Officials reluctant to cancel Phuket sandbox, lifeline for desperate locals

[Thaiger]

Officials have confirmed that the Phuket sandbox scheme will not be cancelled, despite rising infections on the island. At least not for now. The Bangkok Post reports that despite the island reporting 40 new infections yesterday, the highest number since it re-opened to foreign tourists, the governor is reluctant to put an end to the financial lifeline for desperate locals. Instead, a number of additional restrictions have been introduced. Most of the new infections are cases of local transmission, primarily in people arriving from high-risk “dark red” provinces to look for work. Officials have responded by strengthening measures to get […]

The post Officials reluctant to cancel Phuket sandbox, lifeline for desperate locals appeared first on Thaiger News.

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[Malc-Thai]

Most of the infections in tourists are found from the 4 tests including 1 before departure  but it was only a around a week ago anyone from thai mainland could travel on just a pcr test that could be up to 7 days old. Many have come here looking for work.. should apply the testing to thai people too that way bring it in line with external tourists.. I don't want to see the dirbox fail because people need income but needs 1 system for everyone visiting.. including minimum stay requirements 

[Graham]

Was it not stated that everyone had the same stringent rules applied to them for entry, someone been telling Porkies ?

 

[colinneil]

1 minute ago, Graham said:

Was it not stated that everyone had the same stringent rules applied to them for entry, someone been telling Porkies ?

What can you expect? When has any government official ever told the truth?

Answer, never. They could not tell the truth even if their lives depended on it.

[EdwardV]

“ financial lifeline for desperate locals.” - no doubt and at least being truthful. However quoting the number of nights is an attempt to make it look more successful than it really is. That 280K in nights is only 20K in tourists. A far cry from the 110K which was the lowest of pre opening projections. If you are really concerned with the local economy, drop some of the restrictions like the testing after arrival. It’s one of those high risk requirements that is keeping the numbers down. 

[MHW]

”Officials have confirmed that the Phuket sandbox scheme will not be cancelled, despite rising infections on the island. At least not for now.”

However, there could be changes and more restrictions in the next 10 minutes. Stay tuned…

[HolyCowCm]

Well the locals better step up the gouging of the tourists before it does close.

[Ubon2530]

6 minutes ago, colinneil said:

What can you expect? When has any government official ever told the truth?

Answer, never. They could not tell the truth even if their lives depended on it.

Prayuth said everyone should be informed by relevant state agencies that this situation will only continue for the next 2 - 4 weeks. (He said this today - see BKP top story)

So no worries then...

[Malc-Thai]

13 minutes ago, Graham said:

Was it not stated that everyone had the same stringent rules applied to them for entry, someone been telling Porkies ?

It has now been changed to all areas from Thailand but before was only dark red zones! But the thais are not tested after arrival or have to stay in sha hotels where staff are fully vaccinated 

[Bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, Ubon2530 said:

Prayuth said everyone should be informed by relevant state agencies that this situation will only continue for the next 2 - 4 weeks. (He said this today - see BKP top story)

So no worries then...

I see it was an official quoting our illustrious leader, so the PM will have the chance to deny saying it when it gets even worse:
"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has estimated the intense Covid-19 situation will affect the country for the next two to three weeks or four weeks at most, said Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha"

[Objectivance]

Peanut has arrived, stay in your rooms.

[triplebogey]

6 minutes ago, Objectivance said:

Peanut has arrived, stay in your rooms.

peanut what you doing for the next 14 days

Edited July 28, 2021 by triplebogey

[Stonker]

1 hour ago, EdwardV said:

If you are really concerned with the local economy, drop some of the restrictions like the testing after arrival. It’s one of those high risk requirements that is keeping the numbers down. 

How could that be justified when the number arriving who test positive is higher than the number testing positive in Phuket or Thailand?

 

Follow that logic and you may as well not test anyone at all!

[Stonker]

2 hours ago, Malc-Thai said:

Most of the infections in tourists are found from the 4 tests including 1 before departure  but it was only a around a week ago anyone from thai mainland could travel on just a pcr test that could be up to 7 days old. Many have come here looking for work.. should apply the testing to thai people too that way bring it in line with external tourists.. I don't want to see the dirbox fail because people need income but needs 1 system for everyone visiting.. including minimum stay requirements 

You're right in theory, @Malc-Thai, but it's just not possible in practice.

 

How about all the delivery drivers?

 

Until people country-wide are vaccinated it's simply not possible, and all you're doing is polishing doggy-do.

[stuhan]

Saw that coming weeks ago

[Malc-Thai]

9 minutes ago, Stonker said:

You're right in theory, @Malc-Thai, but it's just not possible in practice.

How about all the delivery drivers?

Until people country-wide are vaccinated it's simply not possible, and all you're doing is polishing doggy-do.

@stonker Yes can see this as still a problem but most are in and out if the island same day and could make sure they stay in vehicles to be unloaded would help.. . Its more the thais coming to stay for work short holidays etc..there are massive numbers compared to the short time delivery drivers.. just put same criteria on them to. tests after arrival, sha hotels,etc minimum stay .. as you can see its caught with sandbox tourists but not these and I agree it won't be 100% but a lot better than now

[EdwardV]

1 hour ago, Stonker said:

How could that be justified when the number arriving who test positive is higher than the number testing positive in Phuket or Thailand?

Follow that logic and you may as well not test anyone at all!

Except for the fact only a couple have tested positive upon arrival. Most test positive on the 2nd or 3rd test and per the article on this site. It’s thought most of those were infected in Phuket. Regardless that wasn’t my point. It was if Thailand’s only real concern is the welfare of the local businesses, then you should make it easier to arrive. Of course, that’s crazy but then most of what the government is doing doesn’t make sense. 

[dmacarelli]

I believe they are still around 10,000 tourists total. And it is likely 8,000 are returning expats. But something is better than nothing. 

My contention is that all restrictions should only apply to Thais. Not foreigners who have been vaccinated and tested, and are the ones taking the real risk by coming here at this time.

It is obvious the foreigners are causing next to no transmission, and the real issue is with the locals. So, who are we kidding here? Time to end all restrictions on incoming foreigners. 

[vlad]

Mmm or maybe all the Hotels and Restaurant's need staff Quickly. So bring them in through the back door no test's and not pay them for there test's. Pay them Peanuts. Easy to see how the most infections are spread. Money talks here.

[triplebogey]

46 minutes ago, dmacarelli said:

It is obvious the foreigners are causing next to no transmission, and the real issue is with the locals. So, who are we kidding here? Time to end all restrictions on incoming foreigners. 

that seems a little short sighted.who will service these tourists? other tourists. The locals will pass the virus among themselves because the vaccine they have been given is marginal. the people coming from other parts of Thailand have not been vaccinated.  so to service some tourists thais should exposed themselves to the virus. seems fair but I think at that point they should be given hazardous duty pay. then the tourist would say he is paying to much. the solution to the problem is more complex then end all restrictions. 

[dmacarelli]

47 minutes ago, triplebogey said:

that seems a little short sighted.who will service these tourists? other tourists. The locals will pass the virus among themselves because the vaccine they have been given is marginal. the people coming from other parts of Thailand have not been vaccinated.  so to service some tourists thais should exposed themselves to the virus. seems fair but I think at that point they should be given hazardous duty pay. then the tourist would say he is paying to much. the solution to the problem is more complex then end all restrictions. 

Simple solution. Allow only fully vaccinated, and tested people to service the tourists, within all related businesses.

Of course that would be far simpler if the nitwits could procure enough vaccine, set up enough centers to make getting one quick and simple, and just begin showing the tiniest bit of respect to the masses. 

[Guevara]

It may not be necessary to cancel the sandbox. According to Good Morning Thailand, cancellations for August alone are approximately 50%. If this figure increases, the sandbox could die a natural death. Mishandled and poorly thought through from the word go. The so called lockdown has been a farce from the beginning, pseudo, half hearted attempt at containing the spread. Still, Prayut is confident it will all be over in 2-3 weeks (maybe 4 weeks).

[Paco]

First they said if so many infection have we close the sandbox now they changed again their mind because of $$$$ FU all

[Stardust]

5 hours ago, Bluesofa said:

I see it was an official quoting our illustrious leader, so the PM will have the chance to deny saying it when it gets even worse:
"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has estimated the intense Covid-19 situation will affect the country for the next two to three weeks or four weeks at most, said Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha"

He ordered that covid stops in 4 weeks

[triplebogey]

28 minutes ago, dmacarelli said:

Simple solution. Allow only fully vaccinated, and tested people to service the tourists, within all related businesses.

Of course that would be far simpler if the nitwits could procure enough vaccine, set up enough centers to make getting one quick and simple, and just begin showing the tiniest bit of respect to the masses. 

That be true but it does not exist. There are not enough fully vaccinated locals with a real vaccine to handle the tourists. so at this time to say no restrictions is a pipe dream. in addition by their own numbers we are out of control with the local population. every plan that comes to mind starts with the IF that is never good. If we had the vaccine if we had the people properly vaccinated, if all the tourists were truly vaccinated and virus free, if the government had approached this problem as a problem and not a money grab. see this is going nowhere. the end result is obvious be aware of the facts and make a valued decision to come to the island or not. choice is up to the tourist. do your homework and do not complain. there are many other places in the world to go, and maybe when the people in charge see that they will change their ways maybe not.