Thai govt needs to keep a close eye on rising Covid cases

[webfact]

File photo: Exhausted hospital staff in Vietnam

 

by Michael Bridge

 

With foreign arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport having surged in the past few days, how does the Thai government balance attracting more tourists while Covid cases are rising again?
 
According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul, the airport last Friday welcomed as many as 140 flights and 27,642 passengers. 

 

It recorded 134 flights with 27,147 passengers on board on Saturday and 150 flights with 28,910 passengers on Sunday.
 
The figures represent an increase from the previous month, which saw an average of 130 daily landings carrying between 23,000 and 24,000 passengers.

 

Many more full flights are expected in the coming weeks.

 

At last, the beleaguered hospitality industry can see light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Meanwhile, just when we all thought the pandemic was over and we could go around our business without wearing masks, Covid cases have risen again.

 

The country registered 22 more Covid-19 fatalities and 2,428 new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Wednesday morning.

Thailand is not alone as many SE Asian countries also reported a surge in cases.

Singapore reported 12,784 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday (Jul 5), comprising 12,248 local infections and 536 imported cases. 
 
According to local media, the last time Singapore reported more daily cases than this was on Mar 22 this year, when 13,166 infections were logged.

 

Malaysia had 2,536 cases on July 3 while Vietnam has reported that five infections per 1,000 people were recorded in the last 7 days.

Many are concerned that their health systems will not be able to cope if cases start to rise.

Over 9,000 health workers have quit their jobs across Vietnam due to low pay and stress. 

Perhaps now governments should pour more funs into giving these vital health workers a fair wage.

New proposals

 

Now Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health proposes COVID-19 patients be quarantined for only five days, according to the Department of Disease Control.
 
Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the department, said the ministry would propose the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reduce the quarantine from seven to five days.
 
After the first five days, COVID-19 patients should be able to go out but would be monitoring their health on the five following days, Dr Opas said.

 

Dr Opas said that new COVID-19 cases rose over the past week because there were parties and BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants were highly transmissible.

Up to us

After three years of having to deal with various Covid variants, most of us have either had a form of the virus ourselves or have known people who have had it here in Thailand.

Of course, it is a concern that it seems the virus in many forms has returned, but many are now vaccinated and can get boosters if required, so surely it is up to the individual to make their own precautions.

Let’s hope the government does not panic and start to ramp up regulations again.

Certainly, the thousands of tourists arriving want to enjoy the land of the smiles too.

And remember they have been used to coping with Covid back home too.

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-07

 

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[KCPhuket]

No they don't.

[ifmu]

12 minutes ago, KCPhuket said:

No they don't.

Yes they do 

[thailand49]

Living with covid means since day one get your house in order to deal with it. 

Facilities, equipment, medication,  Stop looking for blame at the airport your problem is look in the mirror your own borders has been the problem and will continue to be the problem. 

[arithai12]

Would it be too much to ask that pieces written by Michael Bridge are published with this name, and not as "webfact" ?

 

Just so that we know what to expect.

Thanks.

[Tropicalevo]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

and 2,428 new cases during the previous 24 hours,

And the previous two days it was dropping to below 2,000 cases.

Hype to induce panic amongst the population?

 

[Harry Black]

54 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

Would it be too much to ask that pieces written by Michael Bridge are published with this name, and not as "webfact" ?

 

Just so that we know what to expect.

Thanks.

Agreed, it would save time in the morning just scrolling past it.

[Johnnyngai]

Charge the tourists 300usd/day for covid hospital stay,

and use the earned $$ for treatment of ordinary Thais. 

Edited July 7, 2022 by Johnnyngai

[RandiRona]

Actual covid cases should be 5 times than the published and it means nothing, only hospitalization matters and it should be monitored closely along with oxygen and ICU beds. Covid is not a threat as it used to be so stop scaremongering.

[Burma Bill]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is not alone as many SE Asian countries also reported a surge in cases

and Cambodia is no exception, but the Government's current policy here is (for reference 7 July 2022):

 

"Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday, “Those who worry that the government would close a school or a factory, or even the entire country should know such steps are completely unwanted now.”

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501108012/hun-sen-rules-out-resumption-of-strict-covid-measures/

[Caspersfriend]

3 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Covid is not a threat as it used to be so stop scaremongering.

 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, just when we all thought the pandemic was over and we could go around our business without wearing masks, Covid cases have risen again.

Mostly domestic cases one would surmise, nothing to do with international arrivals.?

[RandiRona]

30 minutes ago, Caspersfriend said:

 

And your point being?

[vinci]

FDA just approve and allow pharmacist to prescribe the covid pill call Paxlovid, must be taken within 5 days after symptoms begin

Edited July 7, 2022 by vinci

[pepi2005]

I have heard about 50 Covid stories in my personal surroundings during the last approx. 1.5 years.

 

In terms of INFECTION, no significant difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated, although subjectively, I would say that the # of vaccinated catching the virus has been rising during the last few months.

 

There was 1 person I know who died *from* Covid since 2020 - 78 years old and heavily overweight, Diabetes patient. Unvaccinated only 1 more severe case, had to stay in bed for about 2 weeks and felt like <deleted>. No hospitalizations (except for the died one). Vaccinated severe cases about 1/3 of all.

 

Mentioned side effects attributable to the shots: unvaccinated 0 (lol).

Vaccinated: 4, 1 of them is permanently disabled now (caught myocarditis), can't work anymore. A student was unable to attend school for over a year and has to undergo physiotherapy and psychotherapy (social issues) now.

 

My conclusion: the vaccine doesn't only NOT protect from catching infections at all, but also give people more severe symptoms. On top of that, a risk of serious side-effects.

 

I hope the Thai government really goes with SCIENCE and gives up on the ridiculous restrictions finally, which have been proven to not only be useless, but even counter-productive. PEOPLE CAN GET SICK. It's part of life. At least _these_ 'vaccines' don't help, but have serious risks. STOP the hysteria already. Please.