COVID 19 Related to THAILAND Posts

[lazarus]

A look at what happened in Bangkok and why Thailand is now fighting Covid after seemingly beating it off.

After Lavish Nights of Clubbing in Bangkok, a Covid Outbreak
Thailand went for months without a single confirmed case of local transmission, but the epidemic has now radiated from nightclubs to areas where social distancing is all but impossible.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/05/world/asia/thailand-covid-clubs.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=World News

BANGKOK — When the V.V.I.P. customers disembarked from their limousines at the Krystal Exclusive Club in Bangkok, young women in tiaras, angel wings and not much else sometimes greeted them.

The V.V.I.P. clientele were whisked to the V.V.I.P. rooms, with their padded walls and plush sofas. Thai government bigwigs partied at Krystal — one of its mottos is “the luxury entertainment of night light” — as did diplomats, army officers and businessmen. For much of the pandemic, coronavirus restrictions did not stop the fun.

But this spring, as go-go dancers shimmied, Krystal and another neighborhood nightclub, Emerald, turned into the epicenter of what is now Thailand’s biggest and deadliest coronavirus surge, according to health ministry officials. Scores of people linked to the clubs have tested positive, including an ambassador and a government minister. (The minister’s staff said that he was infected by an aide who frequented Krystal.) Police officers and women who worked at the clubs have been infected, too.

For all the mask-wearing rigor and lockdown obedience displayed by many Thais, the abandon of a privileged few catalyzed Bangkok’s latest coronavirus outbreak, health officials said. The nightclub cluster also highlights the impunity of the rich in a country with one of the largest wealth gaps among major economies...

... “In Thai culture, we can smile and lie at the same time,” said Chuwit Kamolvisit, an anticorruption campaigner and former member of Parliament. “Maybe to survive in politics, that is OK. But when it’s Covid, this is too dangerous.”

Before he ventured into politics, Mr. Chuwit made his fortune through a collection of massage parlors in Bangkok with names like Victoria’s Secret. He said his business was greased by bribes to the police.

“Krystal is like another Government House, because it’s so popular with those people,” Mr. Chuwit said, referring to the Italianate building that holds the offices of the prime minister and the cabinet...

[Whitespider]

I think its worth highlighting the VIP Clubs and illegal gambling dens etc......... however

Laying blame at their door entirely is a bit silly for the simple reason that whoever the initial carrier was he/she would almost certainly have gone somewhere else crowded at some point.

My (entirely) personal view is its silly to differentiate between the type of venue - for example

Factories are packed solid every day
Wet markets and markets in general are jammed solid every day
Construction and factory accommodation/dorms are packed solid every night

Most small restaurants have 3/4 customers only at any given time.

As is so often the case it seems to be the powers that be will blame whoever they see fit, as scapegoats, but leave their mates alone.

[Toy Boy]

Now that the beaches here in Pattaya and other parts of Chonburi are open again there's a lot of bored Bangkokians down for the weekend wanting to get away from the dark red zone restrictions. We can probably expect another significant outbreak to erupt in Chonburi again in the coming weeks, especially if they relax restrictions further. Schools reopening in just over a week's time won't help matters either. The authorities seem to have no coordinated means of controlling the virus, it appears to be mostly based on wishful thinking and a studied avoidance of the facts.

[lazarus]

1 minute ago, Toy Boy said:

Now that the beaches here in Pattaya and other parts of Chonburi are open again there's a lot of bored Bangkokians down for the weekend wanting to get away from the dark red zone restrictions. We can probably expect another significant outbreak to erupt in Chonburi again in the coming weeks, especially if they relax restrictions further. Schools reopening in just over a week's time won't help matters either. The authorities seem to have no coordinated means of controlling the virus, it appears to be mostly based on wishful thinking and a studied avoidance of the facts.

It will just keep going around, again and again, until a significant portion of the population is either infected and recover (hopefully), and/or are fully vaccinated.

That's what happened with Covid in the US, and they're not sure if they are completely out of the woods yet.

[Jambo]

On 6/5/2021 at 3:05 PM, Horizondave said:

Labour is not your friend....

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-thailand-vietnam-border-amber-list-b1860009.html

That link tipped me from reasonably optimistic to a complete nervous wreck.

Had a devil of a job getting through to a KLM call center on Saturday but finally spoke to an extremely helpfull lady in their Service center somewhere in the UK. I now fly on Wednesday of this week.

All I have to do now is get through my Covid test today.

Don't feel like breakfast.

Lost my appetite! 😬

[Phantom51red]

4 hours ago, Jambo said:

That link tipped me from reasonably optimistic to a complete nervous wreck.

Had a devil of a job getting through to a KLM call center on Saturday but finally spoke to an extremely helpfull lady in their Service center somewhere in the UK. I now fly on Wednesday of this week.

All I have to do now is get through my Covid test today.

Don't feel like breakfast.

Lost my appetite! 😬

Good to hear you are finally getting back to see your family,after emirates cancelled my flight 2nd june,today they told me they start flying to heathrow and manchester next week,but im thinking ill book also with klm,let us know how the journey goes and best of luck with the dreaded test.

[Jambo]

4 hours ago, Phantom51red said:

Good to hear you are finally getting back to see your family,after emirates cancelled my flight 2nd june,today they told me they start flying to heathrow and manchester next week,but im thinking ill book also with klm,let us know how the journey goes and best of luck with the dreaded test.

Thank you.

I have changed my flight twice and I must say both KLM call centers I dealt with were excellent. I thought they might charge me the second time but no problem.

You cannot book Emirates because then you transit in Dubai (red list)  which means full quarantine when you reach the UK. That is what I am rushing to avoid as Thailand must be on the brink of going red.

A bit chaotic at Memorial Hospital today. I think they may be a little under staffed.

Result 6pm tomorrow. 😬

[Krapow]

From the BBC -

Thailand ramps up vaccination efforts

Jonathan Head

BBC South East Asia Correspondent

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Thailand's vaccination campaign is getting under wayImage caption: Thailand's vaccination campaign is getting under way

After months of confusion and public anxiety, the Thai government is hoping its vaccine programme will get off to a flying start this month.

So far only about 2% of the population has been fully vaccinated. The government was slow to start, because until the beginning of this year it had planned to rely solely on supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine which are being made locally, by a small company owned by King Vajiralongkorn, which has never made a vaccine before.

Those supplies only began arriving this month. Last year, Thailand went for several months with almost no local infections; that success made acquiring vaccines seem less of a priority.

But in the past two months, the country has seen up to 4,000 new cases a day, and its intensive care units are near capacity.

This year, the government has rushed to order alternative vaccines, but finds itself competing with dozens of other countries.

It hopes to administer nearly seven million doses this month, and 100,000,000 by the end of the year, so that its borders can be reopened to foreign tourists, whose absence has had a ruinous impact on the economy.

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[Krapow]

And again -

As we reported earlier, Thailand is starting the mass vaccination of its population, in an attempt to curb a recent third wave of Covid-19.

People queuing to get their shots at a centre in the capital, Bangkok, say life will be easier being vaccinated.

"I didn't expect anything much. I think we should get vaccinated anyway because of safety first; we can then build an immune system as well as reduce the chances of contracting or spreading the disease. It's better than not getting vaccinated," Chayapol Attamachamruen tells Reuters news agency.

"My feeling is that, no matter what, we will need to go outside home for the littlest things, so getting the vaccine gives us a sense of relief," Praepawee Lertpongkijja says.

Another woman says it will take a load off her mind: "I'm so happy and it's a relief because I will be less at risk [of catching the disease]," Kanyaporn Ungkatsuwan says.

[lazarus]

Porn stars first!

[lazarus]

J&J, Pfizer, Sinovac..?

25 million, 8 million, 20 million, 5 million...???

Wonder what it will actually be. Or, will it be Sputnik?

https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/photos/a.536140676404869/4395385483813683

Edited June 7, 2021 by lazarus
tech glitch.

[biggles]

Left hand/Right hand syndrome is alive and well in Thailand. 

[Pumpuynarak]

13 minutes ago, biggles said:

Left hand/Right hand syndrome is alive and well in Thailand. 

Or maybe Touretts lol

[fygjam]

5 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Or maybe Touretts lol

Fuk yeah you arseholes!

 

[lazarus]

Predictable.

FOREIGNERS VACCINE REGISTRATION KICKS OFF WITH CHAOS AND CONFUSION

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2021/06/08/foreigners-vaccine-registration-kicks-off-with-chaos-and-confusion/?fbclid=IwAR1Bp_vvarXJ5Gf-01WEZrhhp6fBB8gkf6oEQ5W_1ZOM0kcLpBzkzZgP7hQ

BANGKOK — An agency tasked with giving centralized information on the COVID-19 pandemic sowed more public confusion on Monday as it contradicted itself on how foreign nationals can sign up for inoculations.

The government’s pandemic response center had previously announced that foreigners would have to come to designated hospitals to get their queue for the free vaccinations, but the center’s spokesman said Monday they are now required to make the appointment online instead.

“No walk-ins will be available,” Natapanu Nopakun, spokesman of the government’s COVID-19 Situation Administration, said during Monday’s news briefing. “You have to register on this website first for all vaccination venues [listed] on this website. We advised you to register two weeks in advance of your intended vaccination date.” ...

[fforest]

Thai Cabinet does not give final approval to Phuket Sandbox yet

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/06/08/thai-cabinet-does-not-give-final-approval-to-phuket-sandbox-yet-asks-for-relevant-agencies-to-make-some-improvements/

[lazarus]

...

Edited June 8, 2021 by lazarus

[KWA]

On 6/7/2021 at 6:31 AM, Phantom51red said:

Good to hear you are finally getting back to see your family,after emirates cancelled my flight 2nd june,today they told me they start flying to heathrow and manchester next week  . . . .

Are you sure?  There were no quarantine hotels originally near Manchester and flights were restricted to London (Heathrow, Gatwick, City and Farnborough), Birmingham and Bristol in England.

Edited June 8, 2021 by KWA

[Krapow]

On 6/7/2021 at 4:08 PM, lazarus said:

Porn stars first!

Actually think i prefer the nurse.

[Pumpuynarak]

4 hours ago, Krapow said:

Actually think i prefer the nurse.

Or both lol

[fforest]

[Proffesor]

F.W.I.W I took myself along to Pattaya International Hospital this lunchtime, breezed up to Reception and said "Covid Vaccine, please", whilst presenting my Passport, WorkPermit and Yellow Address Book.

The Receptionist reached for a NoteBook and entered my name and contact details and told me that if would be after June and they would only have Sinovac.

So, I believe I'm registered. Now have to wait and see if I get contacted.

[Bazle]

6 hours ago, Proffesor said:

The Receptionist reached for a NoteBook and entered my name and contact details and told me that if would be after June and they would only have Sinovac.

https://theglobalherald.com/news/china-on-alert-amid-new-covid-outbreak-in-south/

Chinese health officials are on high alert amid an outbreak of new COVID-19 cases in its southern Guangdong province.

Strict travel restrictions have been imposed as mass testing is being ramped up.

But many patients there have already received at least one dose of China’s COVID-19 vaccine, raising questions about their efficacy.

 

https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n969

China may need to replace its coronavirus vaccines or change the way they are administered in order to make them sufficiently effective against the SARS-Cov2 virus, the head of China’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said this weekend.

[Toy Boy]

If you've got nothing better to do, you can always try this crock o' shite...

https://thailandintervac.com/

I made a booking yesterday, Phyatai2 hospital between 2:00 and 3:00 on June 24 for the AZ vaccine. All seemed great until the final click of the mouse, then the site informed me that my booking was unsuccessful as they'd run out of the AZ vaccine. They really ought to have one of those canned laughter sound clips playing when that notice comes up.

[lazarus]

Wonder what Spicey would say...