COVID 19 Related to THAILAND Posts

[boydeste]

1 minute ago, Stillearly said:

Only vaccination you currently need proof of is yellow fever for some African countries ( I believe ) ... 

most travellers from U.K. have travel insurance, just a few numpties that don't bother ...

pretty sure if proof of a Covid vaccination is required they will move to an electronic version 

f**k me, they still can't do an electronic visa system!!!

[Stillearly]

1 minute ago, boydeste said:

f**k me, they still can't do an electronic visa system!!!

Not just talking about Thailand, maybe WHO ... so it's acceptable anywhere ... 

[boydeste]

1 minute ago, Stillearly said:

Not just talking about Thailand, maybe WHO ... so it's acceptable anywhere ... 

Even less chance of that methinks!

[Esco]

6 minutes ago, dcfc2007 said:

 

What the f**k is the point of the vaccine if it doesn't stop people from catching Covid. We truly are living in the dumbest time in human history. 

People get a vaccine for the flu every year mate but as the virus mutates there's no guarantee you won't catch it. 

Based on this article they're just guessing right now. 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-immunity-certificates-to-exempt-people-from-restrictions-likely-to-be-possible-12151178

[Thai Spice]

16 minutes ago, Esco said:

I've had a yellow booklet ever since I first went to the tropics 15 years ago and got my vaccinations. Not sure its the same in the UK? I've always had travel insurance as well which doesn't seem to be the norm in the UK either. 

Thing is that nowadays very few countries require a mandatory vaccine, and so the thing has become a bit obsolete.

If I remember well, I had it Saudi and Egypt in the 80's.

After that I never had a vaccine. 

But sure this would be the simpliest way to go as this booklet is already internationnally approved by many countries.

Insurance, I was covered by a generous company insurance, including rapatriation, so I never had to worry about that.

 

[dcfc2007]

Just now, Esco said:

People get a vaccine for the flu every year mate but as the virus mutates there's no guarantee you won't catch it. 

Based on this article they're just guessing right now. 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-immunity-certificates-to-exempt-people-from-restrictions-likely-to-be-possible-12151178

A vaccine that could possibly only work for 3-4 months for a virus which 99.9% of people survive. Right, makes complete sense. I can not wait for the public inquiry into all this, although I suspect it will be like the Iraq War tribunal when whistle lowers suddenly started throwing themselves down mountains (poor old Dr Kelly, never stood a chance). Anyway, at some point the world has to turn again, and if that mains a poxy half-assed vaccine is it, then so be it, and soon enough world governments will realise that. 

[dcfc2007]

5 minutes ago, Thai Spice said:

Thing is that nowadays very few countries require a mandatory vaccine, and so the thing has become a bit obsolete.

If I remember well, I had it Saudi and Egypt in the 80's.

After that I never had a vaccine. 

But sure this would be the simpliest way to go as this booklet is already internationnally approved by many countries.

Insurance, I was covered by a generous company insurance, including rapatriation, so I never had to worry about that.

 

The vaccine won't be mandatory, but if you plan on having any sort of social life, traveling etc, you are going to need it. 

[fygjam]

I don't think a yellow booklet with easily forged rubber stamp and signature are going to cut it in 2021 and beyond.

 

Given the number of vaccines which will probably be available, is each country going to "recognize" every vaccine. e.g. Perhaps Thailand will only recognize vaccines produced by Chinese pharmaceutical companies. Your Moderna or Pfizer vaccination ain't worth spit.

 

 

[Thai Spice]

4 minutes ago, fygjam said:

I don't think a yellow booklet with easily forged rubber stamp and signature are going to cut it in 2021 and beyond.

 

Given the number of vaccines which will probably be available, is each country going to "recognize" every vaccine. e.g. Perhaps Thailand will only recognize vaccines produced by Chinese pharmaceutical companies. Your Moderna or Pfizer vaccination ain't worth spit.

 

 

I mean mandatory in the country of destination.

Same as before, living in France  where vaccine "x" was not required but if you went to work to a country where is was required you had to take it.

[Bazle]

10 hours ago, dcfc2007 said:

I'm hoping that with people due to receive the new vaccine anyday now, it should be a case that if you can prove vaccination you are allowed to enter Thailand without quarantine or restrictions, same for any country really. 

Why should that be the case?

The vaccines stop people suffering from the affects of the virus. It is not known yet whether they will kill the virus itself. It might well prove to be the case that vaccinated people can be asymptomatic carriers.

This is an article that bm @Zeb posted a link to in the other thread and the relevant paragraph:

https://www.smh.com.au/national/even-with-a-vaccine-it-will-take-time-for-life-to-return-to-normal-20201206-p56kz6.html

"What we don’t know yet is whether immunised people can still pick up the virus from others and spread it anyway, without actually showing any disease."

There's more info in this vid if you are interested:

https://youtu.be/GOq8-FR8s1E

I don't see the quarantine requirement being dropped anytime soon.

[dcfc2007]

1 minute ago, Bazle said:

Why should that be the case?

The vaccines stop people suffering from the affects of the virus. It is not known yet whether they will kill the virus itself. It might well prove to be the case that vaccinated people can be asymptomatic carriers.

This is an article that bm @Zeb posted a link to in the other thread and the relevant paragraph:

https://www.smh.com.au/national/even-with-a-vaccine-it-will-take-time-for-life-to-return-to-normal-20201206-p56kz6.html

"What we don’t know yet is whether immunised people can still pick up the virus from others and spread it anyway, without actually showing any disease."

There's more info in this vid if you are interested:

https://youtu.be/GOq8-FR8s1E

I don't see the quarantine requirement being dropped anytime soon.

Because we now have effective treatments for Covid19, as well as a vaccine. This lunacy has to end at some point, if a vaccine doesn't end it, then what will? There is no such as 'zero covid'.

People need to understand that like the flu and the common cold, the coronavirus will always be around, and there will always be people that die from it. 

[Smiler]

I booked a flight today from Swampy to Udon, leaving Saturday morning. Had a call from the hotel duty manager just now who said my travel plans would be confirmed either tonight or in the morning.

Eh? How did he know I'd bought a ticket?

Well it turns out that big brother really is watching you in Thailand during these times or maybe this is what effective track and trace is all about.

I had to give my onward travel details as part of the entry process. Didn't realize how closely the authorities would be monitoring people though. I am guessing I was flagged up when I made the reservation with Thai Smile.

[forcebwithu]

1 hour ago, Bazle said:

Why should that be the case?

The vaccines stop people suffering from the affects of the virus. It is not known yet whether they will kill the virus itself. It might well prove to be the case that vaccinated people can be asymptomatic carriers.

This is an article that bm @Zeb posted a link to in the other thread and the relevant paragraph:

https://www.smh.com.au/national/even-with-a-vaccine-it-will-take-time-for-life-to-return-to-normal-20201206-p56kz6.html

"What we don’t know yet is whether immunised people can still pick up the virus from others and spread it anyway, without actually showing any disease."

There's more info in this vid if you are interested:

https://youtu.be/GOq8-FR8s1E

I don't see the quarantine requirement being dropped anytime soon.

What may help with the introduction of a vaccine is it reduces the viral load a person is carrying. Thus they don't get sick from the virus, plus the reduced viral load means they can't pass on the virus as easily to others.

[Mrmango]

6 hours ago, Bazle said:

The vaccines stop people suffering from the affects of the virus. It is not known yet whether they will kill the virus itself.

It is my understanding that it does neither directly.

Vaccines work by not allowing the virus to invade your cells so that they can reproduce, hence you do not get sick, and if a virus cannot invade a cell it dies naturally.

[Jambo]

16 hours ago, dcfc2007 said:

People need to understand that like the flu and the common cold, the coronavirus will always be around, and there will always be people that die from it. 

Exactly, and that is going to be the most difficult fact that the authorities in Thailand and the Thai population as a whole are going to have to come to terms with. Currently, they are both obsessed with keeping Thailand's record of very low reported cases intact.

I have joined the cynics that have expressed the view that there is currently a definite unreporting of the number of positive Covid 19 cases in Thailand. It would seem that Thais in this region are discussing this probability as there is a very porous border between Burma and Thailand being a river which can be crossed at night in either direction with little or no chance of being observed.  It is suggested that has resulted in a number of unreported positive cases in the Region as to admit their existance would place the Region's Governor in a bad light. I have no idea if that is true but it would seem local Thai's are discussing that as a possibility.

There have been much reported instances of positive cases north east of us from Thai sex workers returning from a "hotel" knocking shop just over the border in Burma and they have come over the border crossing which is supposed to be closed. So is the official border crossing ( The Friendship Bridge) in Mae Sot but my wife tells me that the big market next to this bridge which is in Thailand has been packed this last weekend with queues of Burmese waiting to enter the market. How is that possible if the border is meant to be closed?

Edited December 8, 2020 by Jambo

[fygjam]

20 minutes ago, Jambo said:

Exactly, and that is going to be the most difficult fact that the authorities in Thailand and the Thai population as a whole are going to have to come to terms with. Currently, they are both obsessed with keeping Thailand's record of very low reported cases intact.

Thailand ranks 170 out of 200 in tests per 1 million population.

The columns are ranking, country, cases and tests per 1 million population.

As someone said, "If you don't test you don't have any cases".

Edited December 8, 2020 by fygjam

[Mrmango]

18 hours ago, dcfc2007 said:

People need to understand that like the flu and the common cold, the coronavirus will always be around, and there will always be people that die from it. 

I question that statement. Small pox, Spanish Flu, and a few more virus have been eliminated and extinct.

[fygjam]

51 minutes ago, Mrmango said:

I question that statement. Small pox, Spanish Flu, and a few more virus have been eliminated and extinct.

While I admire you optimism there are a few factual errors.

While smallpox has been eradicated from the general population both the US (CDC) and Russia still have stocks of smallpox virus so I don't think you can call it "extinct".

Smallpox was eradicated by a concerted 10 year international effort where a single case required immediate action.

Smallpox starts with a fever then subsequent rash. Generally people only become infectious once the rash has appeared. It is mainly spread through droplets (so masks would have been effective).

There are NO asymptomatic smallpox carriers.

 

The Spanish flu was influenza type A, sub-type H1N1, the same sub-type which circulates today (and is in your flu vaccination).

H1N1 also caused the 2009 "swine flu" pandemic.

The Spanish flu pandemic eventually "burnt itself out", the influenza virus does like to mutate. There were no vaccines, the first flu vaccine didn't arrive until 1938.

 

Polio has almost been eradicated, so much so that some countries stopped the vaccination programs and then the disease re-emerged.

 

Given an indicated reluctance to vaccinate (US 40%, Australia 30%) I think the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its associated disease will be around for a while.

 

[Mrmango]

10 minutes ago, fygjam said:

While I admire you optimism there are a few factual errors

As a practical matter, they are gone pretty much forever, as the world has not seen any cases for decades.

There are none of these virus strains in the wild.

[KWA]

On 12/7/2020 at 12:13 AM, dcfc2007 said:

A simple thing to do would be a similar system to how covid testing in the UK works. Get the vaccine and recieve an email from NHS provider etc.

Forgeries are already easily available so I think a more robust system will be required.

[dcfc2007]

6 hours ago, fygjam said:

Thailand ranks 170 out of 200 in tests per 1 million population.

The columns are ranking, country, cases and tests per 1 million population.

As someone said, "If you don't test you don't have any cases".

So what? Do you see thousands of bodies lying rotting on the streets of Bangkok or Chiang Mai? This is not the plague. We have effective treatments and now a vaccine. If that isn't enough to end this then what is? 

[dcfc2007]

6 hours ago, Jambo said:

Exactly, and that is going to be the most difficult fact that the authorities in Thailand and the Thai population as a whole are going to have to come to terms with. Currently, they are both obsessed with keeping Thailand's record of very low reported cases intact.

I have joined the cynics that have expressed the view that there is currently a definite unreporting of the number of positive Covid 19 cases in Thailand. It would seem that Thais in this region are discussing this probability as there is a very porous border between Burma and Thailand being a river which can be crossed at night in either direction with little or no chance of being observed.  It is suggested that has resulted in a number of unreported positive cases in the Region as to admit their existance would place the Region's Governor in a bad light. I have no idea if that is true but it would seem local Thai's are discussing that as a possibility.

There have been much reported instances of positive cases north east of us from Thai sex workers returning from a "hotel" knocking shop just over the border in Burma and they have come over the border crossing which is supposed to be closed. So is the official border crossing ( The Friendship Bridge) in Mae Sot but my wife tells me that the big market next to this bridge which is in Thailand has been packed this last weekend with queues of Burmese waiting to enter the market. How is that possible if the border is meant to be closed?

No doubt Thailand has higher cases than is reporting. I don't think it's covering up a serious outbreak, with social media it would soon be exposed, similar to the Chinese lies. I don't blame the Thais if they are reporting less cases than they have, it only creates unnecessary hysteria.

Anyway, the 'zero covid' approach is one expensive folly that Thailand and indeed many countries will soon come to terms with. This ain't going anywhere, time to pull on our big boy pants and accept that. 

[fygjam]

12 minutes ago, dcfc2007 said:

So what? Do you see thousands of bodies lying rotting on the streets of Bangkok or Chiang Mai? This is not the plague. We have effective treatments and now a vaccine. If that isn't enough to end this then what is? 

So why are Americans dying at the rate of 2 per minute?

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by fygjam

[Jambo]

12 minutes ago, dcfc2007 said:

Anyway, the 'zero covid' approach is one expensive folly that Thailand and indeed many countries will soon come to terms with. This ain't going anywhere, time to pull on our big boy pants and accept that. 

"Will soon come to terms with"

The point I was trying to make is the exact opposite to your comment.

There are no signs whatsoever that Thailand, or the general Thai population, are coming to terms with the fact that Covid19 is here for ever on a world wide basis.  To what degree vaccination reduces the number of cases and thus deaths depends upon what percentage of the worlds population take up the vaccine combined with how effective the vaccine is in practice. It is not going to eradicate Covid19 completely.  None of the "specialists" are saying that is going to happen.

So when, or if, Thailand opens up its borders to mass tourism there are bound to be some individuals arriving who will pass on the infection within Thailand. Accepting that fact is a matter of Thai politics as much as being a health issue. It means doing away completely with the quarantine requirements as that is not going to be acceptable to the mass tourist market.

At the very least it is almost certain one will not be able to fly to Thailand without quarantine unless vaccinated.

[Yessongs]

7 hours ago, Jambo said:

"Will soon come to terms with"

The point I was trying to make is the exact opposite to your comment.

There are no signs whatsoever that Thailand, or the general Thai population, are coming to terms with the fact that Covid19 is here for ever on a world wide basis.  To what degree vaccination reduces the number of cases and thus deaths depends upon what percentage of the worlds population take up the vaccine combined with how effective the vaccine is in practice. It is not going to eradicate Covid19 completely.  None of the "specialists" are saying that is going to happen.

So when, or if, Thailand opens up its borders to mass tourism there are bound to be some individuals arriving who will pass on the infection within Thailand. Accepting that fact is a matter of Thai politics as much as being a health issue. It means doing away completely with the quarantine requirements as that is not going to be acceptable to the mass tourist market.

At the very least it is almost certain one will not be able to fly to Thailand without quarantine unless vaccinated.

Ok all I hate to reign on the parade here but......you know the Thais, wifey has many friends over many years and they all keep in contact with each other right? Some are in the Gov't field, some in the Medical field, one works at the Police precinct locally,  one owns her own business ( takes care of my Visa etc) 

She told me last night that a friend of a friend, who knows somebody who works in the Gov't, who talked to somebody who works at the Hospital, who told her brother, who told her Niece, who finally talked to my wife said...you get my drift? LOL! 

Basically the rumor through out many of these types of conversations after all is said and done is, the Gov't is talking that even after a Vaccine, they are probably going to require you to quarantine still....for just 5 days after arrival instead of 14!  And that if you live here or are married to a Thai, you will not have to pay as much as a "tourist" would have to, a reduced cost of some sort. 

 Yeah I know, TIT and things change every day.