway, I'm still hoping that Omicron is The End.

1 hour ago, Dialemco said:

History usually repeats itself after previous pandemic hypo inflation followed by great depression and WW2. Lets hope if does not

Gaia says, "Up to you! I will protect myself, any way I can. I have been here much longer than you.  I will still be here, long after you are gone."