BANGKOK (NNT) - A number of provinces in Thailand have stated their intention to be among the first to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease, though approval from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is required before any further announcements can be made.

 

Dr Suthep Petchmak, inspector-general of the Ministry of Public Health, said during a meeting that he was informed by Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, that 15 provinces are prepared for the new disease status.

 

According to Dr Suthep, the Department of Disease Control has completed its criteria for the designation, but the EOC has yet to discuss which provinces are ready for approval. A date for the EOC meeting to discuss the issue has not been set.

 

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Dr Suthep did not name the 15 provinces, but noted that Songkhla would be one of them. The southern province said it is ready to declare COVID-19 endemic because 80% of its population have been vaccinated for COVID and 30% have received booster shots.

 

The National Communicable Disease Committee defines endemic provinces as having fewer than 10,000 new daily cases and a fatality rate of less than 0.1%. More than 80% of those at risk must have also received coronavirus vaccine doses.

 

Suvarnabhumi Airport Director Kittipong Kittikachorn meanwhile said the airport will discuss with other agencies expanding its capacity to accommodate more international visitors.

 

Kittipong expects international arrivals to increase beginning May 1 following the lifting of the Test & Go Scheme by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration. He also said airport officials are discussing a number of initiatives to help alleviate overcrowding at the facility.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-25

 

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Declaring something 'endemic' is an admission that there has been a complete and total failure to control it during the pandemic stage.

 

So, endemicity is failure yet also inevitable with one variant or another which will also likely change over time.

 

They can call it what they wish, but I believe there are higher authorities that have the final say.

So when can I stop wearing the ridiculous masks everywhere I go? 

Good, it's time to move on to more pressing matters such as the imminent outbreak of world war 3...

Edited April 25, 20224 yr by Dmaxdan

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

So when can I stop wearing the ridiculous masks everywhere I go? 

When the PM gets bored of wearing his...

but somebody is worried about unvaccinated people... in this government the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing

 

PM Worried about Unvaccinated People

Edited April 25, 20224 yr by Mavideol

5 hours ago, ukrules said:

Declaring something 'endemic' is an admission that there has been a complete and total failure to control it during the pandemic stage.

 

So, endemicity is failure yet also inevitable with one variant or another which will also likely change over time.

 

As everywhere. Even the Chinese authorities, who can do what they want to anyone, seem to have failed with their zero Covid policy. News today is of panic buying in Beijing as inhabitants fear they are about to share the fate of the Shanghai populace, already locked down for weeks. This disease is now part of the human condition and continuing to screw people over in the name of a failed policy is absurd. Call it what you want it's now time to let people get on with their lives and make their own decisions.

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

Declaring something 'endemic' is an admission that there has been a complete and total failure to control it during the pandemic stage.

 

Millions of people died.  It WAS an emergency for them.   Now maybe it's not,  provided you got some shots.

 

Earthquake.   Emergency!!   OK.   Then, after a while, it's NOT an emergency.   That doesn't make it a failure.

 

can't be a pandemic for the history of the universe. lol

6 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Good, it's time to move on to more pressing matters such as the imminent outbreak of world war 3...

Or more certainly:

 

1. Cost of living crisis.

2.Climate Crisis.

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

So when can I stop wearing the ridiculous masks everywhere I go? 

unfortunately Thailand will be one of the last remaining countries to do so. 

 

1 hour ago, Iamfalang said:

Millions of people died.  It WAS an emergency for them.   Now maybe it's not,  provided you got some shots.

 

Earthquake.   Emergency!!   OK.   Then, after a while, it's NOT an emergency.   That doesn't make it a failure.

 

can't be a pandemic for the history of the universe. lol

You're talking about something completely unrelated to my post yet quoted me anyway.

 

But I'll chime in anyway.

 

I agree that COVID was an emergency. I'm using 'was' in the past tense there.

 

Edited April 25, 20224 yr by ukrules

52 minutes ago, BayArea said:

unfortunately Thailand will be one of the last remaining countries to do so. 

 

But but but... Land of Smile ? ????

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A number of provinces in Thailand have stated their intention to be among the first to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease, though approval from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is required before any further announcements can be made.

So once they've had the nod from the master they can declare it... 

so not really news?

Has to be said again.

Time for us all to get over ourselves. 

My crystal ball says that endemic will be gazzeted after the election 

On 4/25/2022 at 5:03 PM, Dmaxdan said:

When the PM gets bored of wearing his...

If I had a face like the unelected PM or the other Chuckle Brother I would want to keep my mask on all the time.

On 4/25/2022 at 4:57 PM, spidermike007 said:

So when can I stop wearing the ridiculous masks everywhere I go? 

I've yet to start wearing one!