Thai Covid-19 Situation Center agrees to restore nationwide green zones, cancel Thailand Pass, eases mask mandate, and more

[transam]

On 6/17/2022 at 8:26 PM, khunpa said:

I flew in using the Thai Pass yesterday. Took me 30 min. to get approved online and it was super smooth at the airport.

 

I honestly think they should make something like the Thai Pass requiring travel insurance from all tourists. Get rid of all the tourists getting in trouble here. No more Go Fund Me pages…

 

Thai Pass was the first ever Thai-made online registration that worked completely without hassle for me. I wouldn’t mind keeping it as I was so thrilled about something that worked.

 

 

So a Thai Pass will stop folk getting p_ssed and into trouble.....????

 

????...........and you are a Reverend...?....????

 

[radiochaser]

On 6/17/2022 at 4:15 AM, simple1 said:

My wife here in Oz has been infected by Covid for the past two days. I can assure you she's having a nasty experience.

 

Unfortuneately too many people are still rather ignorant of the effects of Covid and consequences of infection.

Not me.  I had it back in March of 2020.   It wasn't as bad as the flu I had (decades ago).  Also did not come near as bad as the last case of pneumonia that I had, which nearly killed me when I was in my early 30's!  

I did have a lot of difficulty breathing but, because I have COPD, I used my albuterol inhaler several times a day until I was over it.   

[transam]

12 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

muh infections!

Lock yourself in a room while everyone else enjoys normal life.  Don't forget to come out when your due for a booster.  Jabbies these days, when will they learn.

Sadly, the Covid dead can't reply to that...........????

 

But, I reckon they wouldn't bother anyway, even if they could, it would be pointless...????

[spidermike007]

14 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

The UK government was so proud that it dumped all restrictions, obsessed with a little piece of fabric. Last week alone infections rose by 43%. This nonsensical obsession with “my civil rights” is just pathetic.

To an extent yes. But, there have to be reasonable limits to everything. Asking us to mask up outdoors, in areas that are not crowded, and especially while driving a motorbike is just unreasonable, and unscientific. I will not be wearing a mask outdoors anymore, unless I am in a crowded area. Enough. 

[Rimmer]

Some negative emoticons posted on another member posts have been reported and have now been removed.

 

11. You will not stalk other members by using forum posts, private messages, the use of emojis or any other means.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, radiochaser said:

Not me.  I had it back in March of 2020.   It wasn't as bad as the flu I had (decades ago).  Also did not come near as bad as the last case of pneumonia that I had, which nearly killed me when I was in my early 30's!  

I did have a lot of difficulty breathing but, because I have COPD, I used my albuterol inhaler several times a day until I was over it.   

Well it does not sound trivial, and it is difficult to predict how badly one might be impacted. Sounds to me like you should avoid catching it.

[simple1]

10 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Well it does not sound trivial, and it is difficult to predict how badly one might be impacted. Sounds to me like you should avoid catching it.

I have just tested positive for Covid, though I had symptoms for some days prior. Here in Oz one is required to register if testing positive from a RAT Test. I have cancer (high risk with Covid) so the process automatically trigered a response. Bear in mind it's a Sunday, within a few hours I was contacted by a specialist who recommended I consider anti viral drug treatment. The drugs (Paxlovid) provide an 80% effective protection from severe illness / death if undertaken within five days of symptoms if already vaccinated. The team arranged couriering the drugs to my home. 

 

I tell this story as many are obviously unware of the risks associated with Covid for prople around them, with their childish boasts of i'm not going to wear a mask and so on.

[Fairynuff]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

To an extent yes. But, there have to be reasonable limits to everything. Asking us to mask up outdoors, in areas that are not crowded, and especially while driving a motorbike is just unreasonable, and unscientific. I will not be wearing a mask outdoors anymore, unless I am in a crowded area. Enough. 

When the rules change I’ll stop wearing a mask outdoors. When I’m driving in bkk I wear a mask. Outside of bkk only if I’m approaching a checkpoint.

[jacko45k]

10 minutes ago, simple1 said:

I have just tested positive for Covid, though I had symptoms for some days prior.

I hope all goes well for  you.

[Danderman123]

4 hours ago, radiochaser said:

Not me.  I had it back in March of 2020.   It wasn't as bad as the flu I had (decades ago).  Also did not come near as bad as the last case of pneumonia that I had, which nearly killed me when I was in my early 30's!  

I did have a lot of difficulty breathing but, because I have COPD, I used my albuterol inhaler several times a day until I was over it.   

There are lots of people who think they had Covid in early 2020, before Covid tests were widely available.

 

Especially in Pattaya, where the only people who contracted Covid in early 2020 were old Farangs.

[Danderman123]

22 hours ago, RabCNesbitt said:

I too fly in on June 25th....it's been booked for months. Why can't they just drop the Thai Pass now? Why does it have to wait until July 1st? What difference does it make? Bonkers.

Hey, I fly in on the 25th, too.

 

Rather than complain, I will take the necessary 5 minutes to apply for Thailand Pass, and be done with it.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, Fairynuff said:

When the rules change I’ll stop wearing a mask outdoors. When I’m driving in bkk I wear a mask. Outside of bkk only if I’m approaching a checkpoint.

That is a personal decision. I tend to follow rules only when they make sense, when there are facts to back up the assertions, and when they are not onerous, oppressive, and about desperately clinging to power. Not this time. Not by any stretch. Wearing a mask outdoors, at this stage, in uncrowded areas do not meet any of the criteria, especially the using while riding a motorbike part. That one is the most ridiculous of them all.

[Senior Player]

19 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

The UK government was so proud that it dumped all restrictions, obsessed with a little piece of fabric. Last week alone infections rose by 43%. This nonsensical obsession with “my civil rights” is just pathetic.

It's worth pointing out that the 43% rise in infections in the UK is taken from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which is based solely on swabs collected randomly from selected households. This figure is not a reflection of high admissions to intensive care units, which still remain low.

 

The ONS stats reveal that in the week ending 11 June an estimated one in 50 people in the community in England are thought to have had Covid – around 1.13 million people. The figure is even higher, at one in 45, in both Wales and Northern Ireland, while it was highest in Scotland where, in the week ending 10 June, one in 30 people are thought to have been infected.

 

Citing the UK government as a whole is disingenuous as each of the four nations has (or had) an entirely separate approach to combating the virus. If you recall, Scotland and Wales held on to all their strict mandates for much longer than England and they are now seeing a higher rise in infections. 

 

Prof John Edmunds, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it was likely multiple factors were contributing to the rise in infections, including a shift in behaviour towards pre-pandemic life, waning of immunity from vaccines and previous Omicron infections and the rise of BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants. He does not, however, attribute the rise in infections solely down to not wearing a constant "little piece of fabric" covering the face!!

 

Prof Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London does state: “This increase in infection prevalence is likely due to the growth of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, which as we have seen elsewhere in Europe, appear to be able to escape immunity generated from previous Omicron subvariants."

 

He goes on to say: “It is therefore possible that we will continue to see some growth in infection prevalence in the coming weeks and consequently an increase in hospitalisations, although these subvariants do not currently appear to result in any significantly changed severity profile. This does however serve as a reminder that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over.”

 

Now, some might read into the above statements from the Imperial College London and choose to believe that the sky is still falling. Personally, I see a lot to be optimistic about. Sorry to disappoint.

 

You can read the full article in The Guardian, if you feel so inclined. 

Edited June 19, 2022 by Senior Player

[Glassjaw]

1 hour ago, Senior Player said:

It's worth pointing out that the 43% rise in infections in the UK is taken from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which is based solely on swabs collected randomly from selected households. This figure is not a reflection of high admissions to intensive care units, which still remain low.

 

The ONS stats reveal that in the week ending 11 June an estimated one in 50 people in the community in England are thought to have had Covid – around 1.13 million people. The figure is even higher, at one in 45, in both Wales and Northern Ireland, while it was highest in Scotland where, in the week ending 10 June, one in 30 people are thought to have been infected.

 

Citing the UK government as a whole is disingenuous as each of the four nations has (or had) an entirely separate approach to combating the virus. If you recall, Scotland and Wales held on to all their strict mandates for much longer than England and they are now seeing a higher rise in infections. 

 

Prof John Edmunds, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it was likely multiple factors were contributing to the rise in infections, including a shift in behaviour towards pre-pandemic life, waning of immunity from vaccines and previous Omicron infections and the rise of BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants. He does not, however, attribute the rise in infections solely down to not wearing a constant "little piece of fabric" covering the face!!

 

Prof Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London does state: “This increase in infection prevalence is likely due to the growth of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, which as we have seen elsewhere in Europe, appear to be able to escape immunity generated from previous Omicron subvariants."

 

He goes on to say: “It is therefore possible that we will continue to see some growth in infection prevalence in the coming weeks and consequently an increase in hospitalisations, although these subvariants do not currently appear to result in any significantly changed severity profile. This does however serve as a reminder that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over.”

 

Now, some might read into the above statements from the Imperial College London and choose to believe that the sky is still falling. Personally, I see a lot to be optimistic about. Sorry to disappoint.

 

You can read the full article in The Guardian, if you feel so inclined. 

Some people  on this forum still treating omicron as if it was alpha and delta and listing deaths and infections as if it is all relevant. Omicron is here to stay and there will continue to be peaks of infections for a while, but most in Europe don’t care. With vaccinations it’sa head cold for a few days. Masking in crowded places doesn’t hurt at all, as should be your right to do or not do.

[Chelseafan]

On 6/18/2022 at 1:33 AM, nchuckle said:

My friend arrived yesterday using only standard U.K. travel insurance cover. You wasted your money anyway ! ???? 

I have standard insurance but it didn't cover covid so had to purchase this one. 

[Chelseafan]

On 6/18/2022 at 4:13 AM, bluejets said:

Why would you need to.....most include accident and travel insurance in the same policy anyhow.

You do use travel insurance.....????

Yes I have a separate long time policy but it doesn't cover covid hence the need to take this worthless insurance policy out separately 

[JensenZ]

On 6/17/2022 at 3:15 PM, simple1 said:

My wife here in Oz has been infected by Covid for the past two days. I can assure you she's having a nasty experience.

 

Unfortuneately too many people are still rather ignorant of the effects of Covid and consequences of infection.

Pre-covid, over my life time I've had some very nasty colds and flues. One time, back in the early 90's it took me months to recover from one. You people either have short memories, or you've never been sick before covid. Your wife has been sick for 2 days - so what? This is nothing new. Because of that we need to wear masks and get vaccinations and boosters forever. Who are the ignorant ones?

[hottrader77]

On 6/17/2022 at 8:29 AM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

You are a perfect example of why Thailand thinks it needs silly rules.

Only if you think you think it's best to follow silly government rules , masks have been proved by scientists that they don't stop you getting covid so why bother wearing them , what a silly idea it was 

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

That is a personal decision. I tend to follow rules only when they make sense,

To you! Rules are not made based on that perspective.

Considering some of the comments you post that is perhaps not the wisest direction.

Paranoia will cloud that judgement...

No need to wear a mask on a motorcycle....  but have one handy in case stopped by police....

Edited June 19, 2022 by jacko45k

[hotandsticky]

1 hour ago, hottrader77 said:

Only if you think you think it's best to follow silly government rules , masks have been proved by scientists that they don't stop you getting covid so why bother wearing them , what a silly idea it was 

Do you have a WHO reference for that.

 

I generally follow rules, that is the society in which I was brought up in. 

 

I don't necessarily agree with all those rules.

[Joseph98765]

On 6/17/2022 at 1:33 PM, webfact said:

Moreover, the CCSA has also decided to move the legal closing hours for nightlife outlets from midnight to pre-pandemic hours or around 2 AM though the mask mandate is still “recommended” in crowded spaces but is relaxed in open/outdoor spaces.

Except chiang Mai that it was 12am ???

[Joseph98765]

I belive people who fly to Thailand 30 of June after pay the $10.000 insurance and apply to Thai Pass...are not going to be very happy...555555

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, Joseph98765 said:

I belive people who fly to Thailand 30 of June after pay the $10.000 insurance and apply to Thai Pass...are not going to be very happy...555555

Why would they actually care?  And why would they not be happy?  Because they spent 3-4 minutes applying for Thai Pass and spent $18 on some insurance (if they needed to)?    That was the requirement when they booked and that is also the requirement when they arrive.  Why should they even give it two thoughts??

[Danderman123]

7 hours ago, hottrader77 said:

Only if you think you think it's best to follow silly government rules , masks have been proved by scientists that they don't stop you getting covid so why bother wearing them , what a silly idea it was 

After 2 years, you still don't get it. 

 

Masks are very effective in stopping the infected from infecting others. They have some effectiveness in preventing you from being infected. 

[Rimmer]

A flame has been removed

[VBF]

14 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

Yes I have a separate long time policy but it doesn't cover covid hence the need to take this worthless insurance policy out separately 

That is most odd. From your user name, i assume you're a Brit, and all the UK-based travel insurances I've looked at recently include Covid cover.

2 examples from me and a friend: Nationwide and Post Office. Might i suggest that you review your long-time policy because IMO, it lags the times and isn't fit for purpose. Of course you may have valid, private reasons for keeping it so that was just a friendly suggestion.

Obviously if Thailand is abandoning the legal requirement for insurance, it becomes moot, but it's a very useful thing to have as part of one's overall cover.

I find it's good to review one's cover and needs from time to time with all insurances: travel, home, motor.

Edited June 20, 2022 by VBF

[Chelseafan]

30 minutes ago, VBF said:

That is most odd. From your user name, i assume you're a Brit, and all the UK-based travel insurances I've looked at recently include Covid cover.

2 examples from me and a friend: Nationwide and Post Office. Might i suggest that you review your long-time policy because IMO, it lags the times and isn't fit for purpose. Of course you may have valid, private reasons for keeping it so that was just a friendly suggestion.

Obviously if Thailand is abandoning the legal requirement for insurance, it becomes moot, but it's a very useful thing to have as part of one's overall cover.

I find it's good to review one's cover and needs from time to time with all insurances: travel, home, motor.

Its a work policy. Hasn't been updated for years

[transam]

9 hours ago, hottrader77 said:

Only if you think you think it's best to follow silly government rules , masks have been proved by scientists that they don't stop you getting covid so why bother wearing them , what a silly idea it was 

Please post credible links from your scientists....????

PS. Not Fred down the pub..

Edited June 20, 2022 by transam

[VBF]

2 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

Its a work policy. Hasn't been updated for years

Oh well at least it's free (presumably?) so if you need extra cover, that's all you need to pay.

If it was me, I might suggest to the company that they are not getting VFM. But you may not wish to risk losing it entirely and as i don't know your circumstances that may not be appropriate.

[James105]

2 hours ago, transam said:

Please post credible links from your scientists....????

PS. Not Fred down the pub..

https://www.city-journal.org/the-failed-covid-policy-of-mask-mandates