Well, here we go, folks. There were mutterings a couple of weeks ago about clusters at Thong Lo entertainment venues. Then a few days ago another lockdown was announced for Bangkok.

Now we learn that government ministers have experienced "exposure to positive cases" according to the Reuters article below. We don't know precisely, but some likely paid a visit to the Krystal Club on Soi Sukhumvit 55 in the Thong Lo area. The Tripadvisor entry for this establishment indicates what sort of "exposure" these fine government officials might have been enjoying. A translation from a Thai-language source:

Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, former director-general of the Public Relations Department, became the lastest politician who has been proven positive for the virus today. He is being treated at Phramongkutklao Hospital while relevant officials are investigating the disease as well as tracking his close contacts for disease inspections.

Yeah...track the close contacts of that former PR guy and current major general, please. See picture below (from the Tripadvisor entry).

We await further lockdown instructions.

Thailand Braced for Infections Spike After Detecting UK COVID-19 Variant
BY PANU WONGCHA-UM AND Panarat Thepgumpanat
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2BU0MQ

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has detected at least 24 cases of the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 first identified in Britain, a government health expert said on Wednesday, its first known domestic transmission of the highly contagious variant.

The SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.7 has been found in more than 100 countries and has been blamed for fuelling new waves of infections in record numbers.

The UK variant was found in a cluster of 24 visitors to entertainment venues in Bangkok, which were detected at the weekend. Nearly 200 such venues have been closed for two weeks.

"We did everything to block it, and it still gets through," Yong Poovorawan, a government expert and virologist at Chulalongkorn University, told a health ministry briefing.

"This variant is very viral and can spread 1.7 times faster than the usual strain," he said.

Thailand has seen infections jump in the past week, although numbers are still low compared to some of its regional neighbours.

It recorded 334 new infections on Wednesday, with no new deaths, bringing its case total to 29,905 and 95 fatalities.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha instructed authorities to prepare field hospitals in anticipation of a spike in infections.

Ten of his ministers and dozens of lawmakers were self-isolating on Wednesday due to exposure to positive cases.

"We can handle things right now and I have instructed the preparation for field hospitals in Bangkok area," Prayuth said of the rise in cases.

"We could need these field hospitals in case the pandemic worsens," he added.

Confirmation of the presence of the B.1.1.7 variant will be a setback for Thailand, which is just a week away from one of its biggest holiday periods.

B.1.1.7 is as much as 70% more transmissible than existing variants, and far deadlier, according to British scientists.

Yong said he was puzzled at how community transmission had occurred given Thailand's strict border controls, quarantine and testing protocols, which in January had detected the variant in a family traveling from Britain, who were isolated.

Opas Karnkawinpong of the Department of Disease Control warned of thousands of new daily infections if restrictions are not followed during the holiday period.

Thailand is aiming to start is mass immunisation campaign from June but has been vaccinating health workers or people deemed vulnerable, with more than 300,000 recipients so far, according to the Health Ministry.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thempgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)

EDIT: From a Japanese source, a gallery of the hostesses at the Krystal Club--a place where senior gov't officials are currently telling their wives they've never, ever visited:
https://yari-thai.net/koyote/krystal-club-thonglor25/#h_shop_cast

EDIT 2: Here's a 34-second video of the lovely staff at that place where the ministers never visited (Prayut says he has no knowledge of any ministers ever ever going there):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t9BiuR4NzM





[ Last edited by  JackTheBat at 8-4-2021 09:27 ]

@ obe: Yes it will, and it's unfolding as we speak.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404658
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered an immediate 14-day shutdown of entertainment venues or restaurants where a Covid-19 infection is found, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri confirmed on Thursday.

Businesses on Khao San Road (this is a traditional spot for Songkran activities) are ordered closed until April 12. Songkran technically begins the 13th but who knows what will be mandated by then.

What's going on: as ever, no way to decode it 100%. But all mongers should take a look this video of the hostesses at the Krystal Club:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2dsSn5dj1g

That was posted March 21, 2021--about two weeks ago. Notice any facemasks or faceshields? Nope, because the clientele (wealthy Thais including of course gov't ministers) want a clear view of the women they might pay to sit with them, drink, and sing karaoke. These are upper-tier WGs, and they're crammed cheek-to-jowl in party dresses. All it takes is one infectee and we could get a superspreader cluster...hey wait a minute, that's exactly what happened!

No, the wives aren't stupid--if the husband is wealthy/powerful he will have a concubine, maybe two, and visit hostess clubs like Krystal. But during a global pandemic?? Remember that these are the people who make snap decisions that restrict or close bars and restaurants, decisions that may be necessary but cause economic damage to ordinary Thais.

This on the eve of Songkran, when ordinary Thais typically return to home provinces. As you might imagine, this is not going over well with the general public.

How did the virus spread? I don't know. It's clear that COVID is highly contagious, and it's mutating into new variants reportedly even more contagious. Thailand was under the impression that they had this thing cornered. Just blame some Burmese migrant workers and we'll have Songkran, everything is juuuuuust fine. Now high-level gov't ministers are on the hook, and no one much liked them before this anyway.

Expect more measures to be enacted in the name of public safety and to deflect attention. Will they close shopping malls and ban alcohol sales nationwide like they did a year ago? Unlikely. Will they order closures of entertainment venues, including go-go bars? Likely.

Attention is focused on Phuket as well, and I doubt the "Phuket Sandbox" scheme is going to become reality on schedule.

Mai pen rai, mai pen fucking rai.

JtB

British COVID-19 variant is now the dominate strain in the US.  At 70% more infectious, this means 4.3 people can be infected from contact with one infected person.  This variant is not more dangerous in terms of illness level but it means its spreads faster.  The virus is still asymptotic or no symptoms ever development.  Pfizer and Moderna studies are already showing currently vaccinated people are protected against variants.  Johnson and Johnson test trials were done with the variants in circulation and is already proven effective.

Thailand cases in the last 3 days has been 250, 334 and 405.

Who will they blame? Most likely Myanmar nationals or those dirty farangs who don't shower. Certainly not the government officials who were at a gentleman's club.

Obe

QUOTE:

Who will they blame?

I'm not really seeing it that way. The three groups you mentioned are the usual suspects, but farang are kinda missed here nowadays...or at least the money they bring into the Kingdom is missed.

Burmese are often scapegoats, alas. And they certainly were in the spotlight during the Dec/Jan COVID wave.

But Prayut and his merry men are widely disliked by ordinary Thais. They may not be out in the streets protesting but there's dissatisfaction. However, that's been counterbalanced by a sense of pride in combatting COVID. And, it's deserved for the most part. Thailand is in better shape than Malaysia, which is hardly a basket case.

All that has sprung a massive leak with the revelations of gov't officials partying in Thong Lo--Prayut declaims all knowledge, and the district is known for expensive clubs frequented by Thais who are, shall we say, not exactly the salt of the earth. The DJ Matoom incident where some celebrity infected a bunch of people at a party in January was not appreciated by the general public. Now this.

We don't know what will happen but cases are rising and that's not good. I expect closures of niteries, possibly another curfew. I also expect that the Thai FDA will approve the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines so they can be imported and sold at private hospitals, and the already-approved vaccines will likely see greater importation as well. This was not the plan, but I think it will happen.

Remember that Thais are terrified of COVID and resent those who've flaunted basic hygiene measures in the pursuit of imported booze and fancy skirts. A year ago I was helping hand out rice boxes and basic supplies to people who live in slums and have very little, but they have soap and cloth masks, because they understand the meaning of the word "pandemic"...I hope the current spike can be managed. But I'm just a lone farang here. I sure as hell will not be found in some hostess club sharing a karaoke microphone with flash dames in party dresses.

I'm hopeful, but nobody's yapping about the "Phuket Sandbox" scheme at the moment.

JtB




[ Last edited by  JackTheBat at 8-4-2021 21:04 ]

Question - it's not clear cut to me and I read it differently on different sites, but are they closing down all bars / entertainment venues in the 41 provinces OR only if they have had COVID incident in their club or a very nearby one? It reads differently based on where you read it. By how fast things are moving, there may be a different answer to that by tomorrow morning.

ANSWERING THIS MYSELF AFTER INITIAL POST ... IT SEEMS ALL BARS / ENTERTAINMENT VENUES. SKIP TO 1:00 MARK OF THIS ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByTTkR63z_Y

Update ... All Songkran festivities cancelled in Bangkok.

Songkran fully cancelled in Bangkok amid Covid-19 outbreaks

All Songkran festival activities throughout every district of the Bangkok province have been officially cancelled to prevent more outbreaks of Covid-19. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced this difficult decision today in light of a rise in Coronavirus infection clusters around the country. Many of these outbreaks have been directly linked to entertainment venues, nightclubs and bars, including in Bangkok’s Thong Lor and Ekkamai areas. These venues are easy targets for Covid-19 spread as they often don’t follow mask-wearing and social distancing measures, and many are poorly ventilated, making a fertile breeding ground for transmission.

Deputy Governor Kriangyos Sudlabha announced the closure of all entertainment venues on Bangkok nightlife hub Khaosan Road before Songkran from April 7 to 12. Free Covid-19 testing will also be provided to all merchants in the Khaosan area.

“The Songkran activities at Lan Khon Meuang Plaza in Phra Nakhon district will be cancelled. These include an alms-giving ceremony and pouring water on the Buddha image and elders as blessings. Furthermore, activities scheduled to be held in other districts by the district office will also be cancelled. As for public and private organisations which cannot cancel their planned Songkran festivities, the BMA urges them to employ strict measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”

Iconic massive public Songkran water fights in Bangkok and throughout Thailand, where thousands usually fill the streets and joyously spray each other with water to celebrate, are definitely out. But the new announcement curbs a lot of more traditional and calm activities from taking place in large public gathering areas. The deputy governor advises for traditional ceremonies to be performed at home, rather than at temples or public locations.

“During the Songkran festival, we advise people to perform the ceremony of pouring water on Buddha images and elders at home and avoid going out to crowded areas. If you have to travel, make sure to wear a face mask at all times, maintain at least a one-metre distance from others and wash your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser.”

[ Last edited by  jk45_89 at 8-4-2021 20:35 ]

Obe, u the dirty one.


Ok that’s it, my plan next week all cancelled, just gonna jerk in hotel

A pretty discouraging update that just came out ...


10 field hospitals being set up as Bangkok hospitals expected to run out of beds

The Thai military is to set up 10 field hospitals in Bangkok, amid fears that medical facilities in the capital are running out of beds. Between them, the field hospitals are expected to provide an additional 3,000 beds. As infections continue to rise in Bangkok, a number of hospitals have confirmed they are no longer offering Covid-19 tests, amid speculation that they have no space to accommodate patients who test positive.

According to the Bangkok Post, the Defence Ministry has confirmed that the army is acting on an instruction from PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to open a number of field hospitals to cope with a surge in infections, arising from the nightlife cluster in Bangkok’s Thong Lor area.

The governor of Bangkok, Aswin Kwanmuang, says 2 of the facilities will be located at Ratchaphipat Hospital in the Bang Khae district and Bang Khunthian Geriatric Hospital in the Bang Khunthian district. It’s understood the military also plans to open field hospitals in other provinces.

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital has already announced on its Facebook page that Covid-19 testing is being suspended as it does not have enough beds for infected patients. The hospitals is asking everyone who has booked a test to reschedule. Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital says it too has suspended testing but says it’s because it’s run out of testing equipment.

However, Pakpoom Dejhasadin, the medic behind the popular Mor Lab Panda Facebook page, claims that hospitals are suspending testing due to a shortage of beds rather than a lack of testing supplies.

According to Channel 3 News, 6 hospitals in the capital have announced that they are no longer offering Covid-19 tests. They are Samitivej, Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, Phyathai 2, Piyayate, Petcharavej, and Sukhumvit Hospital.

Another update ... good to see the priorities here, but also concerning in combination with the other articles coming out


Airlines urge government to shut down Songkran travel to curb virus spread

“Travel restrictions won’t be good for airlines, but in the meantime, we should prioritise long-term benefits instead of short-term revenue.”

Thailand’s aviation sector is nervous, amid rising cases of Covid-19 and confirmation that the highly-contagious UK variant has reached the Kingdom. Airlines are calling on the government to introduce travel restrictions now, admitting that while this will hurt in the short-term, it will prevent further decimation of the tourism industry in the long run.

Tassapon Bijleveld from Asia Aviation, the largest shareholder in Thai AirAsia, is concerned about significant inter-provincial travel over the Songkran holiday next week. He is calling for the government to act now to stop the mass exodus before it starts.

“There won’t be a third wave if the government can stop it earlier. It should consider imposing strict travel restrictions. Even though the tourism industry may lose lucrative income, we have to accept it if that would be benefit the whole country. That would be better than facing another nationwide lockdown afterwards.”

According to a Bangkok Post report, Tassapon says the indications so far are that most Thai AirAsia passengers have no plans to cancel their upcoming trips. The average load factor over the holiday period is expected to reach 80 – 85%, with all furloughed staff at the airline being summoned back to work. He says the number of people planning to travel will make it particularly difficult for the government to control the virus this time round.

Nuntaporn Komonsittivate from Thai Lion Air echoes this sentiment, saying it would be reasonable to introduce travel restrictions due to the difficulty in controlling the virus otherwise. She adds that it would be a case of short-term pain for long-term gain.

“Travel restrictions won’t be good for airlines, but in the meantime, we should prioritise long-term benefits instead of short-term revenue.”

Yesterday, the government’s Covid-19 task force confirmed there would be no nationwide lockdown over Songkran, adding that each province could introduce its own restrictions and quarantine measures. In addition, pubs, clubs and other entertainment venues in 41 provinces are to be closed from today for a period of two weeks.

Another really discouraging update that came out just after I posted the above two ...


Covid-19 outbreak in Bangkok could take months to control, health official says

It could take more than 2 months to control the recent Covid-19 outbreak in Bangkok which is concentrated around bars and nightclubs in Thong Lor. Health officials suspect the faster-spreading UK variant of the virus has spread at the bars and entertainment venues in Bangkok.

The outbreak has reached around 20 provinces. While it may take 1 to 2 months to get the coronavirus situation under control throughout Thailand, it will take longer in Bangkok where most of the infections are, according to the permanent secretary for health Kiatiphum Wongrajit.

“The main source of the infections is in Bangkok’s entertainment venues, which could take longer to contain, depending on measures.”

Several hospitals in Bangkok have stopped Covid-19 testing due to a shortage of beds. The Royal Thai Army is now setting up field hospitals with 3,000 beds in 10 army bases.

Health officials confirmed that the highly contagious B.1.1.7. variant of the virus has reached Thailand. The mutated strain was first detected in Britain. Thailand’s top virologist Yong Poovorawan says the UK variant may have come into Thailand from Cambodia where the strain has also been reported.

Thailand started its vaccination campaign in late February and so far, around 300,000 people have been vaccinated, according to Reuters. The country’s mass immunisation campaign is set to start in June when the locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccine is ready.

Damn, that video of Krystal brings back a wave of great memories. I still have 13 bottles of Gold Label left there!