Toy Boy Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 2 hours ago, forcebwithu said: Some good news... Govt mulls easing virus curbs The Public Health Ministry will propose easing Covid-19 curbs in light of the diminishing threat posed by the virus's Omicron variant. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that even though new daily cases linked with Omicron have increased since New Year, the number of people with severe symptoms on ventilators or in intensive care units is still low. Also, the daily fatalities have not exceeded 20 for a while, he said. "This is a reason to be confident, for even though Omicron is highly transmissible it is still less severe than the Delta variant," Mr Anutin said. "In light of the positive trend, the Public Health Ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to ease as many containment measures as possible quickly. But if there are still threats to public health, the ministry will also propose measures for the public's safety," Mr Anutin said. ... Does anyone else feel that they may be a bit premature here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forcebwithu Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 3 minutes ago, Toy Boy said: Does anyone else feel that they may be a bit premature here? Given how mild the symptoms are, there isn't a good justification for the current level of restrictions. Let the virus run its course like we've done in the past for the cold and flu season. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizondave Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Something I learned to day was that my wife's nieces and nephews haven't attended school for over a year due to the pandemic. I was quite shocked by that news. I do know a friend whose kids were in an international school and were not even getting lessons online or any work to do at home, he has now brought his kids to the UK to continue their education. Very sad and wondering if anybody here has kids in Thailand affected by this closure in either a Thai school or an international one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) An Update of Covid Cases in Pattaya City and the immediate close Sub Districts of Nong Prue, Naklua & Huai Yai, ie the Pattaya Area during the current restrictions to 16 December 2022 - Numbers have been volatile but are currently well off their Peaks. Case numbers for the Pattaya Area dominate Banglamung District and Chon Buri Province - The Data - The Chart - Edited January 17, 2022 by Zeb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forcebwithu Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) Thanks @Zeb for charting the data. Today's data point shows another significant drop in new infection numbers. Edited to add: Numbers for Thailand continue to drop too. 6,929 new Covid cases, 13 more deaths Edited January 17, 2022 by forcebwithu 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fygjam Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 On 1/13/2022 at 10:36 AM, forcebwithu said: Several weeks ago I came down with symptoms of a particularly bad cold that has lingered for several weeks. Just to make sure it wasn't Covid I did several LFT's which all came back negative. But given how long the symptoms lasted I got to wondering how effective LFT's are at detecting the latest Omicron variant. Turns out others are wondering the same. Lateral flow tests are being examined by researchers amid Omicron detection concerns Lateral flow tests may FAIL to spot Omicron when people are most infectious, study warns These are the RATs approved by the Oz TGA (sorta like the FDA). Unfortunately a list of the tests submitted and rejected isn't available. The following COVID-19 self-tests have been approved by the TGA for supply in Australia. The following kits have been given a “very high sensitivity” label: (95% accuracy compared to PCR) All Test SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Nasal Swab) (ICOV-502H) Self-Test – Nasal swab Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd (China) LYHER Novel coronavirus (Covid-19) Antigen Test Kit (Colloidal Gold) Self-Test – Nasal swab Hangzhou Laihe Biotech Co Ltd (China) Onsite COVID-19 Ag Self Test – Nasal swab CTK Biotech Inc (USA) Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test – Nasal swab Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Jena GmbH (Germany) Rapid SARS-COV-2 Antigen Test Card Self-test – Nasal swab MP Biomedicals Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Singapore) V-Chek COVID-19 Antigen Saliva Test – Saliva Guangzhou Decheng Biotechnology Co Ltd (China) The following have been given the “high sensitivity” label: (90% accuracy compared to PCR) All Test COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid) Self-Test (ICOV-802H) – Oral fluid Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd (China) Hough COVID-19 Home Test – Nasal swab BIOHIT HealthCare (Hefei) Co Ltd (China) JusChek SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Nasal Swab) INCP-502H Self Test – Nasal swab Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd JusChek COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid) ICOV-802H Self Test – Oral fluid Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd My Covid Test Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid) (ICOV-802H) Self-Test – Oral fluid Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd China Orawell COVID-19 Ag Rapid saliva test device (Self-test) – Saliva Jiangsu Well Biotech Co Ltd (China) RightSign COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Cassette (Nasal Swab) – Nasal swab Hangzhou Biotest Biotech Co Ltd (China) TESTSEALABS COVID-19 Antigen Test Cassette – Nasal swab Hangzhou Testsea Biotechnology Co Ltd (China) These have been labelled “acceptable sensitivity”: (80% accuracy compared to PCR) CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test – Nasal swab Access Bio Inc (United States of America) Ecotest COVID-19 Antigen Saliva Test kit (COV-S35Pen) – Saliva Assure Tech (Hangzhou) Co Ltd (China) InnoScreen COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device (Self Test) – Nasal swab Innovation Scientific Pty Ltd (Australia) SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self Test Nasal – Nasal swab SD Biosensor Inc (Korea - Republic of) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forcebwithu Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 ^^^ It's doubtful the test kits used by Thailand have undergone independent testing of their quality. I also recall news reports last year of a group of Dr's expressing their concern over the quality of the test kits ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fygjam Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, forcebwithu said: ^^^ It's doubtful the test kits used by Thailand have undergone independent testing of their quality. I also recall news reports last year of a group of Dr's expressing their concern over the quality of the test kits ordered. That's why I included the manufacturer, you may be able to source kits from one of the TGA approved manufacturers. An importer who wants to import kits supplies samples to the TGA for testing. If the TGA finds the kits acceptable the importer gets an import license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boydeste Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 These are being sold here in Phuket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fygjam Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 A European rating of test by sensitivity. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/table/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.44.2100441.t1?fmt=ahah&fullscreen=true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forcebwithu Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, fygjam said: A European rating of test by sensitivity. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/table/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.44.2100441.t1?fmt=ahah&fullscreen=true From @boydeste's post I could see the company name on the test kit box is HIP Global. That name, nor HIP Biotech appears on either of the two lists you posted. From HIP Global's website profile page their main business is distributor of security products (fingerprint scanners). Wonder where they're sourcing from, and what quality the test kits are. Due to draconian defamation and slander laws in Thailand I'll resist the urge to post the rest of my thoughts on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fygjam Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, forcebwithu said: From @boydeste's post I could see the company name on the test kit box is HIP Global. That name, nor HIP Biotech appears on either of the two lists you posted. From HIP Global's website profile page their main business is distributor of security products (fingerprint scanners). Wonder where they're sourcing from, and what quality the test kits are. Due to draconian defamation and slander laws in Thailand I'll resist the urge to post the rest of my thoughts on the subject. This site sells HIP Biotech RATs. Looks like they claim 95% sensitivity. https://www.medvine.com/th-en/product/disposables/antigen-test-kit-atk/hip-biotech-rapid-saras-cov-2-antigen-test-card A couple of photos for the Thais selling stuff online thread. Actually they're from some of the instructional videos listed here. https://www.fda.moph.go.th/sites/Medical/Shared Documents/ข้อมูลรายชื่อชุดตรวจและน้ำยา COVID-19 Home use.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambo Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 If you were an expat looking at your own positive antigen test would you advise anyone official of the result? I thought not. If you were a Thai looking at your own positive antigen test and not desperate for 10 days free food in a dormitory with a 100+ other Thai's would you advise anyone official of the result? haasip/haasip ? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nampla69 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Jambo said: If you were an expat looking at your own positive antigen test would you advise anyone official of the result? I thought not. If you were a Thai looking at your own positive antigen test and not desperate for 10 days free food in a dormitory with a 100+ other Thai's would you advise anyone official of the result? haasip/haasip ? I'd just probably pop in here first and think about it for a few hours ..... Blast from the past for you mate ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizondave Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, lazarus said: Yes, sometimes the top players get a bye, but the Australian government ensured Djokovic got a bye bye. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizondave Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 A friend of mine is leaving Thailand soon to travel to UK but even though the UK no longer requires a test before arriving Heathrow the fact that he is traveling via Singapore in transit he is still required to provide a negative PCR or Antigen test otherwise SQ will refuse him boarding. The need to check all the travel regulations is still paramount and can be confusing for some if time is not invested in checking rules. As some have said here a non stop flight could prove beneficial. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boydeste Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 9 minutes ago, Horizondave said: Yes, sometimes the top players get a bye, but the Australian government ensured Djokovic got a bye bye. I had every confidence that they would and fair play to them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Thailand mulls resuming quarantine waiver for foreign visitors BANGKOK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Thailand is considering bringing back a quarantine waiver for vaccinated visitors, its health minister said on Monday, as part of a proposed easing of some COVID-19 measures later this week. Thailand reopened to vaccinated foreign visitors in November to help a vital tourism industry that collapsed during nearly 18 months of strict entry policies. It saw about 200,000 arrivals last year, compared to nearly 40 million in 2019. The 'Test and Go' policy, which allows visitors to skip the mandatory quarantine if they test negative on arrival, was suspended late in December over concerns about the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. "We will propose measures that can be done safely and are medically sound," Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told Reuters. "If approved it can start by Feb. 1," he said of the quarantine waiver. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-mulls-resuming-quarantine-waiver-foreign-visitors-2022-01-17/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 (edited) On 1/15/2022 at 10:44 AM, Horizondave said: Something I learned to day was that my wife's nieces and nephews haven't attended school for over a year due to the pandemic. I was quite shocked by that news. I do know a friend whose kids were in an international school and were not even getting lessons online or any work to do at home, he has now brought his kids to the UK to continue their education. Very sad and wondering if anybody here has kids in Thailand affected by this closure in either a Thai school or an international one. Schools are open in Sisaket. They mask up. Photo (below) is from today. Baby mama says "no Covid" when I ask about the home village. Edited January 18, 2022 by lazarus 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizondave Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 4 hours ago, lazarus said: Schools are open in Sisaket. They mask up. Photo (below) is from today. Baby mama says "no Covid" when I ask about the home village. It must be certain provinces then, Khon Kaen is the one relating to my nieces and nephews. I do find it unreal that they haven't been at school for so long but my wife seems to confirm this is the case and Thais are never wrong are they!. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambo Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) On 1/17/2022 at 11:45 AM, nampla69 said: I'd just probably pop in here first and think about it for a few hours ..... Blast from the past for you mate ... It has been gentrified since I last visited. 🤣 Edited January 19, 2022 by Jambo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 On 1/18/2022 at 1:52 AM, Horizondave said: It must be certain provinces then, Khon Kaen is the one relating to my nieces and nephews. I do find it unreal that they haven't been at school for so long but my wife seems to confirm this is the case and Thais are never wrong are they!. It probably varies from school 'district' to school district. Every school out in the countryside seems to operate as it's own entity much like the various wats. Leadership has a lot to do with it, too. From what I have heard and seen (in photos), the people in the villages supporting the school I mentioned (outside of Uthumphon Pisai, Sisaket) are extremely careful about Covid. There are many elders (especially grandmas) and they take protecting them seriously. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nampla69 Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 On 1/18/2022 at 9:52 AM, Horizondave said: It must be certain provinces then, Khon Kaen is the one relating to my nieces and nephews. I do find it unreal that they haven't been at school for so long but my wife seems to confirm this is the case and Thais are never wrong are they!. Same in Korat closed mostly. 1 hour ago, Jambo said: It has been gentrified since I last visited. 🤣 Not a Paddy to be seen these days and none of the Kinks popping in anymore either. Shut for years just re-opened. Soulless and boring and about £6.50 a pint and lagers I've never heard of all Craft shite. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWA Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Test and Go resuming February 1st and Pattaya restored to the Sandbox list. 2 PCRs required (and it sounds like a hotel night must be booked to facilitate the second one). Restaurants to be allowed to open until 11:00pm but that needs local approval so maybe a few days yet. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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