Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
Today, I highlight two reports from the Bangkok Post and one from BBC News. Given the first report, anyone intending coming to Thailand might consider buying a face mask before you arrive.
Quote:
Outrage over mask shortages
Panic buying spurred by first Thai fatality
published : 3 Mar 2020 at 05:31
newspaper section: News
writer: Dumrongkiat Mala and Phusadee Arunmas
People are crying foul over the shortage of masks amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, triggered by the death of a Thai man who was diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus.
Public complaints grew louder on Monday over the continuing lack of masks on the back of heightened concerns over the spread of Covid-19, which claimed the life of the 35-year-old man on Saturday night -- the first reported death from the virus in the country.
One more infection was reported on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 43. The new patient was a 22-year-old Thai woman, who worked as a tour guide along with an already infected Thai, a driver for foreign tourists . . .
For the full report see: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...mask-shortages
Quote:
US coronavirus death toll rises as Chinese cases fall
published : 3 Mar 2020 at 05:45
writer: AFP
WASHINGTON: The death toll from the new coronavirus in the United States climbed to six on Monday as the contagion took root in the country's Pacific Northwest and continued its march across the globe.
Worldwide, close to 3,100 people have succumbed to the illness even as a clear shift in the crisis was emerging, with nine times as many cases recorded outside China as inside, according to the UN health agency.
Andorra, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Jordan, Latvia, Portugal, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia were among countries that confirmed their first cases, along with Senegal, which became the second sub-Saharan African country to do so . . .
For the full report see: https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/18...ese-cases-fall
And from BBC News . . .
Quote:
Coronavirus: World in 'uncharted territory'
The world is in "uncharted territory" on the coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
Its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the virus was "unique" but could be contained with the right measures.
Deaths globally have passed 3,000. Most are in China but over the past day there were nine times more new infections outside China than inside.
Dr Tedros insisted: "We can push this virus back". He also said stigma was more dangerous than the disease itself . . .
For the full report see: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51712437
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
And once again, just to lighten the mood, I attach below two photos I saw on facebook this morning:
Attachment 9712
Attachment 9713
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
Quote:
Originally Posted by
gerefan2
So.thailand actually has only 11 people CURRENTLY with the virus.
Why countries continue adding figures and WITHOUT deleting those who have recovered I have no idea...
It creates an artificially high number, spreads unnecessary panic and affects no end of other things like stock markets, airlines, Gogo bars etc etc.
if you are a tourist planning a trip to Thailand, or a local wondering whether to wear a mask in public, knowinng that 11 people in Thailand are currently infected is not particularly helpful - these 11 are in isolation, and are thus not an active threat to the community at large, it does not give much of an indication of what the threat level to the community has been in the past and at present
however if you know that Thailand has had a cumulative total of 43 confirmed cases since the first confirmed case two months ago it is more helpful, and when you can add information about the numbers infected overseas, or infected in-country after close direct contact with someone infected elsewhere and the number of cases with no known close contact, and the rate of new infections each day, and the rate of change of new infections each day then you have a much better picture of the possible risk of infection in the community generally.
and if you know the cumulative total cases, deaths, and releases from treatment than you have some idea of the impact on infected people
if you compare Thailand to say Italy where the cumulative total of confirmed cases went from 0 to 1835 with 52 deaths in less than a week, with a 50% increase of new cases on some days, I think you have a fairly good idea of the possible risk of infection in the community at large even without knowing how many of those 1835 are still under medical management!
of course this is all dependent on the perceived reliability of the statistics, local testing methods etc, As the current situation in the USA has shown problems with testing to accurately confirm new case numbers can lead to significant under-reporting and isolation leading to a potentially large pool of infectious individuals in the community leading to a potentially significant surge in confirmed cases in a short timeframe - I think I would rather stay in Thailand than go to the USA at present!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jellybean
while I am not slow to be critical of the Thai government for its constant claims of no shortage of masks and they are controlling availability and price while every pharmacy and private hospital in my area in Bangkok has been out of stock of face masks and hand sanitiser and stalls are selling mask everywhere at rip-off prices, this is not just a Thailand problem - I have read similar reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Guardian, the New York Times, etc over the past few days!
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
And this also seems to apply to desinfectant and hand-wash stuff. I can add that non-en newspprs ´from the continent´ also report the same. Lets hope those doing that remain with boxes full of the stuff and unable to sell and loose the money too muth!
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
I'm assuming that everyone is following WHO advice. So everyone wearing a mask either has the virus or is looking after someone who has it. I will try to avoid them.
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
Washington State in the USA (also known as paradise) now leads the nation in coronavirus deaths at six. It is weird to see people in Seattle wearing masks. I was always told Starbuckks coffee would protects people from everything. Why else do we have one on every block in town.
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
https://www.yahoo.com/news/factory-c...150000595.html
Factory caught RECYCLING used coronavirus face masks to sell again in Thailand
recycling AND overcoming the shortage of masks in one fell swoop...
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dab69
recycling AND overcoming the shortage of masks in one fell swoop...
Jellybean has done it a lot, so I'm not surprised at all.
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
Today, I highlight two reports from the Bangkok Post and one from BBC News:
Quote:
'Little ghosts' spark virus fears
Prayut calls meeting over Korea returnees
published : 4 Mar 2020 at 04:01
newspaper section: News
writer: Post Reporters
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will call an urgent meeting on Wednesday to discuss what to do about 10,000 illegal Thai workers he believes may try to return home from South Korea to escape the Covid-19 epidemic there.
The move came after the Ministry of Public Health on Monday expressed serious concerns about how to handle droves of so-called phi noi (little ghosts) from South Korea after 138 Thais who were airlifted from Wuhan in China last month had to spend two weeks in quarantine in Sattahip . . .
For the full report see: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...rk-virus-fears
Quote:
Panic buying hits Bangkok stores
Fear of deadly virus prompts hoarding
published : 4 Mar 2020 at 06:41
newspaper section: Business
writer: Pitsinee Jitpleecheep
Shoppers in Greater Bangkok are quickly emptying supermarket shelves of long-lasting items like instant noodles, packed rice, tissue paper, tinned fish and drinking water as fears mount over the coronavirus epidemic.
Large retail operators including Tops Supermarket, Tesco Lotus, The Mall Group and Big C Supercenter acknowledged that these items have been snapped up quickly since the weekend . . .
For the full report see: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...bangkok-stores
And from the BBC News website:
Quote:
Coronavirus: Tokyo 2020 could be postponed to end of year - Japan's Olympic minister
Seiko Hashimoto says Tokyo 2020 organisers are "doing all we can" to make sure the Games go ahead as planned
Japan's Olympic minister says the Tokyo 2020 Games could be postponed from the summer until later in the year amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
In a response to a question in Japan's parliament, Seiko Hashimoto said Tokyo's contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) "calls for the Games to be held within 2020" . . .
For the full report see: https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/51717839
Addendum
And with this post today I leave the Victorian era and enter the Edwardian era. I appear to be moving at a quicker pace than an episode of Downton Abbey!
Re: Coronavirus - Thailand
Visitors from high risk areas to self quarantine for 14 days:
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/coro...l-restrictions
I was intending to visit in March from the uk. But how long is it before uk is added to this list of countries?