COVID-19 cases will probably rise after Songkran festival

[DavisH]

7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Bet there will be a mask mandate to visit polling stations.

I am so fed up seeing even small children masked up in parking lots of the malls. 

Yet they go straight into a packed restaurant and they are straight off with the masks????

[transam]

Just now, dinsdale said:

Indeed my mistake. That was @TallGuyJohninBKK. As for wearing a mask that's up to you of course. If you haven't been exposed to Omicron good luck to you. You would be one of a small number globally I would think. Again though it is important to remember that Covid can be asymptomatic so you wouldn't know if you've been exposed. If you have been exposed then you will have a level of natural immunity.

As for being a doctor read this to see what the health system in the US is doing in regards to mask mandates.

"Several health systems across Vermont, New Mexico, Minnesota, Virginia, Oregon, Utah and Michigan are the latest to announce reversal of masking policies, joining dozens of other hospitals and systems nationwide."

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/infection-control/more-hospitals-health-systems-begin-to-walk-back-mask-mandates.html

I have read all I want to read about C19 over the last couple of years. Which is perhaps why I have been lucky, just following a few simple things, oh, and Mrs.T hasn't had it either, she follows my lead...????

 

If you don't want to follow a few simple things, that's up to you, but please don't tell folk they shouldn't follow the few simple things, as it seems you are not a doctor, just quote what fits your agenda.????

 

 

[transam]

1 minute ago, DavisH said:

Yet they go straight into a packed restaurant and they are straight off with the masks????

.....and on wiv their phones..............????

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

As you note, most passengers on BTS these days are following the BTS and MoPH's guidance to wear face masks when traveling on the system... I'd agree, probably 90% as you said are still wearing masks...  And the few that aren't typically appear to be western tourists, by and large.

 

Protect yourself and protect those around you... mask up when in close indoor quarters with others, which is exactly what being on a crowded BTS train is.

 

 

I assume you never eat in restaurants then. 

 

 

[dinsdale]

4 minutes ago, transam said:

I have read all I want to read about C19 over the last couple of years. Which is perhaps why I have been lucky, just following a few simple things, oh, and Mrs.T hasn't had it either, she follows my lead...????

 

If you don't want to follow a few simple things, that's up to you, but please don't tell folk they shouldn't follow the few simple things, as it seems you are not a doctor, just quote what fits your agenda.????

 

 

As I say it's up to you but it won't be long until masks come off here. As for quoting what suits my agenda I think if hospitals are saying it's ok not to wear masks in hospitals (above link) then that's hard to argue against.

[transam]

1 minute ago, DavisH said:

I assume you never eat in restaurants then. 

 

 

Restaurants are a place where folk will take the risk, masks are just a precaution...????

[3NUMBAS]

new strain doing the rounds in uk

[transam]

Just now, dinsdale said:

As I say it's up to you but it won't be long until masks come off here. As for quoting what suits my agenda I think if hospitals are saying it's ok not to wear masks in hospitals (above link) then that's hard to argue against.

I would most definitely wear a mask in a hospital, a place where illnesses go to get sorted.....????

Covid is still alive and well, the regular daily numbers tell you it is....????

[Jack1988]

Stop with this circus

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, 3NUMBAS said:

new strain doing the rounds in uk

As long as it's an Omicron strain which I will assume it is then it's no problem. More than likely less severe and a bit more infectious. No need for jabs or masks. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

7 minutes ago, DavisH said:

I assume you never eat in restaurants then.

 

Primarily home delivery since COVID, though we'll rarely eat out if we can find a setting that's low risk.

 

 

[transam]

Just now, dinsdale said:

As long as it's an Omicron strain which I will assume it is then it's no problem. More than likely less severe and a bit more infectious. No need for jabs or masks. 

You are now posting misinformation...............

[bkk6060]

I am in Macau.  Much much less people wearing masks here compared to Thailand.   Large groups of Mainlsnd Chinese getting off busses no masks.  Casinos jammed many no mask.

I agree Thailand has an obsession with continuing this.  People walking on the beach or driving in cars with masks seems senseless. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

12 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

As long as it's an Omicron strain which I will assume it is then it's no problem. More than likely less severe and a bit more infectious. No need for jabs or masks. 

People still die from and end up being hospitalized by Omicron, where pneumonia still occurs (as with the Thai MoPH episodes of intubation cited above) and can still be fatal even during Omicron.

 

Mothers passed COVID to babies through placenta, possibly causing brain damage, death

...

"This is the first study to show the transmission of COVID through the placenta resulting in brain damage in infants, the press release said.

...

Although both babies tested negative for the COVID-19 virus at birth, they experienced "seizures, small head sizes and developmental delays," the press release said.

 

One of the babies died suddenly at 13 months old."

 

https://www.foxnews.com/health/mothers-passed-covid-babies-placenta-possibly-causing-brain-damage-death

 

AND

 

From a study involving a South Korean hospital:

 

Comparison of the causes of death associated with delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants infection

 

"During the Omicron-dominant period, 42 (6%) of 654 patients with COVID-19 were admitted died (Supplemental Figure 1). The primary cause of death was COVID-19–associated pneumonia in both the Omicron (64%, 27/42) and Delta (88%, 37/42) eras."

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9710103/

 

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[3NUMBAS]

Arcturus: New Covid variant sweeping India shows unique symptom in children

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

People still die from and end up being hospitalized by Omicron, where pneumonia still occurs (as with the Thai MoPH episodes of intubation cited above) and can still be fatal even during Omicron.

 

[snipped].

IF Covid never existed... Would you have the same level of concern for other viruses, diseases and risk factors ??? 

 

15 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Primarily home delivery since COVID, though we'll rarely eat out if we can find a setting that's low risk.

Do you not consider the risk of influenza, Dengue, Measles... even the elevated risk of an indecent on the road vs home delivery ?

 

My point in questioning you with this is ‘where is the line drawn’ ???... at which point would you consider the risk of Covid in its current guise no more risky or concerning than other risk factors which surround us ???

 

 

[richard_smith237]

I have no agenda here... I’m happy to take Covid-19 vaccines, I have also recently taken the influenza vaccine as I consider that to be a greater risk due to our divergence from influenza’s antigenic drift while we isolated (i.e. we missed an interval of evolving with Influenza). 

 

BUT...  I also no longer consider Covid-19 the same concern I had a couple of years ago, at least until another Variant of Concern (or worse, variant of high consequence) emerges. 

 

I do wonder of those who still have serious concerns about Covid-19 and take high levels of precautions but show no concern for other risk factors....  

 

Has the media and information made us more worried than we should be?... 

 

I’m personally more concerned about contracting Dengue etc... 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Pink Mist
A removed post replied to has been edited

[transam]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

I have no agenda here... I’m happy to take Covid-19 vaccines, I have also recently taken the influenza vaccine as I consider that to be a greater risk due to our divergence from influenza’s antigenic drift while we isolated (i.e. we missed an interval of evolving with Influenza). 

 

BUT...  I also no longer consider Covid-19 the same concern I had a couple of years ago, at least until another Variant of Concern (or worse, variant of high consequence) emerges. 

 

I do wonder of those who still have serious concerns about Covid-19 and take high levels of precautions but show no concern for other risk factors....  

 

Has the media and information made us more worried than we should be?... 

 

I’m personally more concerned about contracting Dengue etc... 

Us humans are fragile things, there will always be something lurking to attack us, but C19 shut the world down, so that is a concern for this ageing farangy.....????

Think I had Dengue about 4 years back, that was extremely worrying, but I am still here, which I am sure you are all pleased about...???? 

[dinsdale]

Sure it's still around. It's still all over the world but it's Omicron. It's not severe. If everyone in Thailand was tested today the number of positives would be absolutely massive. It doesn't matter. As for the official numbers going up here my guess is that there would be a direct correlation between people being admitted into hospital with lung problems due to air quality but just so happens they have covid. The pandemic is over. Simple as that. It is now endemic and it's Omicron. You're right I'm not a doctor but  I advise my family. Yes I'm not a doctor but I can read and see what is happening around the world. Yes I'm not a doctor but if masks mandates are being reversed around the world (of course many countries dropped mask madates a long time ago) why would I say to someone you need to wear a mask. If vaccines are no longer being reccomended why would I tell someone to be vaccinated/boosted. It's simply a matter of keeping up with reality. Reality is it's Omicron and Omicron is not severe. This is an undisputable fact that a doctor will tell you. As for masks if the medical community says they are no longer needed then if I'm a doctor or not what does that matter. Doctors are saying masks are no longer needed. It's just not being said here. 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Pink Mist
A removed post replied to has been edited

[transam]

Just now, dinsdale said:

Sure it's still around. It's still all over the world but it's Omicron. It's not severe. If everyone in Thailand was tested today the number of positives would be absolutely massive. It doesn't matter. As for the official numbers going up here my guess is that there would be a direct correlation between people being admitted into hospital with lung problems due to air quality but just so happens they have covid. The pandemic is over. Simple as that. It is now endemic and it's Omicron. You're right I'm not a doctor but  I advise my family. Yes I'm not a doctor but I can read and see what is happening around the world. Yes I'm not a doctor but if masks mandates are being reversed around the world (of course many countries dropped mask madates a long time ago) why would I say to someone you need to wear a mask. If vaccines are no longer being reccomended why would I tell someone to be vaccinated/boosted. It's simply a matter of keeping up with reality. Reality is it's Omicron and Omicron is not severe. This is an undisputable fact that a doctor will tell you. As for masks if the medical community says they are no longer needed then if I'm a doctor or not what does that matter. Doctors are saying masks are no longer needed. It's just not being said here. 

You are wasting my time.....................

[spidermike007]

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I believe it is not mandatory to wear masks on the BTS etc. As for being polite why would it be impolite not to wear a mask? It's more percieved peer group pressure. Is it impolite to walk into 711 without a mask? Is it impolite to walk down the street without a mask? Is it impolite to walk into Lotus'ssssssss without a mask? More and more Thais are taking their (absolutely ineffective) masks off. It's time for everyone to DUMP THE MASKS.

 

"Out of the recent cases, Dr Thares reported 30 patients as suffering from lung infections and 19 requiring a respirator, representing increases of 58% and 36% respectively from the preceding week."

 

As for this, this is complete nonsense. Omicron does not infect the gas exchange organs otherwise known of as lungs. They may very well of had Omicron (might not have even known they did) but their lung infections are more than likely due to the atrocious air quality.

I am in Bangkok now, and was on the BTS today. I would estimate about 85 to 90% of Thais are still masked up on the BTS, and at least 80% on the streets. Only 10% or so, of the foreigners are wearing masks. I let covid go a long time ago. 62 cases a day nationwide is not a health emergency, and the numbers continue to drop. Don't believe this alarmist nonsense. Covid is basically gone. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

My point in questioning you with this is ‘where is the line drawn’ ???... at which point would you consider the risk of Covid in its current guise no more risky or concerning than other risk factors which surround us ???

 

re your various points...

 

--I don't drive a car or motorcycle in Thailand because of the health/safety risks.

 

--I do my best to avoid and prevent mosquito environments since no one should want to come down with dengue.

 

--Perhaps because in part I regularly wear an N95 mask when around others, I haven't had any viral infections in the past several years.

 

I try to be consistent and thoughtful in what I do.

 

 

 

[transam]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

I am in Bangkok now, and was on the BTS today. I would estimate about 85 to 90% of Thais are still masked up on the BTS, and at least 80% on the streets. Only 10% or so, of the foreigners are wearing masks. I let covid go a long time ago. 62 cases a day nationwide is not a health emergency, and the numbers continue to drop. Don't believe this alarmist nonsense. Covid is basically gone. 

Is that because you never caught it...?

[zzaa09]

41 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

new strain doing the rounds in uk

There are a few mutated strains making their rounds everywhere. 

Conveniently suspicious that we don't hear about these things. 

 

Wonder why that is? 

????????

[spidermike007]

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Sure it's still around. It's still all over the world but it's Omicron. It's not severe. If everyone in Thailand was tested today the number of positives would be absolutely massive. It doesn't matter. As for the official numbers going up here my guess is that there would be a direct correlation between people being admitted into hospital with lung problems due to air quality but just so happens they have covid. The pandemic is over. Simple as that. It is now endemic and it's Omicron. You're right I'm not a doctor but  I advise my family. Yes I'm not a doctor but I can read and see what is happening around the world. Yes I'm not a doctor but if masks mandates are being reversed around the world (of course many countries dropped mask madates a long time ago) why would I say to someone you need to wear a mask. If vaccines are no longer being reccomended why would I tell someone to be vaccinated/boosted. It's simply a matter of keeping up with reality. Reality is it's Omicron and Omicron is not severe. This is an undisputable fact that a doctor will tell you. As for masks if the medical community says they are no longer needed then if I'm a doctor or not what does that matter. Doctors are saying masks are no longer needed. It's just not being said here. 

False. The number of infected would be tiny. Covid has waned. It is a nothing burger now. Stop spreading disinformation, and stop the panic. 

 

What you are right about is how benign and weak Omicron is, and how masks are not needed anymore.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

numbers continue to drop. Don't believe this alarmist nonsense. Covid is basically gone. 

The Thailand numbers aren't continuing to drop. As the prior news reports in this thread show, COVID hospitalizations increased about 250% from two weeks prior to this past week.

 

You keep saying Covid "is basically gone," but never put forth any sourced facts to support your false claims.

 

[spidermike007]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Is that because you never caught it...?

I caught it. I have had colds and flus that were far worse. Omi is a big nothing. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, zzaa09 said:

There are a few mutated strains making their rounds everywhere. 

Conveniently suspicious that we don't hear about these things. 

Actually you would hear plenty about them, if you bothered to keep yourself informed and up-to-date on COVID developments in the news.

 

[transam]

Just now, spidermike007 said:

I caught it. I have had colds and flus that were far worse. Omi is a big nothing. 

So you didn't die, but millions have...........

You sound like an "I'm alright Jack" because you had the sniffles with C19, when millions are dead......

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

False. The number of infected would be tiny. Covid has waned. It is a nothing burger now. Stop spreading disinformation, and stop the panic. 

 

What you are right about is how benign and weak Omicron is, and how masks are not needed anymore.

 

190 people per day are dying of COVID on average each and every day in the U.S., per the U.S. CDC. Thailand COVID new hospitalizations are running 60+ per day.

 

We can't talk about actual Thailand COVID cases, because the government doesn't publicly count and report them anymore.

 

And all the major public health agencies -- for our purposes here, WHO, CDC and Thai MoPH, continue to recommend mask wearing to help prevent COVID.

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by TallGuyJohninBKK