Opinion: It is time we end this pandemic

[webfact]

 

By Cod Satrusayang

 

Walking along lower Sukhumvit towards Asok and you can’t help but be appalled at the devastation the pandemic has wrought on businesses and livelihoods. Hawker stalls, mom and pop shops, and small businesses that once fought for space along the pavement and sidewalks were no more.

 

Those that have been to some of Thailand’s busiest streets whether in Pattaya, Patong, Hua Hin, Patpong, Khaosan will all see similar, depressing sights.

 

More than the jobs and economic prospects lost, the Covid-19 pandemic has also taken away loved ones and colleagues, friends and families. Thousands have perished to the disease, thousands more are affected by the void they leave behind.

 

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Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/37031/opinion-it-is-time-we-end-this-pandemic/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-01-28

 

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[DrJack54]

Very observant

[RichardColeman]

I arrived back in Thailand/Bangkok this morning on the 6.15am Thai Airways arrival from London.

 

Do you knowhow many people - other than myself - that were on that Thai airways 777 flight ? 

 

Just 20 ! I am sure there were just as many staff as passengers.

 

The lunacy of getting on the flight being treated like a criminal as they searched for things to deny you entry to get on the flight. the lunacy of having about 20 people checking you and directing you at the other end

 

Thailand is going to hell in a basket with these ridiculous and nutcase policies. The airport arrivals was deserted basically of visitors - well, that's a lie, I saw 3. 

 

It seems a quite deliberate destruction now. It's good they only pay these people 300 baht a day maybe as western wages would shut the airport with such passengers numbers to staff

 

 

 

[law ling]

Agree with the OP to a large extent, but it doesn't address the oft-sited issue that out-of-control cases will result in some becoming very sick .... and hospitals becoming over-whelmed - or am I just believing government propaganda?

[Enzian]

I live precisely in "lower Sukhumvit towards Asoke" and it's like a brick driveway where lots of weeds grew up between the bricks and then someone came and sprayed weed killer and they almost all died but after a while some hardy ones came back and exist in various stages of distress or health scattered among the cracks in the bricks.

[Chang_paarp]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Walking along lower Sukhumvit towards Asok and you can’t help but be appalled at the devastation the pandemic has wrought on businesses and livelihoods. Hawker stalls, mom and pop shops, and small businesses that once fought for space along the pavement and sidewalks were no more.

 

Well the BMA will be happy, they have been trying to clear the footpaths for years with little success.

[DonniePeverley]

It's becoming very nonsensical now for a country that relies so heavily on tourism to target tourism and visitors so heavily, yet they barely test anyone in their country. They are still behaving like it's the original variant and that border controls will suffice (despite their borders being wide open into Mayanmar, which in turn is wide open to the massive surge from India). 

 

The sheer volume of construction going on, with foreign monies (from you know where) and slave labour is astonishing to witness in Bangkok. 

 

Edited January 28, 2022 by DonniePeverley

[Enoon]

If an infectious disease is widely prevalent it is termed a pandemic.

 

If a disease is always present it is termed endemic.

 

COVID is widely prevalent so it remains pandemic.

 

The fact that Thailand wishes to declare COVID endemic means that Thailand is part of that wide prevalence.

 

Thailand doesn't get to "choose" not to be part of the pandemic.........nobody does.

 

 

 

[meechai]

17 minutes ago, Enoon said:

If an infectious disease is widely prevalent it is termed a pandemic.

 

If a disease is always present it is termed endemic.

 

COVID is widely prevalent so it remains pandemic.

 

The fact that Thailand wishes to declare COVID endemic means that Thailand is part of that wide prevalence.

 

Thailand doesn't get to "choose" not to be part of the pandemic.........nobody does.

 

 

 

A pandemic is when a disease affects the global population.

Pandemics are usually caused by new infectious agents (bacteria or viruses) that spread quickly.

 

What does endemic mean with regard to COVID-19?

“What an endemic phase of a viral infections means is that it’s not causing the terrible hospitalizations

of the pandemic phase but that we’ll have enough immunity of a population so it’s kept down to low levels,”

 Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor at the University of California, San Francisco.Jan 17, 2022

[TooMuchTime]

This is not good news for doomers.

[Virt]

3 hours ago, law ling said:

Agree with the OP to a large extent, but it doesn't address the oft-sited issue that out-of-control cases will result in some becoming very sick .... and hospitals becoming over-whelmed - or am I just believing government propaganda?

If Thailand are so afraid, the should look towards Denmark, UK, Ireland, Holland that lift most restrictions if not all. Other euro countries are easing restrictions too even if omicron cases are not decreasing.

 

Here in Denmark we had 500.000 positive cases in the last 14 days amongst 2.5-3 million PCR tests.

 

40 people are in ICU and it's estimated that 30-40% of all those in hospital with registered omicron is admitted for something else than omicron.

 

Denmark removes all restrictions in 4 days.

 

 

[arithai12]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I arrived back in Thailand/Bangkok this morning on the 6.15am Thai Airways arrival from London.

 

Do you knowhow many people - other than myself - that were on that Thai airways 777 flight ? 

 

Just 20 ! I am sure there were just as many staff as passengers.

 

The lunacy of getting on the flight being treated like a criminal as they searched for things to deny you entry to get on the flight. the lunacy of having about 20 people checking you and directing you at the other end

 

Thailand is going to hell in a basket with these ridiculous and nutcase policies. The airport arrivals was deserted basically of visitors - well, that's a lie, I saw 3. 

 

It seems a quite deliberate destruction now. It's good they only pay these people 300 baht a day maybe as western wages would shut the airport with such passengers numbers to staff

 

 

 

ok, but you flew in at the worst time between the old test&go and the new which will start on Feb 1. Moreover, I believe that part of the "emptiness" was due to you being on a TG flight direct from London. Probably a different story at mid-day.

[Taxi]

In Thailand It's a pandemic of bureaucracy. 

[AnotherFarang8]

The title suggests the “pandemic” is started and ended by people, with certain motives, which is tinfoil unthinkable. Oh wait…

[rwill]

You can't 'end' a pandemic.  It either exists or does not.  You can choose to accept it as part of normal life though.  Like we have done with influenza.

 

The WHO defines pandemics, epidemics, and endemics based on a disease's rate of spread. Thus, the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic isn't in the severity of the disease, but the degree to which it has spread.

A pandemic cuts across international boundaries, as opposed to regional epidemics. This wide geographical reach is what makes pandemics lead to large-scale social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship.

It's important to note that a once-declared epidemic can progress into pandemic status. While an epidemic is large, it is also generally contained or expected in its spread, while a pandemic is international and out of control.

Epidemic, Endemic, Pandemic: What are the Differences? | Columbia Public Health

[chalawaan]

Get the WHO to write each naughty variant

 a very stern letter, that should fix it. 

[chalawaan]

21 minutes ago, Taxi said:

In Thailand It's a pandemic of bureaucracy. 

Not to mention a confederacy of dunces.

[daveAustin]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I arrived back in Thailand/Bangkok this morning on the 6.15am Thai Airways arrival from London.

 

Do you knowhow many people - other than myself - that were on that Thai airways 777 flight ? 

 

Just 20 ! I am sure there were just as many staff as passengers.

 

The lunacy of getting on the flight being treated like a criminal as they searched for things to deny you entry to get on the flight. the lunacy of having about 20 people checking you and directing you at the other end

 

Thailand is going to hell in a basket with these ridiculous and nutcase policies. The airport arrivals was deserted basically of visitors - well, that's a lie, I saw 3. 

 

It seems a quite deliberate destruction now. It's good they only pay these people 300 baht a day maybe as western wages would shut the airport with such passengers numbers to staff

 

 

 

I’d rather be on a plane if 20 than 320; less chance of picking it up. You probably traveled at the right time. 

[daveAustin]

Opinion: It is time we end this pandemic

 

Can have all the opinion you want, but this scenario of total control is paradise for an authoritarian government. Don’t expect any big changes soon. 

[UKPaul67]

Based on new of Phillipines opening 8th Feb with only 1 pre test , I think they will have too, and change test and go go, quickly. If Thailand leave it until the end of the year tourists will go to Phillipines

Edited January 28, 2022 by UKPaul67

[madmitch]

6 hours ago, law ling said:

Agree with the OP to a large extent, but it doesn't address the oft-sited issue that out-of-control cases will result in some becoming very sick .... and hospitals becoming over-whelmed - or am I just believing government propaganda?

No different to dengue fever or flu. Covid will relatively soon be treated in the same way.

[swm59nj]

I still think this is an issue because some people just can’t go out and get those late night drinks. 

[UKPaul67]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I arrived back in Thailand/Bangkok this morning on the 6.15am Thai Airways arrival from London.

 

Do you knowhow many people - other than myself - that were on that Thai airways 777 flight ? 

 

Just 20 ! I am sure there were just as many staff as passengers.

 

The lunacy of getting on the flight being treated like a criminal as they searched for things to deny you entry to get on the flight. the lunacy of having about 20 people checking you and directing you at the other end

 

Thailand is going to hell in a basket with these ridiculous and nutcase policies. The airport arrivals was deserted basically of visitors - well, that's a lie, I saw 3. 

 

It seems a quite deliberate destruction now. It's good they only pay these people 300 baht a day maybe as western wages would shut the airport with such passengers numbers to staff

 

 

 

In December when I arrived the flight was almost full, returned early January, and the plane 1/3 full  But the airport was a complete ghost town with virtually nothing open.

The test test and go go for February will fail. Apart from returning expats.

Phillipines from Feb 8th 1 pre test

Thailand from February 1st , 3 tests and 2 days hotel quarantine and exspensive  insurance.

It's a no brainer for real tourists where they will go.

 

[pegman]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I arrived back in Thailand/Bangkok this morning on the 6.15am Thai Airways arrival from London.

 

Do you knowhow many people - other than myself - that were on that Thai airways 777 flight ? 

 

Just 20 ! I am sure there were just as many staff as passengers.

 

The lunacy of getting on the flight being treated like a criminal as they searched for things to deny you entry to get on the flight. the lunacy of having about 20 people checking you and directing you at the other end

 

Thailand is going to hell in a basket with these ridiculous and nutcase policies. The airport arrivals was deserted basically of visitors - well, that's a lie, I saw 3. 

 

It seems a quite deliberate destruction now. It's good they only pay these people 300 baht a day maybe as western wages would shut the airport with such passengers numbers to staff

 

 

 

I'm sure from your tone that you are very proud that the U.K. was a complete basket case dealing with the COVID. More deaths per cap than nearly any other industrial country. Where the class system meant rules applied for the general public but not for their betters like Boris. Sounds like you should have stayed there.

[Muzzique]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Do you knowhow many people - other than myself - that were on that Thai airways 777 flight ? 

 

Just 20 ! I am sure there were just as many staff as passengers.

But according to TAT there are millions of tourist waiting to flood back in.

 

You can call it what you like Pandemic, Epidemic, or create Fast track entry without quarantine. None if this matters if no one will be coming back which they won't.

 

They should change TAT for FADH as in Flogging A Dead Horse

Edited January 28, 2022 by Muzzique

[BangkokReady]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

being treated like a criminal as they searched for things to deny you entry to get on the flight

What were they searching for?  You mean checking your luggage and everything you have on you for contraband, or something in the paperwork?

[RJRS1301]

I suggest you send your opinion to Virus Central (where ever that may be) , although they be feeling unwell, like a lot of the world.

 

[daveAustin]

43 minutes ago, pegman said:

I'm sure from your tone that you are very proud that the U.K. was a complete basket case dealing with the COVID. More deaths per cap than nearly any other industrial country. Where the class system meant rules applied for the general public but not for their betters like Boris. Sounds like you should have stayed there.

More total transparency and a system that tallies deaths whether people died of covid or not, but don’t let that blight your prejudice. 

[TheScience]

I really don't think the government is the least bit concerned about tourists - especially now as high season booking is done. The covid issue is domestic.

 

The government is ever more dysfunctional, unstable and rumors are swirling...

 

I used to think the human tragedy that is the Philippines was the new model for Thailand but I'm coming around to the idea it will be a blend of Myanmar authoritarianism, Philippine crony capitalism and vertical markets overlaid by a Chinese social credit system for the city folk. Those in the countryside will simply be forgotten left to pay tribute in rice, vegetables and meat.

Edited January 28, 2022 by TheScience

[RichardColeman]

49 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

What were they searching for?  You mean checking your luggage and everything you have on you for contraband, or something in the paperwork?

Check in literally went through every piece of paper document line by line. And if you do not have a flight out booked on a 30 day exemption stamp, you aint getting on the plane. Some even got through to the plane only to be turfed off on entering the plane for 'connection' issues