No closure of class or school in Thailand if COVID-19 infection is detected

[webfact]

 

The Department of Health has clarified that no class or school will be shut down if a student, teacher or member of school staff is found to be infected with COVID-19 or if a high-risk person is exposed to an infected individual, according to the department’s Deputy Director-General Dr. Sarawut Boonsook, as Thailand’s new school term starts Tuesday.

 

Dr. Sarawut said that, in case a student, a teacher or other staff is found to be infected, the school management and health officials will jointly work out measures, including isolation at schools, to deal with the problem. If the infected student has no symptoms or only mild symptoms, they can attend class as deemed appropriate, but must be seated at least two metres from the other students and barred from group activities. The classroom must be well ventilated and disinfected, he said.

 

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For a low-risk case at day schools, on-site class can open as normal, but must observe the “universal protection” measures and be assessed under the “Thai Save Thai” program. Low-risk students can attend class, but must be seated one metre from others.

 

For a high-risk case, who is unvaccinated, whether they have symptoms or not, the student is advised to be home-quarantined for five days, with another five days under observation, he said.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/no-closure-of-class-or-school-in-thailand-if-covid-19-infection-is-detected/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-17

 

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[ikke1959]

a 180 degree chnge of the previous rules... So now suddenly we know that there were 2 years of teaching were throw away for nothing

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

If the infected student has no symptoms or only mild symptoms, they can attend class as deemed appropriate, but must be seated at least two metres from the other students

I would think this would mean sitting outside of the classroom for thousands of schools around Thailand.

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, ikke1959 said:

a 180 degree chnge of the previous rules... So now suddenly we know that there were 2 years of teaching were throw away for nothing

That was Delta and previous strains. Omicron is known to be less severe. Now Omicron B2 less severe again and B4, B5 coming which is less severe again. All more contagious than the previous.

[ikke1959]

Just now, dinsdale said:

That was Delta and previous strains. Omicron is known to be less severe. Now Omicron B2 less severe again and B4, B5 coming which is less severe again. All more contagious than the previous.

Last semester was alsoOmicron, and with Delta and previous strains there was not a real threat for kids

[dinsdale]

14 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Last semester was alsoOmicron, and with Delta and previous strains there was not a real threat for kids

Yep and many schools were open. As for the threat to kids yes they don't tend to get severe disease but they could take it home to their families. 

[Iamfalang]

If positive, can attend class?    Usually 7-10 day home isolation.    
 

This is an experiment.    Let’s see.

[TravelerEastWest]

17 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Yep and many schools were open. As for the threat to kids yes they don't tend to get severe disease but they could take it home to their families. 

Exactly.

 

The elderly and other high risk groups are still in danger.

 

Sad taht so many are not concerned...

[Scott]

13 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Yep and many schools were open. As for the threat to kids yes they don't tend to get severe disease but they could take it home to their families. 

I am aware of one school that ended up having to try to deal with an English Summer Camp with virtually no Native speakers because they all got infected. 

I know that some schools are opening without auxiliary staff such as cooks and cleaners because they are infected.  Omicron may not be particularly dangerous to the general population, but it does raise havoc when staff are infected and sick.  

 

i know one of the States in the US that tried to keep schools open was pretty much a dismal failure.  The state had no mask mandate and did not allow schools to have mandates.  A few schools decided to have the mask mandates anyway.  The schools with masking and social distancing were pretty close to running in a normal manner.  The ones without mandates were unable to adequately staff what classes were still being held.

 

By and large the students fared reasonably well.  There were outbreaks with students but hospitalizations were low.  The adults fared less well. 

 

 

[Skeptic7]

Say 1 thing do another. Different from province to another. Change tomorrow. Overreactive. Typically Thailand Standard Operating Procedure. 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

a 180 degree chnge of the previous rules... So now suddenly we know that there were 2 years of teaching were throw away for nothing

Not really, this is more of "we can live with the Omicron variant"

[RichardColeman]

Dear God, I hope so, my daughter is due back next week after near 15 months out. Ludicrous

[RedBackman]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

a 180 degree chnge of the previous rules... So now suddenly we know that there were 2 years of teaching were throw away for nothing

At this point globally we've failed to eradicate COVID but now that pretty much everyone's immune system has seen some form of it (vaccine or infection) and it's mutated to be less severe it's becoming just another seasonal illness we're going to have to deal with from time-to-time.

 

That's not to say that the original reactions were stupid or worthless, as they statistically saved a ton of lives and if the world had worked together better especially on an individual level we maybe could have eradicated this illness instead of where we are now. But yeah, time to get on with life.

[ikke1959]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Yep and many schools were open. As for the threat to kids yes they don't tend to get severe disease but they could take it home to their families. 

And that will not change... 

[sungod]

2 hours ago, TravelerEastWest said:

Exactly.

 

The elderly and other high risk groups are still in danger.

 

Sad taht so many are not concerned...

Hence the reason they can get vaccinated.

[sungod]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Yep and many schools were open. As for the threat to kids yes they don't tend to get severe disease but they could take it home to their families. 

Their families have the choice to be vaccinated.

[KhunBENQ]

Happy to see some normality this morning.

Students on the way to school.

And I must admit I was surprised that not even a temperature check was done.

I remember some short periods of opening for tests(?) where they did big protocol with temperature check, disinfectant, health volunteers at the gate etc.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr. Sarawut said that, in case a student, a teacher or other staff is found to be infected, the school management and health officials will jointly work out measures, including isolation at schools, to deal with the problem. If the infected student has no symptoms or only mild symptoms, they can attend class as deemed appropriate, but must be seated at least two metres from the other students and barred from group activities.

Gotta keep those numbers falling....

Thailands road to success... and handling of the Covid infection.

no testing, ignore numbers and tell the world we beat it.

[TravelerEastWest]

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Hence the reason they can get vaccinated.

Personally, I have had two Pfizer shots and one Moderna and one more Moderna booster scheduled - but I am still in a high risk group - that won't change.

 

Hopefully, if I get COVID it will not be too bad because of my vaccines but it is still quite possible that I will end up in the hospital or dead as will millions of others in a high risk group.

 

Note many of those in the high risk groups are elderly and have grandchildren who can infect them which is why we need to be super careful - life is certainly not normal at this point in time...

[4MyEgo]

22 minutes ago, TravelerEastWest said:

Personally, I have had two Pfizer shots and one Moderna and one more Moderna booster scheduled - but I am still in a high risk group - that won't change.

 

Hopefully, if I get COVID it will not be too bad because of my vaccines but it is still quite possible that I will end up in the hospital or dead as will millions of others in a high risk group.

 

Note many of those in the high risk groups are elderly and have grandchildren who can infect them which is why we need to be super careful - life is certainly not normal at this point in time...

I know of a guy who is 72 and had it last week, said it wasn't too bad, a bit like the flu.

 

He had 3 doses and was due his 4th, that said, he won't be needed a 4th shot now.

 

Lots of people I know have had it, varying in age, and its usually a sore throat and migraine type of headache, sore eyes for a day or two. 

 

I believe the worst is over, if your in your 80's and have underlying conditions, it could be another story, that could also be with the seasonal Flu, or Pneumonia, so just keep living and take extra care and you should be right until your expiry date, whenever that is. 

 

[Pla Simon]

I am currently situated in a village on Thai / Cambodian border in Surin province.

 

The school in the village 5km down the road from me has not opened today.

 

The village chief made an announcement last week, after 11 people were found and are currently infected with omicron, and one person died 'with' it.

[sungod]

32 minutes ago, TravelerEastWest said:

Personally, I have had two Pfizer shots and one Moderna and one more Moderna booster scheduled - but I am still in a high risk group - that won't change.

 

Hopefully, if I get COVID it will not be too bad because of my vaccines but it is still quite possible that I will end up in the hospital or dead as will millions of others in a high risk group.

 

Note many of those in the high risk groups are elderly and have grandchildren who can infect them which is why we need to be super careful - life is certainly not normal at this point in time...

Its a tough one, but the kids need to go back to school period. The schools cannot be closed indefinitely, kids can pick it up when they play with each other, at the mall. you could get it in a supermarket. Covid is not transmitted solely at schools.

 

I do feel for you but we have to move on.

[brewsterbudgen]

Let's hope they stick to this and it's applied to all schools.  I fear the mask policy is likely to remain for a while, though.

[TravelerEastWest]

1 hour ago, sungod said:

Its a tough one, but the kids need to go back to school period. The schools cannot be closed indefinitely, kids can pick it up when they play with each other, at the mall. you could get it in a supermarket. Covid is not transmitted solely at schools.

 

I do feel for you but we have to move on.

Thank you for your kind words.

 

Of course kids need to go back to school but all teachers and students need to be vaccinated (unless there is a special reason not to)  - masks need to be worn until the situation is under control. As well as temperature checks and regular ATK checks and Zoom meetings for school conferences shood be available just like disabled parking and wheelchair access etc.

 

My two teenagers have been back at school for roughly a couple of months now.

 

My paint is that things are not normal now and we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that they are...

[dinsdale]

This should see that everything will be fine. It's like they still do not have a clue that this is airborne/aerosol. This rubbish will do absolutely zero to stopping transmission. I'm guessing that a large % of the kids have had it but just don't know they've had it.

[dinsdale]

2 minutes ago, TravelerEastWest said:

Thank you for your kind words.

 

Of course kids need to go back to school but all teachers and students need to be vaccinated (unless there is a special reason not to)  - masks need to be worn until the situation is under control. As well as temperature checks and regular ATK checks and Zoom meetings for school conferences shood be available just like disabled parking and wheelchair access etc.

 

My two teenagers have been back at school for roughly a couple of months now.

 

My paint is that things are not normal now and we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that they are...

Temp. checks. Why? Fever is one of the lesser symptoms. I've known 10 people now that have had omicron. One had a slight fever.

[mommysboy]

2 hours ago, TravelerEastWest said:

Personally, I have had two Pfizer shots and one Moderna and one more Moderna booster scheduled - but I am still in a high risk group - that won't change.

 

Hopefully, if I get COVID it will not be too bad because of my vaccines but it is still quite possible that I will end up in the hospital or dead as will millions of others in a high risk group.

 

Note many of those in the high risk groups are elderly and have grandchildren who can infect them which is why we need to be super careful - life is certainly not normal at this point in time...

High risk groups are certainly the sole area of concern. But I don't think anything other than personal shielding is possible or indeed perhaps effective.  With Omicron it appears that most serious outcomes are among those with severe personal health issues.  One would hope that they do not come in to close contact with youngsters, but there comes a time when many common viruses can cause fatal outcomes. It's sadly true that medics and carers are often the unwitting carriers. Thailand will likely shortly have access to Evusheld which appears to be the best preventative of all for the vulnerable.

[brewsterbudgen]

55 minutes ago, TravelerEastWest said:

Thank you for your kind words.

 

Of course kids need to go back to school but all teachers and students need to be vaccinated (unless there is a special reason not to)  - masks need to be worn until the situation is under control. As well as temperature checks and regular ATK checks and Zoom meetings for school conferences shood be available just like disabled parking and wheelchair access etc.

 

My two teenagers have been back at school for roughly a couple of months now.

 

My paint is that things are not normal now and we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that they are...

You're naive if you think the situation re Covid will ever be "normal" - i.e. how it was in 2019.  Are you suggesting that masks, temperature checks (which are pointless anyway), ATK tests should continue forever?  Most countries, certainly in the west, have dispensed with lot.  Thailand needs to follow, but while thankfully not like China, the temptation to issue directives and make people obey pointless rules, while ignoring or not enforcing sensible rules, is part of the culture.

[TravelerEastWest]

21 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You're naive if you think the situation re Covid will ever be "normal" - i.e. how it was in 2019.  Are you suggesting that masks, temperature checks (which are pointless anyway), ATK tests should continue forever?  Most countries, certainly in the west, have dispensed with lot.  Thailand needs to follow, but while thankfully not like China, the temptation to issue directives and make people obey pointless rules, while ignoring or not enforcing sensible rules, is part of the culture.

I do think/hope that over time vaccines/ and covid treatment will be more effective and COVID will be under reasonable control.

 

Sorry to hear that you feel that masks and temperature checks are pointless; every doctor that I have asked about this doesn't agree with your view. Masks especially are very useful.

 

The West does not always do what is correct. A friend of mine in California recently got COVID and after five days his ATK results were still positive yet current rules in California allowed him to go outside...

[dinsdale]

25 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You're naive if you think the situation re Covid will ever be "normal" - i.e. how it was in 2019.  Are you suggesting that masks, temperature checks (which are pointless anyway), ATK tests should continue forever?  Most countries, certainly in the west, have dispensed with lot.  Thailand needs to follow, but while thankfully not like China, the temptation to issue directives and make people obey pointless rules, while ignoring or not enforcing sensible rules, is part of the culture.

Hopefully it will get back to normal. Just like catching a cold is normal. Don't know about everyone else but I've had some terrible colds (not flu) that have knocked me flat for a few days and seem to linger for some time. Society doesn't come to a grinding halt even though 1000's, 10s of 1000's, 100s of 000s will get infected. As this Omicron evolves it appears as though it getting less severe each time and more infectious. Omicron it would seem is the way out of this. With each new variant it's out competing the previous variant which initially saw the end of Delta. Eventually/Hopefully it will just be another type of common cold. It's time now to completely open up. There's no point trying to stop it because it can't be stopped.