Coronavirus (Covid-19)
CCSA threatens lockdowns by March “if situation spirals out of control”

The spokesperson for Thailand’s CCSA, Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, yesterday stated that, if the “situation spiralled out of control”, there would be a “nationwide lockdown by March”. The Christmas Day warning followed a week of tracking and tracing from an outbreak that centred on the Mahachai seafood market in Samut Sakhon, specifically, and Burmese migrant workers in the fishing and seafood trade, more generally.
The spokesperson said the the lockdown would only be necessary “if there was not “proper cooperation from the people”.
In other Covid-related news from yesterday, 6 government officials, who initially tested positive in ‘rapid’ tests were later found to be false positives. The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital had conducted 350 tests for ‘at-risk’ staff with the rapid tests.
Thailand is still under an Emergency Decree, which has been extended numerous times, which allows the government’s appointed CCSA to make quick decisions related to any Covid outbreaks in the country and circumvent the parliamentary procedures. The government is looking to abandon the emergency decree and update its Disease Control laws instead.
Bangkok reported 6 new cases yesterday, taking the capital’s total to 40, related to the latest cluster. Nationally there has been 1,443 infections reported in the past week, more than 1,200 of them migrant workers. 6 Thais and 3 foreigners who have recently entered the country, also tested positive in quarantine and were reported in yesterday’s figures.
Patients linked to the Samut Sakhon cluster have been found in 31 provinces… Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Uttaradit, Petchabun, Suphanburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Krabi, Phuket, Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chai Nat, Samut Songkhram, Udon Thani, Phichit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Ang Thong, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, Loei and Ubon Ratchathani.
The total number of cases in Thailand, since February this year, has now reached 5,910 with 4,137 now fully recovered.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority closed down the city’s public schools on Thursday, and yesterday all public and private schools, nurseries were ordered to close temporarily in Nonthaburi, the province directly north of Bangkok, were also closed. The province has also closed entertainment venues from midnight-5am with a ban on live music and serving of food after 10pm. The province has also banned all migrant workers from entering the province. The precautionary measures are in place until January 6.
In Songkhla, the Prince of Songkla University’s Hat Yai campus has cancelled face-to-face lessons following a positive test from a lecturer. At the Prince of Songkla University’s campus in Phuket all Food Panda and Grab Food deliveries are banned from entering the campus.
Around the country some schools have also closed, as a precaution, after single cases were identified within their school community. A single case of a parent in Phuket ended up causing the closure of 16 of the island’s schools on Wednesday this week.
GRAPHIC: Nation Thailand
SOURCE: National Thailand
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Thai DJ Celebrity party is likely to be “super spreader” event

The birthday party of Techin Ploypetch, better known as “DJ Matoom”, is now considered a super-spreader source of Covid-19, with 19 people already found infected after attending the event. According the CCSA spokesperson during the daily briefing today, “Transmissions in Bangkok should be highlighted. They show the possibility of a person becoming a super-spreader”.
The birth of the super spreader birthday party started with a guest to the DJ’s party who had visited a well-known entertainment venue in Chiang Mai between January 1 and 4. He sought a Covid-19 test on January 5 following news that infected people had visited the pub, but tested negative. He should have self quarantined for 14 days, but he still flew to Bangkok and then attended the DJ celebrity’s birthday party on January 9.
DJ Matoom says he met the guest, one of his friend, on January 9, but that friend didn’t know he was infected until January 19 in which he told Matoom.
According to Dr Tanarak Plipat, now acting inspector-general of the Public Health Ministry, an infected person can transmit disease to two others on average, while a “super spreader” will transmit to multiple people.
DJ Matoom and the party’s guest were criticised of violating the disease control measures.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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Bangkok
Owners of vehicles emitting black smoke to be fined up to 5,000 baht

Owners of cars and trucks emitting an excessive amount of black smoke face a fine up to 5,000 baht. The heavy fine is an attempt to reduce air pollution in Bangkok. Along with the fine, the Department of Land Transport will also order the vehicle be suspended from use until its emission system is fixed.
According to the department, from October last year until January, 689,333 vehicles in Bangkok areas have been inspected for black smoke emissions, while 8,762 of them have been suspended from usage. Those vehicles emitting a high volume of smoke, but are under the safety standard, will receive warnings and owners are urged to check vehicle conditions and keep proper maintenance.
Vehicles with exceeding black smoke are urged to check their vehicles at the department’s certified vehicle inspection centres located around Bangkok’s outskirts, including Phutthamonthon, Romklao, and Khlong Luang areas. Motorists are also encouraged to help reduce air pollution caused by black smoke and PM2.5 particles by having their vehicles regularly serviced or alternately switching to electric or NGV-powered vehicles.
People who witness vehicles emitting black smoke can also report the authorities by calling 1584, or contact Line: @1584DLT, or via DLT GPS mobile application.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Bangkok
Police arrest man suspected of producing ketamine drug cocktail linked to 11 deaths

In the ongoing investigation into the ketamine-based drug cocktail linked to 11 deaths in Bangkok, police arrested a man who allegedly mixed large amounts of narcotics to make the drug cocktail known as “K powdered milk.” Police say the cocktail is ketamine mixed with methamphetamine, heroin and pharmaceutical pills for anxiety and sleeping.
38 year old Taiwan national Chou Yi Sen, aka “Lupin Taiwan,” was arrested yesterday after police raided his condominium in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district. Chou allegedly admitted to mixing the drugs to make “K powdered milk” and police say the formulas for the drug mixture were found on his cell phone.
Earlier this month, 11 people died after taking the drug cocktail. The Bangkok Post says dozens more people are still in the hospital after taking the “K powdered milk.” Police have arrested numerous suspected drug dealers who ran small scale and large scale operations.
Chou allegedly ran the drug operation from various locations in Bangkok, selling the drugs overseas using the cryptocurrency Bitcoin as well as to buyers in Thailand. Police also searched Chou’s rooms at other condominium the Huai Khawang, Wang Thong Lang and Klong Toey districts, seizing a variety of illicit drugs and equipment as well as a pistol with 8 bullets.
Altogether, police seized 4 kilograms of ketamine, 376 ecstasy pills, 4 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 8 kilograms of heroin, 48 LSD tabs, 11.6 grams of cocaine, 2 bottles of Dormicum sleeping pills and 265 Five Five sleeping pills. Police say they also seized 2 plastic sealing machines, 2 mixers that appeared to have drug-like residue and 2 digital scales.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Geoff
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 8:50 am
“sin Thailand”? Freudian slip? 🙂
barry
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 9:00 am
More like a Freudian negligee 😉
Terrence Boyle
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 9:16 am
Lock down in March ?? Thats 9 weeks away ,, the whole country could have it by then !!
Ipaddressfunnycolors
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 11:41 am
So in the current outbreak of 10,000-100,000 “cases” how many are seriously ill or hospitalized.
If i understand the current situation its only a very very few people, under 10? 0?
I get it though, they will generate the need for a lock down based on fake positive pcr tests by doing too many cycle threshold.
And for the kicker, they won’t report the Cycle count because they know that we know, anything over 14 cycles is scientifically meaningless
Issan John
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:46 pm
Unsurprisingly, you evidently don’t “understand the current situation”.
FWIW, the numbers are readily available, including in the Thaiger.
Steven Ginn
Monday, December 28, 2020 at 7:42 pm
The paranoia is what is actually spiralling out of control. Too many mouth breathers who still can’t understand that this whole scam is to exert control!
Ipaddressfunnycolors
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 11:45 am
They will need to release a seriously dangerous bioweapon to make people seriously ill. Hey issanjohn, where’s all the sick and dying people from the latest “out break”
Issan John
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:51 pm
The sick ones are in the hospital, as widely reported.
As yet there are no “dying”, which shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to most people given the demographic in the outbreak.
Ipaddressfunnycolors
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 11:50 am
The total number of cases in Thailand, since February this year, has now reached 5,910 with 4,137 now fully recovered.
1500 People died?
You call this honest reporting?
Peter
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 3:04 pm
1200 have tested positive this week. They would not be considered as recovered yet. You only have to read to understand.
Issan John
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:52 pm
I think that’s asking too much, Peter.
Monir
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 1:29 pm
CCSA become government of Thailand !!
Remo
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 4:09 pm
1 million people have been vaccinated in the US, 600 000 in the UK. EU countries start vaccination tomorrow.
A large part of the population will be immunised in the Western world by April, so restricitions will probably be lifted.
It seems Thailand wants restrictions instead of starting vaccination soon.
Issan John
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 5:35 pm
What choice does Thailand have?
Genuine question.
All supplies of the vaccines currently available, from Pfizer and Moderna, have all already been bought up by the “Western world” anyway, and even if supplies were available they’re far too expensive at $40 per shot for the former and $20 for the latter, compared to $3 for Astra Zeneca’s and others.
They’re also far, far more expensive to store and transport, at -70c and -20c, and countries like Thailand don’t have the infrastructure to do so and can’t afford to introduce it.
“Starting vaccination soon” is simply impossible for Thailand, and many others.
FWIW, your claim that “1 million people have been vaccinated in the US, 600 000 in the UK” is actually very wrong – they’ve received the FIRST dose only, so vaccinations are actually going at HALF that rate as two doses are required.
Nowhere near “a large part of the population will be immunised in the Western world by April”. In the UK, at the present rate, it will take closer to ten years to vaccinate the population, assuming nobody needs any boosters, although things will obviously speed up once the AstraZeneca and any other ‘traditional’ vaccines become available.
Lifting “restrictions” will almost certainly depend on whether those vaccinated aren’t just protected themselves but aren’t carriers, and although there’s nothing definitive either way yet it appears unlikely that the mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccines offer any protection from transmission at all.
Ipaddressfunnycolors
Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 2:38 am
and then covid 21 will be born Through the vaccine. Yes conspiracy theory today. By mid jan this will be conspiracy fact. well… we will see.
Toby Andrews
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 5:03 pm
It suits this government to have emergency powers even if they are unjustified.
Issan John
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:55 pm
Of course it does. So what?
Mister Stretch
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 5:54 pm
While I am not a fan of the current government, nor its administrators, I believe if we wait until March, then things would already be spiraled out of control.
Every country that has locked down has had a reasonable handle on spread. Those that don’t lock down, or have populations that refuse to take reasonable anti-spread measures have the greatest spread and death.
Locking down works…and until vaccines are available, seems the most reasonable way to keep YOU safe… whether you believe in it or not.
Issan John
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 7:12 pm
I’d suggest not only the “most reasonable way” but the only way.
Fortunately for all here, whether fans of the current government or not, Thais have always understood the gravity of the situation even if the West didn’t and so “reasonable anti-spread measures” are supported at every level, whether mandated by the government or not.
If only the West could have said the same, a million more people would be celebrating Christmas with their families instead of being mourned by them.
Mike
Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 10:17 pm
Can someone teach “Issan John” how to use “inverted commas” properly?
“thanks”
Mister Stretch
Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 10:32 am
@ Mike The foolish label “inverted commas” are more commonly called quotation marks because they denote actual speech, as opposed to narration or reported speech, and IJ is using them correctly, in noting what is a quotation.
You do know what a quotation is, yes?
bs
Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 11:03 am
How are they checking in each small village ? is there any health clinics ? No there isnt – ! are people there going to the doctor if they fell ill ? No not all of them – as anywhere in the wolrd we can not thrust the numbers- some say this and others say that – better to stay home – til there is more control and even the vaccines are on the way – it wil take very long tiem before we wil see any effect – cause now it is exploding !
Social Observer
Monday, December 28, 2020 at 5:06 pm
“lockdowns by March” ??? Two months away ?? That’s an eternity given the speed at which the virus spreads !!
Ian
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 3:22 am
It will be lockdown by end January if it keeps spreading at current rate looks like the damn has broke Thailand did try but at what cost it’s killed the tourism areas for years to come so sad no matter what measures they tried many crazy .covid would find a way in pity the king didn’t spend some of the fortune he has to buy the vaccines before the west but no the king is in his counting house counting all his money while the country collapse so so sad for the lovely Thai people