News Forum - “Cases could reach 10,000 a day again”. Thai Public Health Minister.

[Thaiger]

Thailand’s party-pooper-in-chief, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, has made another spurious claim to Thailand’s media. He’s predicted that Thailand’s Covid infections could soar to 10,000, a day, now that Thailand’s nightlife has ‘officially’ reopened. He said that the numbers of new coronavirus cases could “soar” within 3-5 days after the country’s entertainment venues were given the official nod on June 1. Speaking to Associated Press, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Health said venues were at a high risk as “they were loud and people needed to speak louder”.  “Some may remove their masks and get close to one […]

The story “Cases could reach 10,000 a day again”. Thai Public Health Minister. as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Ivo_Shandor]

Case number is an irrelevant data today, as most of population is vaccinated or has already had the virus, or is low risk (been Khaosan road yesterday, almost 100% of foreigners without masks but most of them young people). That 3rd and 4th vaccination are translated into 1st and 2nd vaccination, sinovac/sinopharm doses were largely ineffective. And why is he answering to an interview with mask down after stating that mask shall be kept on to prevent increase of infection? Such a hypocrite.

[ThaiEyes]

Well done Thaiger. “Thailand’s party-pooper-in-chief”

Yes he does that well considering he’s an entitled career politician, and while he is Health Minister, he has no medical background and apparently no medical advisors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anutin_Charnvirakul

[JJJ]

First I thought they were going to stop reporting “testing”. What does 10,000 cases a day even mean? There’s already 10,000 a day. 

Second this proves how inadequate they are and have been at responding to the virus. If you are obsessed with ineffective controls you’ll never have a proper response. 

we know who is at risk for this disease. They’re not going to bars and clubs. The idea that if we just try to prevent infections in young healthy people will protect older sicker people has failed everywhere it’s tried. 

Remember bars and for the most part restaurants were closed in April 2021 and cases and deaths peaked in late August. 

And if they’re not already opened how exactly is a bar or club more likely to cause an infection than a restaurant?  We know it’s not and they just have a weird fetish over the nightlife to satisfy their conservative base 

If they were serious about covid, they would improve vaccination for elderly and boosters. Still vaccination is higher among 20-60 than 60+  

 

[Cabra]

After saying they would stop reporting cases this guy is talking about cases again I've only seen one report (and that was from the Bangkok Post) that said a total of 882 patients where hospitalized with lung inflammation, 425 on ventilators and 26 deaths were reported on May 30. And a majority of those where people over 70 years of age. 

[Manu]

Can someone please tell that guy that bars and nightlife venues have been opened for months now all over Thailand?

[rc1]

Just when you thought you couldn't get more incompent - there it is!

Repeat after me "There is no link between the virus and night-life", and "There is no link between the virus and tourism".

There, was the truth so hard to speak? 

[palooka]

Think this is the Govt back pedalling on endemic, they need the pandemic decree till next election.

[alex12345]

the real cases are at least 50,000 a day but of course like most countries they have reduced testing. About three weeks ago the UK had over a million cases  (using their modelling software). Of course no one wants to give up that emergency degree and they can manipulate the data like all countries have been doing to justifiy anything they want (of course all governments did this) The figures are all estimated now anyway the UK no longer does testing anymore so how can they determine 1 millions cases. If there was a real chance of dying why "partygate" in the UK especially from a prime minister the press said "nearly died" of covid.  Clearly he didnt nearly die or he'd have had more respect for it.

Anyway real politicians or politicians with an army background, its amazing there are just the same. I guess that old adage about power is more relevant than ever.

[HolyCowCm]

Sounds like this overly intelligent nice kind big hearted philanthropist of a man would be a perfect bird of a feather for the title of PM here. 

[Viggen8408]

Anutin is a farang hater. The majority of people who will use bars and entertainment venues are farang. If the word gets out that Thailand is open for business, more farang will return to their favourite overseas destination, and expansion will be telling their friends to come (again).

This doesn't suit Noo, who would prefer to see the country denuded of all farang at the expense of the billions of baht they generate and the employment relating to them

Edited June 4, 2022 by Viggen8408
Spelling corrections

[JJJ]

56 minutes ago, Viggen8408 said:

Anutin is a farang hater. The majority of people who will use bars and entertainment venues are farang. If the word gets out that Thailand is open for business, more farang will return to their favourite overseas destination, and expansion will be telling their friends to come (again).

This doesn't suit Noo, who would prefer to see the country denuded of all farang at the expense of the billions of baht they generate and the employment relating to them

I don’t at all agree that it’s farang bars. The vast majority of bars cater to Thai people except for a few distinct areas. A lot of places only a couple farangs will be there. And even in popular tourist areas it’s maybe 50/50. 

I would instead posit that they know the working 20-40s Thai that go out do not support the government by a long shot (look at the bangkok election).

Instead he’s pandering to his base with an excuse why cases will rise as they eventually will.  Somehow in his mind there’s a difference between a “nightlife venue” and a Thai crowded “restaurant” with a band and whisky and food. 

[Scarface]

Am I the only one who wakes up in this backwards lunatic asylum and wonder where it all went wrong?

For the love of god, please get me the hell out of here! 

Look at the UK this weekend, great things happening there, everyone happy getting on with life and not a mask in site, not even on the 95 year old queen, and I'm stuck here reading this nonsense.

Edited June 4, 2022 by Scarface

[Viggen840]

4 minutes ago, Scarface said:

Am I the only one who wakes up in this backwards lunatic asylum and wonder where it all went wrong?

For the love of god, please get me the hell out of here! 

Look at the UK this weekend, great things happening there, everyone happy getting on with life and not a mask in site, not even on the 95 year old queen, and I'm stuck here reading this nonsense.

It is all about power. Perhaps things would be different if there was a democratically-elected GOVERNMENT and not a JUNTA pretending to be one.

[Soidog]

4 minutes ago, Scarface said:

Am I the only one who wakes up in this backwards lunatic asylum and wonder where it all went wrong?

For the love of god, please get me the hell out of here! 

Look at the UK this weekend, great things happening there, everyone happy getting on with life and not a mask in site, not even on the 95 year old queen, and I'm stuck here reading this nonsense.

I have to admire your honesty. I have many associations with Thailand, both financially and emotionally. Thailand was a regular long term stay for my wife and I for many years until she passed away.
 

I still spend at least 6 months of each year in Thailand and thoroughly  enjoy my time. This is partly due to the knowledge that in 6-8 weeks I will return to one of my homes in the U.K. or Holland. Whenever anyone asks me about Thailand with a view to making it their permanent and ONLY home in the world, my reply is short and simple - DONT! 

 

I know there are many many people who are entirely at ease with the permanent life in Thailand and I personally know many such people. For me however, it generates too many occasions where the lack of common sense or logic or outright stupidity makes me booking my flight home. At some stage, as I reach retirement age, I will need to decide where to lay my old hat. If things continue on the trajectory Thailand has been on for the past 10 years, then it won’t be Thailand. In recent months I’ve been looking at options in Southern Italy, Cyprus and Greece. When I reach 65 or 70, I’m sure I won’t want the hedonistic nights in Thailand and a few beers with friends in the warm weather will be sufficient for me. All of the places in Europe are also a lot more welcoming of long stay foreigners. Speak far better English and only 4 hours max from my kids and wider family. 

[vlad]

This is what happens when people like Anutin are placed in jobs like this. He has no medical background and will not listen to advice from supposed medical professionals. Where does he get his information from? I believe he is using scare tactics and is using this to save face for all the balls up's he and his other ministers have come out fighting the pandemic and he will blame infections on visitors and Tourists he has done it in the past and will carry on. Most in the west understand and have accepted living with Covid. He simply does not understand this and thinks he will eradicate the virus altogether. Live with it instead of fighting it and scaring people. 

[rc1]

25 minutes ago, Scarface said:

Am I the only one who wakes up in this backwards lunatic asylum and wonder where it all went wrong?

For the love of god, please get me the hell out of here! 

Look at the UK this weekend, great things happening there, everyone happy getting on with life and not a mask in site, not even on the 95 year old queen, and I'm stuck here reading this nonsense.

It is starting to get beyond a joke, really. 

The world is truly moving on, Thailand is being left far behind. 

When will you be able to eat on a domestic flight? Children being able to learn at school without a face covering? 

 

Edited June 4, 2022 by rc1

[Soidog]

17 minutes ago, Scarface said:

For the love of god, please get me the hell out of here! 

One other thought on your comment:

A few years back, I was chatting in a bar with an expat and we followed it up with a game of golf the following day. After the game we went for lunch and he discussed a business plan he had which surprised me. He said that there is a lucrative business in helping people remain in Thailand long term. However, and here’s the interesting part, he also believed there was an untapped lucrative business in getting long term stayers out!! He went on to say that he believed there were many 75+ year olds who had made the move in their 50’s and 60’s who now simply couldn’t work out how to unwind their decisions. I pointed out that in many cases it was the lack of finances that made the situation what it was and hence they couldn’t pay him to change things. This is something he disagrees with and still claims that there are many reasonably comfortable old guys who simply don’t have the drive, knowledge, guts or confidence to make the move. 
 

I still think he’s wrong that it’s a good business option, but it’s an interesting thought  

[Janneman]

News like this will surely attract the hoards of  Saudi's and Aussies.

[vlad]

The Classic case of the tail wagging the dog. We remember his mate saying I will not allow The Omicron variant to get a footing in Thailand. Well as we have all witnessed HMS Junta has not fixed its broken Rudder and she is still steering in circles with this motley crew.

[palooka]

22 minutes ago, Soidog said:

One other thought on your comment:

 he also believed there was an untapped lucrative business in getting long term stayers out!! He went on to say that he believed there were many 75+ year olds who had made the move in their 50’s and 60’s who now simply couldn’t work out how to unwind their decisions. I pointed out that in many cases it was the lack of finances that made the situation what it was and hence they couldn’t pay him to change things. This is something he disagrees with and still claims that there are many reasonably comfortable old guys who simply don’t have the drive, knowledge, guts or confidence to make the move. 
 

I still think he’s wrong that it’s a good business option, but it’s an interesting thought  

Think a few of the "jumpers" may have been in the situation he describes.

The lack of finances, some cut all ties with family and homeland, some have been isolated in remote areas by their thai girl friends and they have few if any farlung friends. Have a couple around here that the girl friends get upset if they talk to other foreigners.

As you say, If no money I don't see how it would be profitable, more charitable unless he was planning to milk the family and friends etc.

[Soidog]

36 minutes ago, palooka said:

Think a few of the "jumpers" may have been in the situation he describes.

The lack of finances, some cut all ties with family and homeland, some have been isolated in remote areas by their thai girl friends and they have few if any farlung friends. Have a couple around here that the girl friends get upset if they talk to other foreigners.

As you say, If no money I don't see how it would be profitable, more charitable unless he was planning to milk the family and friends etc.

Yes I’m not sure if he ever pursued the idea. Lost touch a little recently. I just thought it was an interesting angle, but like you say, couldn’t see where the money to make it work profitably would come from. 
 

 

[BIGGLES]

This man is really switched on, considering he has no more brains than a Kipper has tits, evidence for my statement:

Opens his mouth and the wind just blows his tongue about. ( All these possible 10000 infections will no doubt be due to dirty foreigners) The new target market, Saudi, India will love that!

[DiJoDavO]

Ffs.... 

I guess what's really going on here is that if they open everything directly, and people see that Covid stays the same, whether open or not, they guess people are going to be pissed off. So they take baby steps, so it looks as if what they are doing is working. 

[Tigermask]

Quote

By registering as a restaurant the bars were able to reopen and restart their businesses and serve alcohol until midnight (as of May 1). The phenomenon was less obvious in Thai nightlife and outer provinces, but everyone can concur that, although partly subdued, no one is any doubt that people have been drinking alcohol and socialising for long before June 1.

Good point Tim, it's unfounded nonsense when anyone could stay out drinking past midnight for months. Add in that the trend now is towards less testing and the prediction of 10,000 a day is not going to happen in June. Cases will not even hit half of that and even if they did it wouldn't matter, how many genuine hospital admissions (as opposed to scam forced hospital admissions to claim insurance) is what matters.