The catalyst that is changing everything

[reader]

Although what was to become known as the  Delta variant was only detected late last year in India, it has raced to the top of all the other variations of COVID competing for transmissibility. Countries that saw a possible exit from the scourge have fallen back into its ever more powerful grip. Among them are just about all of Southeast Asia.

We've pretty much exhausted the blame game. We know what wasn't done and who didn't do it. This knowledge may help prevent leaders from repeating past mistakes but there is only one thing that will prevent further catastrophe: attaining a rate of inoculations that outdistances the rate of new infections.

Lockdowns are temporary holding actions. The pause buys time by hopefully slowing the rate of new cases. But there's a limit to their duration. You can only keep people confined to their homes--and in most cases, away from the source of their income--for so long. If the government can't take full advantage of that time span, nations could begin to fail in ways not seen before by most current inhabitants.

Readers here are understandably concerned with when they're going to be able to return to a Thailand that looks something like the one they left in 2019. But for most of the Thais in Bangkok and Pattaya, they're now facing the reality that their future--if not their very lives--are at stake.

The Delta variant is mocking man's ability to rule nature. It's exposing the fallibility of class, wealth, pride and prejudice. 

For the next few weeks, some of us will have our attention diverted by an event that normally occurs once every four years (but in this case, five): the Summer Olympics. We can only hope that when the events wind down so, too, will the Delta variant rampage begin to slow. If we're lucky, the number of new cases will begin to show a steady decline, followed by a lessening of the daily death count. If these signs don't materialize, our vacation plans could well become the least of our concerns.

=========================================

From Thai Enquirer

New political awakening coming too late?

Prayut’s announcement on June 16 that he would reopen the country within 120 days was subjected to much ridicule and skepticism.

Not only was the target highly unrealistic, with rising infection numbers and the country unable to secure the 120 million doses of vaccines it needs for her immunity, it also became the strongest piece of evidence that the government was out of touch in combating the pandemic and economic crisis.

As covid-19 cases continue to surge after Delta variant was first discovered at Lak Si construction site, Thailand’s livelihood and economic well-being has taken a nose dive with no apparent hope in sight.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that more and more people are publicly voicing their discontent, including celebrities and television personalities that tend to be politically-shy. It is a watershed moment for Thai politics as an overwhelming portion of the society are no longer afraid or intimidated to remain silent but are straightforwardly criticizing the government for its incompetence.

However, did this political awakening come too late to do much good?

Thailand is still in its biggest crisis in modern history, even bigger than the one that started the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis. The news of people being left to die on the streets from unknown causes was unheard of until now.

A nurse recently committed suicide by jumping off of a building over fear of infecting her newborn baby with Covid-19. A couple in Chonburi recently hung themselves over concerns of unpaid debts that were owed to loan sharks.

Meanwhile, millions of people have already lost their jobs with no safety net and solution in sight. If this is the cost of the country’s political awakening cost, it surely came at a great price.

Continues at

https://www.thaienquirer.com/30353/opinion-is-thailands-new-political-awakening-coming-too-late/

[floridarob]

Yet the THB still is at $1usd= 32.94thb     

Other countries (Brasil, Mexico) currencies took a big hit.....what keeps the Baht stable in such an unstable country?

[spoon]

19 minutes ago, floridarob said:

Yet the THB still is at $1usd= 32.94thb     

Other countries (Brasil, Mexico) currencies took a big hit.....what keeps the Baht stable in such an unstable country?

China?

[reader]

26 minutes ago, floridarob said:

Yet the THB still is at $1usd= 32.94thb     

Other countries (Brasil, Mexico) currencies took a big hit.....what keeps the Baht stable in such an unstable country?

Since it's high of 29.76 in December, the baht has actually lost about 9.5% vs the dollar (today 32.94).

 

 

[fedssocr]

I happened to see a video on YT last night that was several weeks old about the deteriorating conditions in Pattaya.

I read an article the other day about the current situation in Myanmar and how dire it is. They expect up to 50% of the population is going to be infected. That's going to mean a huge number of deaths given the fact that their already-fragile healthcare system has all but collapsed since the coup.

It certainly seems like a big reckoning is on the way.

[sydneyboy1]

3 hours ago, fedssocr said:

I happened to see a video on YT last night that was several weeks old about the deteriorating conditions in Pattaya.

I read an article the other day about the current situation in Myanmar and how dire it is. They expect up to 50% of the population is going to be infected. That's going to mean a huge number of deaths given the fact that their already-fragile healthcare system has all but collapsed since the coup.

It certainly seems like a big reckoning is on the way.

According to a news report during the week, many doctors went into hiding following the military coup, presumably for good reasons. This will place an unbearable strain on the health care system.

[floridarob]

12 hours ago, reader said:

Since it's high of 29.76 in December, the baht has actually lost about 9.5% vs the dollar (today 32.94).

 

 

But it's been hanging around 33 for a long time.....was 44-1 when I 1st went in 1999.

[spoon]

22 minutes ago, floridarob said:

But it's been hanging around 33 for a long time.....was 44-1 when I 1st went in 1999.

Yup, during the asian crash in 98, even malaysia ringgit is higher value than thai baht. Our gov at that point pegged our ringgit to the US dollar at rm3.8 to 1 usd. However in 2016, oil crash hurt malaysia a lot, and thailand was spared. Covid wise, it wasnt as bad in the exchange, and i believe its also due to lack of foreign currency circulation as people arent travelling.

[reader]

8 hours ago, floridarob said:

But it's been hanging around 33 for a long time.....was 44-1 when I 1st went in 1999.

And it was about the same when I first landed in 2002.  Agree that it has been mostly within 3 baht on either side of 33 for quite a while. That it has retreated so quickly since December has more to do with the worsening pandemic and political unrest which significantly slowed the influx of foreign currencies. If Thailand can contain COVID, the baht should rebound nicely.

Similar action can be seen on the GBP-THB chart.

 

 

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Covid-19 could persist one month to another year, official says

Depending on the actions the government and the people of Thailand take, the Director-General of the Department of Medical Services predicts Covid-19 could continue for just a few months or drag on for another year. Director-General Somsak Ankasil asserted that declaration in a recorded video message this week made to thank the medical officials across the nation.

In it, he said that many factors will affect our future and the future of the Covid-19 pandemic within the borders of Thailand. If handled well, he believes that Covid-19 could be wrangled under control in about 3 months or possibly as little as 1 month. But, if improperly handled, or if more problems and obstacles surface along the way, the Covid-19 pandemic could stretch on for another year.

Somsak also called for unity and support in his message, saying that all people from all sectors need to come together to overcome the challenges of Covid-19 even after a year and a half of dealing with it. He mentioned the imperative need for the Thai government to be proactive in enacting policies that directly and effectively control the proliferation of Covid-19 infections, and to contain outbreaks, something the government has come under much criticism for recently as people lose confidence in leadership’s ability to combat the virus.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/department-head-predicts-covid-19-could-last-up-to-another-year

 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, reader said:

 

Covid-19 could persist one month to........

 

I's settle for even 2 months and hope he is right although I kind of not believe it'll happen