Thailand
Britons arriving in Thailand test positive for Covid UK variant
Britons arriving in Thailand from England, have reportedly tested positive for the Covid-19 variant that was first identified in the UK. The family of 4 arrived from Kent, in southeast England, and are currently under quarantine at a private hospital after receiving the positive test results.
Dr. Yong Pooworavan, chief of the Virology Centre of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University said today in a Facebook post that the UK strain, called B.1.1.7., is 70% more transmissible than the other virus variants, which has seen several countries suspending flights from the UK over fears of fast transmissions.
Yong, however, says there is no need to panic as the particular strain does not cause severe symptoms and does not reduce the efficacy of the current vaccines for Covid-19. He further stated that the hospital in which the family is quarantined, is under special precautions to make sure the virus does not “leak out” of the facilities.
According to the World Health Organisation, the virus was first detected in the UK on September 21, and then spread across the nation by November, making it one of the most common virus variants in England. Now, more than 50% of positive virus results that were documented from October to December, are that of the new variant.
According to some scientists, the new variant may have been born out of an immunocompromised person after mutating.
Meanwhile, the Thai Retailers and Thai Shopping Centre Association has issued a statement that says they will cooperate fully with government orders for shopping malls to close at 9pm in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. They also have agreed to step up their safety and preventative measures for the public.
So far, the 3 provinces of Rayong, Chon Buri and Chanthaburi have been forced to lockdown for 28 days after the 2nd wave of Covid hit those areas hard.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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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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Thailand’s tourism officials have a new idea to draw in visitors: film production. The Tourism and Sports Ministry is aiming to generate around 3 billion baht from foreign film crews and is targeting projects with an investment over 100 million baht, hoping to compensate for the loss of revenue due to the lack of international tourists during the coronavirus pandemic.
Foreign tourism revenue drastically dropped nearly 83% in 2020, going from nearly 40 million tourists in 2019 to only 6.7 million tourists in 2020.
The tourism department’s director-general Anant Wongbenjarat says that Thailand welcomed 176 international film productions to the country last year, generating 1.73 billion baht for the local economy. But this is a sharp decrease compared to the previous year where the 740 foreign film crews generated 4.86 billion baht.
In August, the CCSA decided to grant special entry permission to film productions. 53 film production projects were based in Thailand during August and December, contributing 1.14 billion baht to the economy. Those entering Thailand must still undergo a 14 day quarantine.
“International productions can proceed and generate income for locals despite the tourism slowdown.”
Anant also says there are 4 more film production projects underway, and it is forecasted to generate 186 million baht, bringing the total to 57 projects. In the first half of this year, there will be nine more productions expected to come in and help create at least 800 jobs for locals.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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As fear over new variants of Covid-19 had prompted the travel restrictions to tighten worldwide, the United States biotech firm Moderna announced that its vaccine should protect against the variants identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Latest studies on the efficacy of Moderna vaccines confirmed that the vaccines are effective and protective against new variants. The company will continue more tests adding a second booster of its vaccine, bringing to 3 shots in a total.
“We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine should be protective against these newly detected variants.”
Last month, a private hospital in Bangkok advertised pre-orders for the Moderna vaccine, which still needs approval from Thailand’s FDA. Thailand’s Department of Health Service Support demanded that the hospital remove the advertisements.
In the ads, the hospital was charging 4,000 baht for a booking of the vaccine. In the post the hospital said the vaccine would arrive in Thailand in October 2021. They also announced that the vaccine would cost 6,000-10,000 baht.
Health officials say private hospitals will be allowed to administer vaccines that are approved by the FDA. So far, the Thai government has only approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use. The first batch of 50,000 doses are expected to arrive next month. Frontline health care workers and vulnerable groups in high risk areas will be first to receive the vaccine.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:16 pm
I do not understand this Surely when they departed they were all checked, yet a day later they are all positive, and moved to a B8000 a day hospital wards, for each of them, which I suspect the compulsory Thai insurance will not pay for.
I do not believe they are positive for the virus.
I believe it is a Thai money making racket.
Slugger
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Your beliefs are wrong and few people care about them.
Jon
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:40 pm
No, he’s right. The virus is real, but government overreaction and opportunism is very real too. You’re a brainlet.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:27 pm
Toby A has gone from being amusing to simply being an idiot.
Time to stop the stupidity and being childish, Toby.
Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 11:19 pm
Well maybe the brain of Isaan can explain why travellers for the UK can test negative when they board an aircraft, and as soon as they land in Thailand they are all claimed to be positive.
You are so smart, or so you claim, you give a reasonable explanation.
You will not because I notice the later in the day it is, the more rubbish you proclamations are.
You are drunk aren’t you?
I know the answer, but your support of the Thais no matter the evidence, will not allow you to state what is clearly evident.
Issan John
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 1:03 am
The “reasonable explanation”, as already given here and elsewhere by several people, is that to test positive you have to reach a minimal viral load.
They’re not tested “when they board the aircraft” but up to 72 hours before that.
Consequently they could very easily not only catch the Corona Virus in the 72 hours between testing and arriving, but they could already be carrying the virus when tested in the UK but it is still incubating / has not reached a high enough viral load to test positive. There could very easily be a week, possibly more, either between catching the virus in the UK and testing positive in Thailand, or during which they could catch the virus in the UK before being tested in Thailand.
I’ve never claimed or pretended to be “smart”, but as this has already been explained to you several times by several people clearly none of us are “smart” enough to get through to you.
Toby Andrews
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 11:08 am
If that is the case, why was nobody else on the aircraft positive for the virus?
the explanation is possibly they were the only foreigners, and the Thais declared them with the virus to make money at the hospital.
By the way, I doubt the Thai insurance will pay, and the Thais will let them.
The reason is, if the Thai insurance is made to pay, they would demand another test, and the Thai scammers do not want that!
John Brown
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Questions reporters should be asking:
1) When was this strain, or any sub-strain within the B.1.1.7 lineage, or other other strains that co-emergently developed the same mutations, *FIRST* detected in Thailand? What date?
2) What strain(s) were found in the BNH cluster that came from the Sathorn ASQ?
3) Why was information not made public earlier? What purpose was there in hiding it? In retrospect, does it seem like it was a good idea to not inform the public, given that they did not take the precautions that they would have if they had known earlier?
4) Which genomics lab sequenced that cluster? If not Chula, why not? Do they lack any testing capacity? Where does the work go when they lack capacity?
5) What PCR tests are being used to detect these strains? Are there any PCR tests in use in Thailand that have difficulty showing positive for them? When will our PCRs be updated so that infected visitors are not able to leave ASQ undetected? Are we going to shut the borders to visitors until this problem is fully resolved?
6) How many people have been exposed to any of the B.1.1.7 or similar strains so far? How many clusters have been detected total? How many people confirmed infected? With the epidemiological model the tracers are using, how many cases are assumed in the wild per 1 case detected?
7) What provinces have cases been traced to already? Since which dates?
8) What interventions are being used for the places and people that have been exposed? Have zones been designated and quarantines with border restrictions been imposed? Have exposed people been isolated?
9) What causes the higher infectiousness? Is it a higher viral load due to the mutations and deletions that allow the virus to multiply uninhibited for more generations before the immune system starts catching up? Will this not lead to not only a higher rate of transmission unless full lockdowns are used immediately, but also a higher incidence of severe cases among symptomatic populations, including a higher rate of hospitalization, intensive care, and death?
10) What about the US CDC’s admission I’m their public statement last month that the first generation vaccines may not be effective against this strain? What about Pfizer/BioNTech exec public statements admitting the same?
11) When are field hospitals going to be set up? How many beds are we planning for this time?
Alte Ledertasche
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 7:03 pm
The main question you should be asked is when you will stop spreading fear ?
preesy chepuce
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:06 pm
Have you hear about The Great Barrington declaration?
It’s a campaign led by medical professionals, sceptical of the utility of the current approach in many countries.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Yes, Preesy, but it’s of absolutely no relevance to this. None at all.
B.T.
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Yup,the current approach has little little of science and lots of ugly political games.
Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 11:23 pm
Take no notice of this drunk Pressy, his posts are all argumentative at this time because he has been drinking.
By the way they do not make much sense when this Isaan clown is sober.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:34 pm
Sorry, John B, but I don’t see why reporters should be asking ANY of those questions.
They’ve either already been answered, some at considerable length and detail, or they’re clearly for other countries to answer and the answers not yet known.
John Brown
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:49 pm
Because accountability and transparency are necessary factors for public trust, and you can either go voluntary or coercive to achieve public compliance but if you don’t pick those factors you can’t get voluntary. If you still don’t see the picture I can’t help you. I think for whatever reason you may have difficulty understanding young people in Thailand who are fed up being lied to so brazenly about such obvious things and getting away with it despite the great harm it causes. We have all sat quietly in private meetings listening to lies. Time for more truth.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:04 pm
What’s not transparent HERE?
Where is anyone being lied to HERE?
Sorry, but you’re starting to sound like Toby A, just bashing for the sake of it, and Rick with his idiotic fixation on PCR cycles.
Ipaddressfunnycolors
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 11:45 pm
They don’t report cycle thresholds… ever.
If they did the people would understand “cases” don’t mean infections. And positive tests don’t mean covid.
And so yes, I would be more compliant if I felt I could trust the media. But so far, with 60 deaths and the entire country shut down… ya. I don’t trust them.
John Brown
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 2:34 am
Issan John,
The answers to questions 1-2 have been lies. I know. You don’t. You listen to the news for your information. I get my information from meetings and briefings that happen hours, days, or weeks before you hear about it.
3-8 have not been asked properly nor answered. If I have missed some public broadcasts that contain this information, feel free to let me know and if I am able I will tell you what is true and what isn’t.
9 is for any and all virologists and immunologists in whatever countries who are capable of thinking about the problem to attempt a cogent and well-reasoned answer to inform the development of a sensible and risk-oriented policy. This includes ours.
10 our authorities frequently take their cues directly from foreign countries with large scientific bodies, such as when they purchased a massive supply of favipiravir on the Chinese govt’s recommendation (despite favipiravir not even being in the Chinese National Guidelines for COVID treatment). They are accountable to explain why their faith in the efficacy of the coming vaccines against the B.1.1.7 strains exceeds the confidence of the authorities on whom their confidence is based, and it is either ignorance or bad faith argument on your part to act or pretend otherwise.
11 you didn’t even know about this did you? It’ll be in the news soon.
My earlier impressions of you as being rather intelligent and thoughtful were probably boosted by comparison to some of the other folks around here, such as the ones you mentioned. It is disappointing to gradually realize how dull your mind actually is. While I do appreciate your conventionalism compared with some of the lunatic fringe you constantly combat, you’re quite visibly out of your depth on the topics we discuss, and clearly too uncomfortable to learn more. At this point I don’t think that talking to you is really worth my time any further, hopefully you feel the same way so no hard feelings.
Sonu
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 8:25 pm
Yes you are right
Sam
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Ok, how did they board the plane? No test before flight?
Fred glue
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:46 pm
What about the other passengers, what goes on there….
Ryan
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:31 pm
they could have contracted it after their test at home. also the article doesn’t state how long they were in ASQ for. Most likely they were in ASQ for 5 days. So a combined total of more then 6 or 7 days from when they had their test at home, that showed negative. the virus must replicate in the body to be able to be detected with the test, which is why there is an incubation period.
preesy chepuce
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:08 pm
tests are only snapshots, and are never 100% certain, everything is mitigation.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:07 pm
97% accuracy for a positive test is a pretty good snapshot – particularly when all four from the family tested positive.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:59 pm
There are now reportedly three tests, not two, including one on the first day, as part of the survey into reducing the quarantine period – but as you say it could still be a week between contracting the virus and a positive test.
Willem
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:01 pm
A negative result indicates that either a person has not been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or there is not a detectable level of antibody present. Explanations for this may include a very recent exposure such that not enough time has elapsed to generate an immune response, or the immune response has decreased below the detectable level. A negative result does not rule out current or past infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:41 pm
There must have been and they were negative, or they would not have allowed them to board.
ipfunnyjohns
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:38 pm
ahh the Covid 21 story we were warned about months ago now arriving……..
I do not believe everything I read in the news. maybe when I see people dropping dead in the street such as what was shown around the world last feb coming out of china..
Oh but, its a farang disease. Not Chinese even though it Began in china.. man this is a very complicated to story to keep the bs straight, the media is doing a marvelous job at attempting to scare us based On loose science.
Wijnschenk
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:40 pm
So what happens if they cant pay the hospital bill?
Wil the thai help…..???
Rasputin
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:50 pm
That is why the COMPULSORY medical insurance is required, you can’t get a COE to travel to Thailand without it. They were obviously a well off family, otherwise they would have been unlikely to have been admitted to a private hospital for their medical care.
Yogibaer
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:59 pm
The medical insurance does Not pay If you are positive but Not sick
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:12 pm
YES IT DOES. PLEASE READ THE REPLY FROM THE INSURERS IN THE ARTICLE ON THIS, CLEARLY AND CATEGORICALLY AMENDED TO SHOW THAT.
Toby Andrews
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 11:30 pm
oh the fool from Isaan is really drunk now he is using capital letters.
Go to bed you old moron!
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:17 pm
Correct, Rasputin, but they have to be admitted to a private / international hospital as part of the compulsory insurance – it’s actually spelt out on the TAT website, not just in the small print.
The only thing the compulsory insurance doesn’t cover is ICU treatment, which I find a bit odd.
Fred glue
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:42 pm
This virus will not sit still, we have got too out smart it. I think us good looking people around the world have got too sit still , let’s say for 21-days. Stop all movements of humans stay home in this period.
We are getting nowhere at this stage, some countries are good at keeping some sort of control, but other countries (well you decide) . Me my self I love going on holidays, love airports, and wherever you go you get educated on your journey. Is locking planet earth down for your health of survival. We are in the hands of our elected politicians. That’s scary in itself…. here know in oz of some parts we have too wear a face mask just too go too our letter box…… I just wish this stupid virus would go on a holiday too the sun on a one way ticket.
I think with this virus, someone has got a control switch. Turn the volume up & down. Past my bed time, b- good. ??♂️
Yogibaer
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 4:57 pm
I think they knew the risk , If Testing positive ,must enter private Hospital in their own bill
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:19 pm
WRONG. TEDIOUSLY WRONG.
chupapi
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Why are people from UK allowed to enter Thailand? Were not they banned from traveling here as other countries did?
gosport
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 5:31 pm
In England, you pay for what you want. It is not a surprise, it is routine. 30 days for anyone from England.
This also shows these Britons are innocent and have no money or power to cut into the line to get vaccinated. Local hospitals shut doors and Thai treat them well. It is their luck and a good gambit. It pays. Wish them well.
Paul
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 6:27 pm
Can you repeat that in English please?
Kevin
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 6:24 pm
“There is no need to panic as the particular strain does not cause severe symptoms and does not reduce the efficacy of the current vaccines for Covid-19”
That’s great! So we’re getting the vaccine when? Right… 2022 maybe.
Mr cynic
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 6:42 pm
pm is hinting at much tougher freedom of movement restrictions coming into force next week for uk public.be surprised if anybody without a very valid reason will be able to go to an airport yet alone board a flight anyplace.
preesy chepuce
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 9:07 pm
“freedom of movement restrictions” sounds like an oxymoron.
Issan John
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 10:22 pm
Just to clarify, presumably you mean the BRITISH PM, for ENGLAND?
CHRIS
Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 8:53 pm
If they are Thai nationals they only have to get fit to fly certificate from a doctor. Not a covid 19 negative test.
Unlike uk nationals who have to get both to enable them to fly to thailand
Galapagos0424
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 7:42 am
Not entirely correct but I had the same conclusion early on in my own process to come back to Thailand. It is true that currently (at least from the U.S.) Thais do not need the PCR result, only the fit to fly if they take a repatriation flight. However, if they want to fly on a semi commercial flight (we took EVA) then all passengers must produce a negative PCR RT result to fly.
With regards to the news that they would begin testing arrivals on day 0, the hospital associated with our ASQ said that hasn’t been implemented yet (at least for them). I can only speak based on my experience of landing on Dec 27th.
Issan John
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 8:49 am
The reports are all consistently that they’re “British”.
James R
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 4:20 am
It will be interesting to see who the Britons were, they may have been Thai with a British passport who are also called British, thus Britons.
I don’t know of anyone at the moment who would risk their whole family by flying at the moment, most people here are staying indoors for the good of the country, yes, there are reports on TV of parties going on but the vast majority of people are doing the right thing.
Hence no Christmas or New Year celebrations here for the vast majority of people.
We will be inoculating two million people a week soon with our Oxford vaccine, my son and his mother have had theirs as they are key workers.
The numbers of virus patients in Thailand seem to be very low, but there are around 60 people killed per day every day and thousands hurt on the roads but I do not see daily news updates or a way of trying to really stop it happening.
Make the driving test harder, patrol the roads to stop speeding and test more people for drink driving.
Make motorcyclists wear hard hats, I see over half or bike riders in Phuket do not wear theirs and 20% seem to have no back lights.
Issan John
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 10:01 am
… and, FWIW, the constant harping on about Thai driving standards in articles about Covid-19 as an excuse for some gratuitous Thai bashing along the way is becoming rather tedious and childish.
Rolf massin
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 8:46 am
One of them is thai, same the France lady
Issan John
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 9:55 am
“Most people ” is, sadly, a long way short of ‘everybody’.
While some TV reports of “parties going on” may be exaggerated, the very specific reports from the police of holiday makers crowding the roads at popular tourist destinations, as well as from mountain rescue called out to rescue the normal Christmas / New Year selection of weekend walkers caught out of their depth across the UK are not, and they show very clearly that a sizeable number of people in the UK are still NOT “doing the right thing” but couldn’t care less.
Sadly, there are also a sizeable, though probably smaller, number here.
I hope you’re right that the UK “will be inoculating two million a week soon”, but according to reports in the UK press yesterday, the plan by PHE and the JCVI is for two million vaccinations a fortnight so with two per person that’s actually a quarter of the number you say …
… and that’s despite allowing “mix ‘n’ match” for the vaccines which the manufacturers and a number of the top experts have said is not just untested but should not be happening …
… and up to 12 weeks between vaccinations, which again the manufacturers and top experts said shouldn’t happen …
… and as the UK’s politicians promised to roll out tests at the same sort of rate but failed to deliver by a factor of more than ten, as they did with their “world beating” track ‘n’ trace shambles.
As a fellow Brit I wish the UK had something to be proud of over Covid as a country, but it really has been an unmitigated shambles at every level.
roger
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 11:00 am
WHY is Thailand still letting international travel from countries will high virus content?
??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Money or Stupidity ???
Good Luck Thailand