Photo: The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

 

Thailand’s National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) approved, today (Wednesday), the Public Health Ministry’s plan to classify COVID-19 as an endemic disease in four months, starting on July 1st, if things go according to plans.

 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today that the plan is based on the principle that the good health of the people and the national economy must go together, which is the policy being adopted in several countries.

 

To achieve this goal, he said relevant agencies must put in place several measures to be implemented during the four months, such as vaccination management, medical services for the infected, COVID-19 monitoring and screening measures, prevention and containment of the disease, travel restrictions and legal and social measures.

 

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Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/plan-to-make-covid-19-endemic-disease-in-thailand-from-july-1-approved/

 

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The face mask manufacturers won't be happy.

Well, Mr. Charnvirakul still speaking about travel restrictions while neighboring and competing countries are starting to open their borders.
Latest candidate is Malaysia, which will drop many (not all) restrictions by April 1st.
From that date on fully vaccinated travellers "only" need
- a RT-PCR test not older than 48 before departure
- a RAT (rapid antigen test) performed by a professional within 24 hrs after arriving in Malaysia
- download a spy-app (tracking app)
Many COVID related restrictions will be dumped, but the mandatory use of masks remains in place.

The pressure on Thailand is increasing.....
First the Philippines, very soon Vietnam and then, on fools day, Malaysia.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-reopen-border-fully-apr-1-2551491

10 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

The face mask manufacturers won't be happy.

Nor the Thailand Covid  insurance companies

So after 1st July, with presumably all restrictions lifted, the government can look forward to increased demos by students and others again. I think not. This mob will find some excuse, made up riots,  to continue the state of emergency until after the elections next year.

And how about the rest of the world????? Thailand can make it an endemic, but maybe other countries don't follow and so do tourists

It seems they still see their mandate as making this as complicated as possible under the circumstances. I hope I'm wrong. 

I just hit the 10th day since the start of symptoms, with a negative ATK test in contrast to the clearly positive one two days ago. After two years of craziness and worry it was an anticlimax, almost a nothing-burger. Mild with a capital M. But it happened after one AZ, two Pfizer, and a Moderna. And I'm over 80. Those older Thais have a choice, and I wish the outreach people luck.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

And how about the rest of the world????? Thailand can make it an endemic, but maybe other countries don't follow and so do tourists

Many countries are already starting to. Thailand wouldn’t be the first.

Hahaha July??? All these remianing rules would be gone for most of the world by May at the most. Not surprised that Thailand acts slows.....

Illiterate/ignorant officials do not know the meaning of word endemic.  It simply refers to species being limited to a geographic locality.  They will make a disease local to some area by a decree?  Amazing Thailand.

Did they ask the virus?????

Good to hear they have a crystal ball and can plan ahead for months.

 

A lot of people will still refuse the vaccine. I know much of my wife's family will refuse vaccination, including her parents. We are triple vaxxed here in the states.

 

This story says a lot about nothing. Hopefully, restrictions and all that go away by next winter.

5 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha July??? All these remianing rules would be gone for most of the world by May at the most. Not surprised that Thailand acts slows.....

thailand has been behind the curve all the way through covid, no reason for it to catch up now. july sounds about right.

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

To achieve this goal, he said relevant agencies must put in place several measures to be implemented during the four months, such as vaccination management, medical services for the infected, COVID-19 monitoring and screening measures, prevention and containment of the disease, travel restrictions and legal and social measures.

Are they not in place already?

11 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

The face mask manufacturers won't be happy.

I'll still wear mine to keep out the PM2.5...

7 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha July??? All these remianing rules would be gone for most of the world by May at the most. Not surprised that Thailand acts slows.....

Thailand is 50 years behind the rest of the world in most things... this is fast for them.

Has anyone thought to tell the virus of this plan?

10 hours ago, Excel said:

So after 1st July, with presumably all restrictions lifted,

Whoa, steady on there cowboy! According to the original source article:

 

"... life should be as normal as possible while the economy is recovering, said the public health minister adding, however, that even if COVID becomes an endemic disease, the population may still be required to wear face masks, avoid group gatherings, wash their hands often, undergo rapid antigen tests and get vaccinated to reduce the risk of severe cases."

 

So ... basically same, same. But doubtless there'll be the usual doom-mongers who'll say we need to continue to take all possible precautions 'just in case', "think of other people" etc etc.

 

I'm sick of it all.

 

Doomers punching the air in frustration over this news.

 

Expect them to post in here about muh cases, muh deaths, muh pandemic.

 

For those who are afraid of no restrictions, just get "fully vaccinated" and get your boosters even though you are fully vaccinated.  Throw in double mask wearing for good measure.

1 minute ago, TooMuchTime said:

Doomers punching the air in frustration over this news.

 

Expect them to post in here about muh cases, muh deaths, muh pandemic.

 

For those who are afraid of no restrictions, just get "fully vaccinated" and get your boosters even though you are fully vaccinated.  Throw in double mask wearing for good measure.

Doomers? Have you been dreaming? I'm pretty sure most people want this implemented even sooner the same as the rest of the world.

Dream: A

Plan: C

Action: D-

8 hours ago, farangnomore said:

Illiterate/ignorant officials do not know the meaning of word endemic.  It simply refers to species being limited to a geographic locality.  They will make a disease local to some area by a decree?  Amazing Thailand.

I think you're taking the word "area" too specifically. It doesn't only mean geographic area. Your own link gives this example: "the self-indulgence endemic in the film industry."

 

In the case of infectious diseases, it's being used (not only by Thailand, but by epidemiologists around the world) to mean that cases are not out of control, but also not being wiped out.

 

Colds are endemic, for example.

 

This doesn't mean Covid won't still be dangerous, especially to the unvaccinated or immunocompromised, but simply that it's just something we'll have to live with.

 

 

 

8 hours ago, farangnomore said:

Illiterate/ignorant officials do not know the meaning of word endemic.  It simply refers to species being limited to a geographic locality.  They will make a disease local to some area by a decree?  Amazing Thailand.

You didn't major in epidemiology. 

I see. Offer some light at the end of the tunnel while changing nothing and leaving plenty of time for a U-turn/extension of restrictions if the peasants start revolting.

 

Standard procedure for those using Covid as a tool of control.

 

 

I read just the other day June 1st,  one would think that these measure would have been in place already which I said since 2020 instead of lock downs prepare! 

Do they have a crystal ball to know this will happen?

10 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha July??? All these remianing rules would be gone for most of the world by May at the most. Not surprised that Thailand acts slows.....

Looks like one more year on my "O-A" as I extend in May. Then exit and re-enter on an "O" Visa.

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand is 50 years behind the rest of the world in most things... this is fast for them.

You are very kind.. 50 years is an understatement.. ???? Mostly agrarian, just getting through the agricultural revolution. Jethro Tull would be seen as a magician.

16 hours ago, Rohe60 said:

Well, Mr. Charnvirakul still speaking about travel restrictions while neighboring and competing countries are starting to open their borders.
Latest candidate is Malaysia, which will drop many (not all) restrictions by April 1st.
From that date on fully vaccinated travellers "only" need
- a RT-PCR test not older than 48 before departure
- a RAT (rapid antigen test) performed by a professional within 24 hrs after arriving in Malaysia
- download a spy-app (tracking app)
Many COVID related restrictions will be dumped, but the mandatory use of masks remains in place.

The pressure on Thailand is increasing.....
First the Philippines, very soon Vietnam and then, on fools day, Malaysia.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-reopen-border-fully-apr-1-2551491

Still unacceptable measures if Covid is endemic...

Meanwhile Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Hungary and Ireland have lifted all restrictions whether people are vaccinated or not but they have a higher vaccination rate obviously