Top Thai doctor with Public Health Ministry says Covid-19 cases likely to keep rising, could cause Songkran to be canceled for the third year in a row

[webfact]

 

By Nop Meechukhun

 

National – Thailand’s daily Covid-19 infections could possibly reach 30,000 cases by the end of February and could affect activities during the upcoming Songkran festival, Thailand’s biggest holiday scheduled in April, a representative from the Ministry of Public Health stated yesterday, February 9th.

 

Dr. Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, Director of the Bureau of Epidemiology under the Public Health Ministry, gave an interview this afternoon that the Covid-19 situation assessment around the world proved that foreign countries in Europe and America are in a downtrend of the outbreak with less infections while many countries in Asia, including Thailand, is in an uptrend with higher numbers of cases.

 

He told the associated Thai press: “The main reason our cases are rising was because we opened more activities and social activities have increased greatly. Only pubs, bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, basically the nighttime economy is not fully opened for service as usual but many have opened with permission as modified restaurants and some adjusted rules. Now we are almost living normally, so it wasn’t surprising that the infections are increasing. However, we don’t want the public to be overly concerned about “cases” but rather look at the number of critically ill patients and deaths which were decreasing and stable.”

 

The Director also revealed that there were about 90,000 cases currently being treated at either hospitals, hospitels (quarantine hotels), or at homes under the Home Isolation program. About 90 percent of them were having mild symptoms or were asymptomatic. Only 111 hospital cases were having severe symptoms or on ventilation, accounting for 0.1 percent. The Public Health Ministry would try to keep the number to be below 200 cases/day.

 

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Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/02/09/top-thai-doctor-with-public-health-ministry-says-covid-19-cases-likely-to-keep-rising-could-cause-songkran-to-be-canceled-for-the-third-year-in-a-row/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-02-10

 

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[RandiRona]

Yes and Zombie attack is imminent!

[tomster]

This known as "seeding". 

 

Get people used to the idea so that when they announce it, or some form of it, nobody is surprised. 

[daveAustin]

Quote

Now we are almost living normally, so it wasn’t surprising that the infections are increasing. 

Almost? You are waaay off normal, doctor. West was a test bed with big waves and relatively few lives lost. Use that data and act accordingly. Don’t go into your shell. So much focus on this thing when already ruined lives need to be lived!

[Thaiwrath]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Now we are almost living normally,

Really ?

You maybe, with your nice salary, but I don't see the many, many citizens, unable to put food on the tables for their families (due to some draconian control measures), getting back to "almost living normally" for a long time !
  

[Gentleman Roy]

A country run by inept, corrupt people.

What a shame this once amazing country is being totally destroyed

[TheFishman1]

Good 

[ezzra]

Here's another doomsday prophet, as many doctors there are in the world that how many Corona opinions there are. the bottom line is will be what will be, it's up to the individuals to protect themselves as best as they can...

[bkk6060]

2 months away I bet they do not cancel it.

To add, hope everyone in Pattaya has checked the dates this year.  They have the 12th thru the 20th scheduled.  9 days way too much, I certainly will find another place to go.

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Only 111 hospital cases were having severe symptoms or on ventilation, accounting for 0.1 percent.

Therefore only 111 people should be hospitalsed, not the thousands unnecessarily carted off to hspital or hospitel with symptoms no worse than a common cold!

[thaimacky]

Quote

Thailand’s daily Covid-19 infections could possibly reach 30,000 cases by the end of February 

...eeeehm - I think it is quite obvious Thailand's daily infections already crossed the 100'000 by now! It's ok though. Just skip that test&go scam on the 5th day after arrival please and everything will be ok.

[vandeventer]

48 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Good 

If they don't do it this year thousands of truckers may go on strike.

[Lite Beer]

Quote

could cause Songkran to be canceled for the third year in a row

Every cloud has a silver lining.

[Bkk Brian]

14 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Therefore only 111 people should be hospitalsed, not the thousands unnecessarily carted off to hspital or hospitel with symptoms no worse than a common cold!

Actually there are 111 on a ventilator and 547 in ICU, there will be more in covid wards receiving supplementary oxygen and treatment. I take your point though, the thousands in hospitels when only mild should not be there.

 

As for the separate warning of the cancellation of Songkran if need be, it just shows how out of touch they really are with whats going on in the rest of the world with Omicron.

[phukettrader]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Now we are almost living normally

You are having a laugh, aren't you?

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Only 111 hospital cases were having severe symptoms or on ventilation, accounting for 0.1 percent

So that other 99.9% are there simply to generate income for said hospitals, rather than allowing these people to get on with their lives, are presumably most of them are perfectly healthy.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Gentleman Roy said:

A country run by inept, corrupt people.

What a shame this once amazing country is being totally destroyed

If they cancel Songkran again this year the government will be ousted.

[Millcx]

The world is reopening … But Anutin says he has solved the cure to Con-Itron ….The Gov are now worried their control is passing

one Covid rule to control them all 5555555

[wombat]

It's hard to keep up.

Are we flipping or flopping today?

[chilli42]

How is it that Thailand always seems to be out of step with what is going on in the rest of the world?

[GRIMMY]

A statement full of contradictions. Most western countries have had everything open (including nightlife) for a long time now and, as is mentioned, are in a downtrend of the outbreak.

[Chosenfew]

Spread the fear and keep it going…

[DUNROAMIN]

Good. Nothing to do with religion, just an excuse for a p#*s up and more road carnage.

[Caldera]

Oh no, not Songkran again!

 

Surely Omicron must have passed through by then, I'd guess they'll need to find a new scary variant soon.

[JonnyF]

No need to cancel it. Just mandate the use of alcohol in the water pistols instead of water and we're good to go. Cases might even go down as long as nobody strikes a match.

 

I suspect however that Songkran will be cancelled no matter how many cases we have. Paternalistic Puritan Prayut hates to see people having fun and Covid is the perfect excuse to keep 'the children' locked up a bit longer.

[BKKBike09]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

If they cancel Songkran again this year the government will be ousted.

Judging by how many people still obsessively mask, if not double mask, in the great outdoors and in their car on their own, I doubt that. Many people remain very afraid of Covid. Also, compliance and acceptance of 'authority' is inculcated from an early age. They might not like it, but they won't do anything about it qv. look at all those protests (not) organised by people working in the tourism sector. 

[wombat]

23 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

Many people remain very afraid of Covid. 

You are spot on.

Get in a lift and see Thai people bury their head in a corner.

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

pubs, bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, basically the nighttime economy is not fully opened

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Only 111 hospital cases were having severe symptoms or on ventilation

An entire industry closed down or crippled and schools remain closed with no sign of opening, all while the country has just 111 severe cases. Now talk of banning one of Thailand's biggest tourist draws yet again.

 

There could be no clearer signs that the government is hell-bent on shutting down the tourist industry and dumbing down the population, while nightly police raids to stop people having a beer after 11pm continue. It really isn't very far from operating like the very worst regimes in the world.

 

[SS1]

Getting a bit old now. 

[Waynou]

Let us all catch Omicron and then problem fixed   ????

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

If they cancel Songkran again this year the government will be ousted.

And how would you do that in a country where the unelected government re-wrote the constitution before holding an election to ensure it will always remain in power as it is backed by its military friends. Look what happened when many thousands came onto the streets last year to protest. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

 

Thailand is finished as a fun place to be for many years to come. Once the military gain power they never let go. Myanmar pretended for a short period to give up power, and then look what happened. Thailand, I believe, has always refused to condemn the latest atrocities there, only expressed concern which means nothing. So does condemnation, actually, as it's only words. But the lack of condemnation by the Thai government tells you all you need to know.

 

If I was younger than my 70+ years I would be making plans to get out, or would have done so already. As it is, I'll probably have gone up in smoke by the time the country does reach rock bottom. Thailand would not be the first country to be destroyed by its self-serving leaders, and it's coming.