Anutin: No indication to end of entertainment ban in Thailand - expects more Covid infections at Songkran

[webfact]

Sanook Thai Caption: More infections at Songkran for sure

 

Sanook reported on the latest pronouncements of DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul regarding Songkran and the pandemic. 

 

The annual new year Thai holidays are on this week and Anutin admitted that he expects more infections as a result of all the travel to people's homes.

 

But he said that the health system could cope particularly as most infections will be the mild Omicron strain. 

 

He acknowledged the dire effect that the pandemic has had on the Thai economy but gave no indication of the possible easing of restrictions that would see the entertainment industry in Thailand reopen.

 

Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

For now he said it was not yet the appropriate time and bars and clubs would have to continue to open as restaurants for the time being, and make sure they are following all the new normal rules.

 

He expressed his concern about people who refuse to get vaccinated.

 

Anutin - not actually a medical man - gave the assembled press a brief sermon on why Songkran is important, the spread of infectious diseases, preventative measures and the like.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-04-11

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[RafPinto]

Bars continue to open....as restaurants...555

And sopay massages as .... hairdressers.

[Thailand]

Cannabis not alcohol is the way forward!

[howlee101]

If he publicly stated so, then it is obviously 100% true.....until he retracts or "clarifies" his statement ????

[Danderman123]

So, Covid won’t infect someone in a bar if they have food in front of them.

[Thailand]

One way to enjoy Songkran, via the Metaverse.

https://www.nationmultimedia.com/in-focus/40014401

 

[BangkokReady]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

bars and clubs would have to continue to open as restaurants for the time being

Did he say the quiet part out loud?

[darksidedog]

I have given up long ago, on expecting anything sensible whatsoever to come out of Anutins mouth.

Covid rampant, but that's OK cos its omicron, but entertainment venues have to open under mindless rules?

Welcome to Thailand folks.

[BangkokReady]

Vietnam a couple of days ago, apparently:

 

[BayArea]

7 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Vietnam a couple of days ago, apparently:

 

Vung Tau, the seaside resort an hour from Sai Gon was packed with beachgoers this past  weekend. Looked awesome and fun! No masks, back to normal.

[OneMoreFarang]

It seems someone thinks about those poor Thai police officers. Imagine if bars would be allowed to open, possibly even with dancing girls on stage. Who would pay the police? 

[BangkokReady]

8 minutes ago, BayArea said:

Vung Tau, the seaside resort an hour from Sai Gon was packed with beachgoers this past  weekend. Looked awesome and fun! No masks, back to normal.

That could be Thailand right now.  People happy, having fun and getting some money coming in. ????

[smedly]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

For now he said it was not yet the appropriate time and bars and clubs would have to continue to open as restaurants for the time being, and make sure they are following all the new normal rules.

I was in a Thai restaurant recently in Pattaya with  over 1500 in attendance accompanied with live music and a DJ, several other venues close by in full swing with equally huge numbers, this goes on nightly

[smedly]

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

That could be Thailand right now.  People happy, having fun and getting some money coming in. ????

not with a collective IQ of under 100 running the country

[Willy Wombat]

 Frail and really sick people stay at home.

 

Everybody else get on with life.

 

 

[zyphodb]

26 minutes ago, smedly said:

I was in a Thai restaurant recently in Pattaya with  over 1500 in attendance accompanied with live music and a DJ, several other venues close by in full swing with equally huge numbers, this goes on nightly

I wonder how much that cost em in brown envelopes?

[zyphodb]

22 minutes ago, smedly said:

not with a collective IQ of under 100 running the country

They're just doing what their told to do by the higher ups, (not that it makes them any better people)...

[herfiehandbag]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin - not actually a medical man - gave the assembled press a brief sermon on why Songkran is important,

Surely, I mean, say it is not so!

 

There is a big picture of him outside my local hospital, and he is dressed in a doctor's shirt!

 

And I had such trust as to his competence - I was so reassured that the nation's health was in such safe hands...

[malibukid]

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

Cannabis not alcohol is the way forward!

add to that casinos.

[Skeptic7]

4 hours ago, RafPinto said:

Bars continue to open....as restaurants...555

And sopay massages as .... hairdressers.

There is a GoGo Bar open as a GoGo Bar in Jomtien. Vipers. Not bad  Was pleasantly surprised. Going back again soon before it gets found out. ????

[stephenterry]

Oh my Buddha. This post must rank as yet another Darwin record attempt by Anutin (Trigger). 

[Jimbo2014]

3 hours ago, BayArea said:

Vung Tau, the seaside resort an hour from Sai Gon was packed with beachgoers this past  weekend. Looked awesome and fun! No masks, back to normal.

Everyone has moved on from Covid except.... Thailand - yay ????

[ThailandGuy]

Still afraid of covid cases getting out of control. A pitty as this will not help at all in the longrun. It is only postponement of the inevitable that everybody needs te get infected and build their own antibodies. Look what happened  in Spain, Denmark, Sweden, UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France after they abolished all restrictions. There was a short spike in cases for about 4 weeks and then a even harder drop to a number that can easily be controlled and handled. Not more deaths the a flu.  Thailand is killing all businesses. What is worse?  The biggest mistake Thailand made is the way to slow vaccination program and gambling on the inferior sinovac vaccin. Waiting, waiting, waiting.... not proactive ordering and buying vaccines, but waiting and waiting... why? Why did they wait that long?

[vandeventer]

So no girls no booze and millions of tourist coming? Why? Must be to see the temples or to keep warm for a few days? the grass is not legal yet, so why do they come???

[4MyEgo]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin - not actually a medical man

That in a nutshell says it all.

 

Perhaps he should lock us all down like his cousins are doing in China so that they can reduce the spread to zero which will never be achieved, just like so many other infectious diseases have roamed our humble planet, well, what's left of it.

 

Let's just get infected and get it over with, you can't wrap everyone in cotton wool, we are all going to get infected as this virus will be here for a 1,000 years if not longer, and we all know, we won't be here, so what is the problem, it couldn't be control, or could it ?

[ChrisKC]

You CANT trust me, I am NOT a Doctor!

[Uncle Philby]

Tell me why the Thai government are not mandating boosters for all international arrivals? The sooner we get everyone boosted, the sooner we get through this. As for the selfish Westerners who want the Thai government to drop all the mandates, they are not thinking of the safety of the Thai people, they are only thinking of themselves.

[ftpjtm]

30 minutes ago, Jimbo2014 said:

Everyone has moved on from Covid except.... Thailand - yay ????

Don't forget Thailand's mentors to the north. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He acknowledged the dire effect that the pandemic has had on the Thai economy but gave no indication of the possible easing of restrictions that would see the entertainment industry in Thailand reopen.

I thought they had mostly, but under the guise of restaurants?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

So, Covid won’t infect someone in a bar if they have food in front of them.

There's the logic of our leadership.