News Forum - New variant could dampen Thailand’s reopening enthusiasm

[Thaiger]

Thailand was the first country in Asia to more fully reopen to foreign travellers, and it is seeing a slow recovery, with more bookings for hotels, and new faces along shopping strips and markets in the country. November 1 was the launch of the Thailand Pass and a broader reopening to fully vaccinated travellers and tourists from 63 low-risk countries. But on one hand there is an excitement about the kickstart to the Thai economy, just in time for the traditional high season of traffic. But news from the past few days, about the new Covid variant Omicron, is now […]

The story New variant could dampen Thailand’s reopening enthusiasm as seen on Thaiger News.

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[NCC1701A]

it will be interesting to see where we are in two weeks. 

[BraveNewFahrenheit]

Just now, NCC1701A said:

it will be interesting to see where we are in two weeks. 

We just need two weeks to flatten the curve!!!

[Prosaap]

 They make thai people scare about the one come in they are all tested its the one they bring in illegally that you need to be scare off  

[Manu]

6 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

it will be interesting to see where we are in two weeks. 

Well this new variant has been discovered on 14th November... 2 weeks ago. Daily death rate for the past 14 days in SA: 2. Being a little careful and monitor it further: of course. Speculating and panicking (again!): no please.

[mickkotlarski]

11 minutes ago, Manu said:

Well this new variant has been discovered on 14th November... 2 weeks ago. Daily death rate for the past 14 days in SA: 2. Being a little careful and monitor it further: of course. Speculating and panicking (again!): no please.

Sensible.

[Cabra]

Man plans, God laughs... I expect we'll see some backtracking on quarantine requirements and further delays in the mid-January opening of entertainment venues

[LoongFred]

4 minutes ago, Cabra said:

Man plans, God laughs... I expect we'll see some backtracking on quarantine requirements and further delays in the mid-January opening of entertainment venues

Best to be cautious and go slowly. I assume opening bars and entertainment places will be the first affected.

[Bob20]

Variant was first discovered 9 November and first reported to the WHO on 24 November.

The last 2 days cases have been found on arrival in a dozen or more countries, but tens of thousands have traveled between 9 and 26 November. Several countries are now calling in those travelers for testing.

As it's not spread to millions of cases (yet) of course there are also not yet many sufferers or deaths, but that there are already some deaths within two weeks is certainly no good sign.

We should have learned from previous outbreaks that you take decisive immediate action to limit the damage. The "let's see what happens first" approach will leave us with more damage long term.

[Pompies]

Suttananpong is wholly naive and not a little complacent. Omicron has been in the wild for weeks and only now are countries actively testing for it thanks to South African vigilance. Within two weeks it will be here and will cause the authorities to run around like headless chickens trying to put the blame onto tourists. And by year end we will be in forms of lockdown and tighter restrictions on entry. And as for there being signs of a resurgence in visitors, if the Brit I met last evening is anything to go by she said she has spent the most boring month of her life in Chiang Mai. As part owner of a YouTube vlog she will no doubt be giving 500 000 subscribers a full on honest report on holidaying in a graveyard.

[Stardust]

1 hour ago, Manu said:

Well this new variant has been discovered on 14th November... 2 weeks ago. Daily death rate for the past 14 days in SA: 2. Being a little careful and monitor it further: of course. Speculating and panicking (again!): no please.

Exactly hospitalization went down and hospitals are more concerned about the former variants with more serious symptoms. But it is a big concern for the airlines and travelling because the new variant is more infectious. 

[remo940]

What else could go wrong?

[kmc]

24 letters in the Greek Alphabet.  Delta lasted a year.  Omicron should last a year.  At this rate, we'll be wearing face diapers and locked in our houses for at least 23 more years!  All for the common cold!

Edited November 28, 2021 by kmc

[HiuMak]

1 hour ago, remo940 said:

What else could go wrong?

prepare to stock up again?

[Jason]

This is going to start a run on toilet paper, I just know it!!!

[longwood50]

4 hours ago, Thaiger said:

The story New variant could dampen Thailand’s reopening enthusiasm as seen on Thaiger News.

I have said from the beginning this idea that you can somehow be "the boy in the bubble" isolated from covid was insane thinking.  Countries including Thailand need to have the mindset how best to coexist with Covid and minimize its impact.  That might include requiring everyone to be vaccinated.  While that does not prevent entirely covid, it diminishes the number impacted and it reduces the severity of the virus if contracted.  

If countries continue to lock down, quarantine, etc each time a new variant is discovered the economic devastation will continue but so will the covid.  So what is gained? 

[TimothyN]

1 hour ago, kmc said:

24 letters in the Greek Alphabet.  Delta lasted a year.  Omicron should last a year.  At this rate, we'll be wearing face diapers and locked in our houses for at least 23 more years!  All for the common cold!

It's not the common col. Whilst also a coronavirus, the common cold is a different virus altogether.

[Coconut]

Thai Pass is on hold for new applicants arriving after Dec 15. TP page apologize for inconvenience. Accepting will resume on Dec 1. Drop down calendar in Test & Go application process still allows new applicants arriving until December 15. Please don't roll back to 14 day Q

[vlad]

5 hours ago, Manu said:

Well this new variant has been discovered on 14th November... 2 weeks ago. Daily death rate for the past 14 days in SA: 2. Being a little careful and monitor it further: of course. Speculating and panicking (again!): no please.

We only discovered the Omicron variant because South Africa admitted it 4 day's  ago Manu. 

[Rangers]

25 minutes ago, Coconut said:

Thai Pass is on hold for new applicants arriving after Dec 15. TP page apologize for inconvenience. Accepting will resume on Dec 1. Drop down calendar in Test & Go application process still allows new applicants arriving until December 15. Please don't roll back to 14 day Q

I wondered why my sons application was taking so long, over a week now and still heard nothing. 

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

7 hours ago, BraveNewFahrenheit said:

We just need two weeks to flatten the curve!!!

Straight'nin' the curve, 
Flat'nin' the hills. 
Someday the mountain might get 'em, but the law never will. 

 

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

2 hours ago, Coconut said:

Thai Pass is on hold for new applicants arriving after Dec 15. TP page apologize for inconvenience. Accepting will resume on Dec 1. Drop down calendar in Test & Go application process still allows new applicants arriving until December 15. Please don't roll back to 14 day Q

And if this rolls out as people may suspect ….. The real tourists may just have to end up staying here for a few months, as other countries may be same same but same. Wonder of the number of flights that may be about to be cancelled …. Santa’s Slay may be one of them.

[yselmike]

31 minutes ago, AdvocatusDiaboli said:

And if this rolls out as people may suspect ….. The real tourists may just have to end up staying here for a few months, as other countries may be same same but same. Wonder of the number of flights that may be about to be cancelled …. Santa’s Slay may be one of them.

Borders are being slammed shut, Switzerland and Israel are leading the way.more European countries are going on the black list.Guess I won't be going anywhere this winter.

 

[ninja]

8 hours ago, Cabra said:

Man plans, God laughs... I expect we'll see some backtracking on quarantine requirements and further delays in the mid-January opening of entertainment venues

Nope,  its still on for mid January .    But they are just changing it year by year now    So, 2023  (for now)

[JohninDublin]

8 hours ago, LoongFred said:

Best to be cautious and go slowly. I assume opening bars and entertainment places will be the first affected.

With the news that it might affect the reopening  of bars, I can hear you celebrating, and I'm in Dublin. You forgot to decorate your post with multiple emojis.