ggobkk Posted March 14, 2020 Posted March 14, 2020 Just received news from 2 sources that the Thai government is closing all the bars. Quote
ggobkk Posted March 14, 2020 Author Posted March 14, 2020 Also received a report from a forum member that he’s just back from the bars tonight. Notes there are very few customers. Quote
hank75 Posted March 14, 2020 Posted March 14, 2020 I heard the same. Apparently this news isn’t fully confirmed yet. Behind this is again the same farang-hating idiot, Anutin, who caused a furore over his premature announcement of quarantine orders. So far he has only said that he will propose the closure of bars and clubs to Prayut on Monday. Somehow this has been interpreted by boys and mamasans as “all bars are definitely closing on Monday” and thrown them into a complete panic. The truth of the matter is, we have to await Monday to see how Prayut reacts and if they can in fact impose this across small bars and big super clubs alike or there will be exceptions. Note also they see this as being enforced on a zone-by-zone basis. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/286064 Quote
JackR Posted March 14, 2020 Posted March 14, 2020 Oh god. I'm supposed to be travelling there next Sunday. I hope this is just another false flag. Is anyone able to provide any reports on what the bars are like currently? Quote
Boy69 Posted March 14, 2020 Posted March 14, 2020 Even if the government will not close the bars the situation now is very dispersing very few customers and I assume many boys will go back to their countries or local homes in Thailand, there is no point for them to stay in the bars if there are no customers. Quote
Guest Posted March 14, 2020 Posted March 14, 2020 4 hours ago, JackR said: Oh god. I'm supposed to be travelling there next Sunday. I hope this is just another false flag. Is anyone able to provide any reports on what the bars are like currently? First thing is to check if you will be allowed into Thailand. If yes, the phone apps will no doubt have boys. Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 I believe the Thai government will really close bars. The Bangkok Post reported on this in this morning’s Sunday newspaper front page. Quote
DivineMadman Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Just now, jason1975 said: I believe the Thai government will really close bars. The Bangkok Post reported on this in this morning’s Sunday newspaper front page. To be clear - it's just something that Anutin (not the most stable of gents) has said he will propose on Monday. It has not been imposed yet. Whether Prayut et al. go along with it and then exactly what it will look like will be important. If they toss the sacred coin and decide to close venues, how they actually roll that out will be important. The Bangkok Post article says the committee will specify venues to be closed "zone by zone." Who really knows what that will mean. There are lots of possible outcomes. Maybe Prayut et al. reject the idea (for now). Maybe they close all bars and restaurants. (Personally, I doubt that.) Maybe they limit it to the designated "Entertainment Zones," which might include Patpong and Soi Cowboy and Nana, but maybe not Soi 4??? But obviously that leaves out a lot. Maybe they close all nightclubs to pick up Thonglor/Ratchada. Maybe restaurants can stay open. Lucky Boys serves food. Hmmmm. At this point, it seems that consulting the Sacred Oracle of Tibet is about as reliable as any method for as predicting what any government policy will be in day or so, particularly this one. Yes it's a possibility. If you would otherwise go out to a bar or club, maybe more of a reason to do it if tonight might be the last night for a while. That's my plan. ****** Separately, FYI - Maybe people have already seen - Mahanakorn Rooftop closed for thorough cleaning after an employee tested positive. vinapu 1 Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Yes I am definitely hitting the bars tonight just in case bars are closed on Monday. I shall be spending time at Lucky Boys to watch the show with side trips after that to Freshboys and Screwboys. shall all forum members in BKK congregate at @paulsf usual spot tonight before heading off to our respective favourite bars? @paulsf is either at red dragon or hot male. Please let us know in advance where you will be. But me thinks the Vietnamese freshboys waiters will ambush and keep you at red dragon. 9pm? Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/business/20200314/ho-chi-minh-city-closes-entertainment-facilities-in-district-1-over-covid19/53482.html Vietnam closed bars and entertainment places last night so there is a precedent that the Thai government can follow if it chooses to. Quote
paulsf Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 I’ll be at Hot Male to see who is around. Then go from there. I went to FreshBoys last night. Decent crowd. A few offs. but crowd and boys on stage all in good moods making for a fun night. vinapu, williewillie, anddy and 1 other 3 1 Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 34 minutes ago, paulsf said: I’ll be at Hot Male to see who is around. Then go from there. I went to FreshBoys last night. Decent crowd. A few offs. but crowd and boys on stage all in good moods making for a fun night. Alrighty! See you at Hot Male tonight. Quote
spoon Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Tonight seems to be like a farewell party at all bars if the news is true. Have fun guys! Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 @DivineMadman @anddy would you be free to drop by tonight? Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1879300/thailand-reports-32-new-coronavirus-cases-brings-total-to-114 Latest update as at 1.30pm today. 32 new cases. I really have a strong feeling that the bars will be closed from Monday onwards. Quote
DivineMadman Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, jason1975 said: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1879300/thailand-reports-32-new-coronavirus-cases-brings-total-to-114 Latest update as at 1.30pm today. 32 new cases. I really have a strong feeling that the bars will be closed from Monday onwards. Quote
DivineMadman Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Not as fun as a bar, but House Samyan (formerly House RCA), the arthouse-ish cinema in Samyan Mitrtown has blocked out seats to permit limited "social distancing." An option in case the bars close. Bring a date! ggobkk and GWMinUS 1 1 Quote
Patanawet Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Prayut rejected Anutin's proposal today. But Prayut does as many u-turns as Trump. Boy69, DivineMadman and reader 1 2 Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 HOORAY !!!!! Patanawet and DivineMadman 1 1 Quote
reader Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 It's noteworthy what he's NOT wearing. DivineMadman and anddy 2 Quote
reader Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 From The Thaiger PM: Nightlife stays open for business Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha announced he has rejected, for the time being, the suggestion from Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to temporarily close the country’s massive nightlife industry. Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday the suggestion was one of several measures he and the Ministry of Public Health would bring up with the PM tomorrow. But as social media exploded, fiercely divided both for and against the move, Prayut addressed reporters saying he did “not feel it [is] needed at this time.” But he added the situation will be reassessed at a later date if it worsens, and asked for the cooperation of business owners to take proper precautions to protect their customers and staff. Many netizens expressed concern that closing the industry would mean tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people not only being laid off, but returning to their homes in rural Thailand, exposing the country’s significant (and especially vulnerable) elderly population to the disease, which is so far mainly in rural areas. The majority of workers in Thailand’s tens of thousands of nightclubs, bars, live music venues, massage parlours, karaoke clubs, pubs and other entertainment sites survive paycheck to paycheck, and would almost certainly be forced to return home to their families. Many are from Issan, in the rural Northeast of Thailand, which is the country’s poorest area and home to largest number of the vulnerable elderly. Several venues, particularly in Bangkok, have been closed both due to suspected cases and as a precaution by owners. Many others have been shuttered by the downturn in business due to lack of tourists. Other measures suggested by the Anutin and other ministry officials, such as moving Songkran later in the year to avoid hundreds of thousands of people returning home in April, further travel restrictions and stopping more private and sporting events, will be discussed at regular meetings tomorrow. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/pm-nightlife-stays-open-for-business Quote
anddy Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 4 hours ago, jason1975 said: @DivineMadman @anddy would you be free to drop by tonight? unfortunately tonight not, but tomorrow. PM rejects the idea of closong bars "for the time being", but that "time being" of course can be 12 or 24 or 48 hours... lol As for implementing measures "when it gets worse", then it's actually moore or less too late. Best analysis I found on this all is this: https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca Tintinx and KhorTose 1 1 Quote
Guest Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 If they close bars, they should also be closing any other business that has customers packed in a tight space. For example, certain food courts. Quote
spoon Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 Their neighboring country, malaysia, just reported highest sibgle day new cases in the region, 190+ case. That might tip the scale there. Quote
jason1975 Posted March 15, 2020 Posted March 15, 2020 2 hours ago, anddy said: unfortunately tonight not, but tomorrow. PM rejects the idea of closong bars "for the time being", but that "time being" of course can be 12 or 24 or 48 hours... lol As for implementing measures "when it gets worse", then it's actually moore or less too late. Best analysis I found on this all is this: https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca Oh darn. I cannot meet you tomorrow night because I have to fly back singapore last minute tomorrow. DivineMadman 1 Quote