Covid-19 News & Updates

[buksida]

Covid situation 'more serious'
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday admitted the current novel coronavirus outbreak is more serious than the first wave early this year and urged the public to comply with disease control measures so drastic measures would not be needed.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA, said the number of infections jumped by over a thousand over a short period of time, suggesting the spread of the virus this time is far more serious than the first wave, which began at the start of the year.

A total of 121 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Sunday, 94 of which were local transmissions.

The number of accumulated cases rose to 6,141 on Sunday, compared with 4,331 before the outbreak in Samut Sakhon began in mid-December.

Covid-19 cases linked to Talad Klang Kung (Central Shrimp Market) in Samut Sakhon have now been found in 38 other provinces, the CCSA spokesman said, adding Sukhothai, Lop Buri and Surin reported their first linked cases on Sunday.

However, Dr Taweesilp said health officials are better prepared and more experienced than they were when the pandemic first hit the country.

The public also have easier access to face masks now, he added.

"So whether or not the disease control measures will be intensified will depend on how much the public cooperates. If we cooperate, there will be no need to enforce the law, impose lockdowns or a curfew. The government doesn't want to impose restrictions," he said.

Dr Taweesilp said everyone should continue wearing face masks in public and avoid large gatherings, saying they can still hold small parties with close friends and family members.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... re-serious

Deja vu - its exactly what they said before; 'you lot keep spreading it and going out at night, we'll come down on you and show you who is boss'. Still taking bets for curfew and booze ban again ...

[PeteC]

Daily Covid cases could pass 5 digits, govt warns

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... govt-warns

Provinces with a high number of Covid-19 cases must maximise disease control measures, or new local cases could rise rise to thousands or even tens of thousands per day by mid-January, according to a government official.

"If nothing is done, daily new cases could soar to four or five digits this month or by the middle of next month," Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Monday after reviewing Public Health Ministry data. "But if we cooperate with one another, the curve will be 45 degrees and new daily new cases will be at three digits.

"The best solution is to refrain from socialising, and then the graph will run flat," Dr Taweesilp said.

Gen Nathapol Nakpanit, secretary-general of the National Security Council and the chair of the CCSA meeting on Monday, wanted authorities in all provinces named as "maximum control zones" and "control zones" to implement all their Covid-19 prevention measures in order to keep the daily increment of cases at three digits, the spokesman said.

The "maximum control zone" tag refers to provinces that already have a considerable number of Covid-19 cases. The "control zone" covers provinces with more than 10 cases and rising.

The implementation of control measures in the provinces depends on cooperation from government officials, business operators and local people, Dr Taweesilp said.

"We will be monitoring how you are best able to contribute before considering escalating to measures [that would be] deemed as strong medicine."

The CCSA on Monday reported 144 new Covid-19 cases, including 115 locally-transmitted infections and 14 migrant workers, over the past 24 hours.

The breakdown of local infections by province was 56 in Rayong, 19 in Bangkok, 18 in Nakhon Pathom, six in Chon Buri, five in Samut Prakan, three in Nonthaburi, two each in Nakhon Nayok and Pathum Thani, and one each in Sukhothai, Samut Sakhon, Lop Buri and Chiang Mai.

In maximum control zones, infected and at-risk people, businesses and activities must be quickly identified. Infected people are admitted to field hospitals and at-risk people are quarantined.

At-risk premises are closed or have their operating hours limited. Transport of migrant workers out of the area is banned, while transportation for everyone is restricted. Working from home is encouraged.

Education moves online. All activities involving crowds of people are banned. Maximum Covid-19 prevention is imposed at workplaces, factories and workers' dormitories.

In control zones, infected and at-risk people, as well as at-risk businesses and activities, are quickly identified and crowded gatherings are prohibited.

[Big Boy]

Good words, but where are the actions?

They've warned us, but are allowing the entire nation to travel to the 4 corners of Thailand in the next few days. It doesn't give me a warm feeling, especially when those who are being restricted in the last paragraph have absolutely no travel restrictions. This is so crazy, it could have been thought up by Boris.

[Big Boy]

It has been suggested I start posting Daily Briefing videos again at least until we know where this 2nd wave is going. So here gies with today's:

[Big Boy]

Good words, but where are the actions?

They've warned us, but are allowing the entire nation to travel to the 4 corners of Thailand in the next few days. It doesn't give me a warm feeling, especially when those who are being restricted in the last paragraph have absolutely no travel restrictions. This is so crazy, it could have been thought up by Boris.

So no actions yet. Go away for the New Year, have a good time, spend loads of money and we still think we can get it back under control afterwards

https://www.thaienquirer.com/21999/gove ... e-economy/

[Big Boy]

First death of the new wave in Rayong https://www.komchadluek.net/news/region ... MQM1O3_bPk

[Lost]

I've read some posts towards foreigners in Thailand recently that are truly repulsive. 'If you see a Myanmar national shoot them down' being a particularly gross one.

Not sure what happened to the 'be kind' and all inclusive sentiment of the year (I should include myself in that actually from some of the idiotic recent posts I made -- I have an excuse though. A cross to bear. I apologise for that nevertheless).

I fear with this next round of virus spread it will only get worse in Thailand. Personally, I think the virus was always about and the junta have decided now is the time to test and report for whatever reasons they may have. Quelling the student movement being one. And then blame it on foreigners.

As it stands, the countries that have been reporting correctly (in my opinion) are in a better situation than 'world leading' Thailand now as there is no panic or hysteria at 30,000+ infections a day (UK). Common sense is applied, covid relief funds are written in stone and we can crack on with our 'new' day to day.

To fellow forum members that may be feel a little anxiety over this 'new spread'... don't worry too much. The virus is not too harmful. Apply common sense. If you have serious underlying health issues it's in your hands to keep you safe. Stay away from idiots flouting the rules.

The xenophobia in Thailand is far more worrying than the virus itself.

[europtimiste]

I don't worry the virus, I worry lockdown and alcohol ban.

[PeteC]

A long article with facts, figures, charts and graphs addressing what the title says.

Coronavirus has been with us for a year. Here's what we still don't know

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/28/heal ... index.html

[Big Boy]

While we're talking charts, here is a predicted Covid path chart:

predicts.jpg (50.29 KiB) Viewed 962 times

The paths are:

- No measures at all it will peak at 18,000 patients in one day
- Intermediate measures, there will be 8,000 patients in one day
- Intensive measures, there will be less than 1,000 patients a day

The chart show intervention around 18th December, which is good, but then there is yesterday's news that the Government will turn a blind eye to New Year celebrations because local businesses/the economy need it. So there needs to be another factor - New Year celebrations built in (they are probably too scared to show that one).

The Government are obviously saying have a good time over the New Year, spend loads of money because you can't take it with you

[PeteC]

Indeed, what will be the cost to the country's economy if ten's of thousands come down with it. The hotel owners will be fat and happy though.

[Big Boy]

Today's brief:

[europtimiste]

They want to create a panic.

[Big Boy]

"Panic" is a very strange word to use in context with Thailand and Covid. This is not Europe, and as such I'm not aware of anybody panicking.

Of course, no 2 people react the same, but everybody I know is gathering as much information as they can, evaluating it according to their own circumstances and reacting accordingly.

Personally, I consider myself and my wife to be high Covid risk, so we are avoiding shops, bars and restaurants. We have a strong family network supporting us so it isn't a problem. We enjoy our daily outing to the lake, which is virtually deserted, but still wear our masks 100%. We take hand sanitizer, and apply it regularly. Others we know have adapted their daily routines according to their circumstances whilst trying to stay safe. In my opinion, we and others are being sensible, and most definitely not panicking.

To me, panic was clearing the supermarket shelves as per the European model. It became apparent very early on in the pandemic that Thais didn't have the money to panic. In extreme cases of hardship, I've seen the local community helping out nicely. This country is most definitely not panicking.

[handdrummer]

I had to shop at MV today and there was no panic buying. Lots of people shopping, many with no masks, especially children. My wife said they are Bangkokian spoiled brats. Many of them were fat and walking around stuffing food in their mouths. Not a pretty sight.