Thailand Imposes State of Emergency - Expect Curfews on March 26

[TotallyOz]

With tons of people fleeing Bangkok, and more expecting to leave for Songkran, the government is going to clamp down hard. IMHO  This is the first step of many. Get ready for a wild ride.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/thailand-decrees-state-emergency-control-coronavirus-69763628

[anddy]

6 hours ago, Michael said:

the government is going to clamp down hard

yup, though - again - too late. Now hundreds of thousands have left for the provinces and home countries already, taking the virus with them after using the opportunity to spread it fast at the overcrowded bus terminals. 

One person from the Lumphini boxing stadium cluster has already traveled to Chiang Rai and infected people there. Source: a hospital nurse in BKK. 

[Guest]

The government should probably have stopped all the long distance buses operating before the crackdown in Bangkok.   

And for those who HAVE to leave, put an armed guard on each bus, drive directly to the destination city, quarantine them all for 14 days, then release.

 

Mind, you this STILL is not as bad as the WHO, which was not recommending any restrictions on international flights for ALL of January.    Had they recommended 14 day quarantine on all outbound flights from China, the rest of the world would probably be operating as normal now.  

Yet, somehow, the WHO, which is supposed to specialize in health, is spared from criticism for fouling up an easy decision.   Now the same WHO people are recommending the whole world shuts down.   What they hell were they thinking about in January ?

Yet governments, who are generally not lead by health specialists are criticized, for much smaller errors.  

 

 

[reader]

From Aljazeera

Bangkok slum residents prepare for worst as virus grips Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand - As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, the phrases on everyone's lips are "social distancing", and "self-isolation", but for Bangkok resident Maliwan Kamdaeng that is a near- impossible task.

The 44-year old is one of 100,000 people living in Bangkok's largest slum community, Khlong Toey, a sprawling settlement in the centre of the city. 

In the mornings, Maliwan works in the city at a large logistics company where she spends time with people from all over Thailand's capital. Now that the number of cases in Thailand has reached nearly 600, she is afraid that she is at risk of contracting the virus from her colleagues.

"We're all scared about getting it at work. We think it's far away. But we're still very scared," she told Al Jazeera from the front porch of her home, a house stitched together with cracked wood and sheets of tin squeezed snugly between dozens of other makeshift homes.

Inside, her young children were tossing a ball around while her mother watches a soap opera on television.

Maliwan's concern is not only that she might get sick and expose her children to the virus, but that her office could suddenly close leaving her without any money. 

"I'm the main provider for the family," she said. When asked how many people she provides for, she could not help but laugh. Working from home is not an option.

"I'm taking care of eight people right now. Five children, and three adults. I can't stop working. If the office closed down, I would have to find another way to make money. Maybe wash clothes, or look on the internet for something else I could do from home. I'd have to find work around here that I could do from home," she said.

Maliwan's mother is 74 and healthy.

"She's very strong. But there are elderly in every house around here," she said with a pause. 

Those most vulnerable to the coronavirus are the elderly and people with serious underlying illnesses such as diabetes or cancer.

But people who lack access to healthcare, or live in a setting where sanitary systems are not adequately developed, can also be at risk. 

Continues at

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/bangkok-slum-residents-prepare-worst-virus-grips-thailand-200322074123038.html

[petr55]

14 hours ago, z909 said:

Mind you this STILL is not as bad as the WHO, which was not recommending any restrictions on international flights for ALL of January.    Had they recommended 14 day quarantine on all outbound flights from China, the rest of the world would probably be operating as normal now.  

Yet, somehow, the WHO, which is supposed to specialize in health, is spared from criticism for fouling up an easy decision.   Now the same WHO people are recommending the whole world shuts down.   What they hell were they thinking about in January ?

Yet governments, who are generally not lead by health specialists are criticized, for much smaller errors.  

 

 

That's because Tedros is in the pocket of the chinese govt.  He could not do enough to kiss President Xi's ass.

[reader]

From The Nation

Bus ticket sales suspended until April 30

Ticket sales for all public transport buses will be suspended from March 26 to April 30 in compliance with the government’s declaration of a state of emergency which takes effect on Thursday (March 26), the president of Transport Co Ltd, Jirasak Yaovatsakul, said

He added that the company will also enforce social distancing by leaving empty alternate seats on the buses and keep a distance of at least one metre between persons at all bus terminals.

After the state of emergency was announced on Tuesday (March 24), people rushed to buy bus tickets. All tickets have been sold out beyond April 30. “We cannot provide additional buses and all available buses have been used. Complying with the social distancing policy halves the number of passengers per bus,” added Jirasak.

“Those who haven’t reserved tickets should refrain from coming down to bus terminals hoping to get one, since all ticket booths will be closed until April 30,” he said. “Those who had bought tickets earlier can still travel as per schedule. You can also postpone or cancel your trip and apply for refund as per the conditions of Transport Co.”

Jirasak added that some operators of private buses and vans have submitted appeals to suspend their service during the state of emergency. “If you have already bought tickets from these operators, please contact them directly to ask for refund or postponement of your trip.”

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384845

[DivineMadman]

For people staying in BKK - some of the best chefs in Bangkok are collaborating on meals for home delivery.  I think Issaya Siamese Club is perhaps taking the lead, but the wonderful chef from Sawaan is participating.  The phone number is at the end of the Facebook video - link below.

Issaya and Friends Video.