How Covid-19 Might Spread to You

[S Landreth]

18,892 new Covid cases, 125 more deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

The country registered 18,892 more Covid-19 cases and 125 new fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Saturday morning. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...25-more-deaths

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

[S Landreth]

Thailand records 17,775 Covid-19 cases and 128 deaths on Sunday

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (April 17) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 17,775 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 82 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014617

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Students to get Pfizer Covid-19 boosters in time for new school year

Covid-19 booster shots will be given to 12 to 17-year-olds when schools reopen next month, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said on Sunday.

DDC director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said 7th to 12th graders with no underlying or chronic conditions will receive a Pfizer jab, so they are protected once they start attending school. The new school year starts on May 15.

Opas said DDC has chosen the Pfizer vaccine because it boosts immunity and causes very few side effects. He added that the vaccines are ready for direct use without being mixed with saline water and can be stored for another 10 weeks or so under 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

He said each student will only be administered 15 micrograms to minimise side effects.

The DDC chief said students will be given their jabs through the school system, though those who have chronic diseases and are being schooled at home must get their booster at a hospital.

Children suffering from obesity, respiratory problems, cardiac and vascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, cancer or low immunity disease, diabetes or other genetic issues must get their booster at a hospital.

Opas said doctors will decide how to administer the booster jab to children with chronic conditions under medical principles, guidelines from the vaccine maker and with consent from parents. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014627

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

• Work-from-home best policy for 1st week after Songkran: CCSA official

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s operation centre chief called on state and private agencies on Sunday to let their staff work from home for a week to minimise infections after Songkran.

General Supoj Malaniyom, director of the CCSA operation centre, also advised vulnerable groups to get a booster shot as soon as possible to minimise deaths in case new infection clusters break out.

Supoj, who is also secretary-general of the National Security Council, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned about a surge in infections now that people are returning from the provinces.

He said the premier has called on relevant government agencies to monitor the situation from Monday to April 24.

People returning to work after spending the past week upcountry are also being advised to monitor their condition for a week and to take a rapid antigen test if they develop any symptoms.

Supoj also quoted Prayut as saying that companies and government agencies should let their employees work remotely for a week to effectively prevent the spread of the virus after the holidays.

Relevant agencies have been instructed to put in place measures for home and community isolation as well as field hospitals to cover new Covid-19 patients, Supoj added.

He said the premier is concerned that the number of Covid-related deaths has not reduced and has instructed all relevant agencies to take steps to reduce fatalities.

Supoj said 90 per cent of those killed by the virus are the elderly and people with chronic conditions who have not received their booster shots yet. Hence, he said, the best way to prevent deaths is to ensure people in this group get their third jab.

He added that the CCSA will likely meet this week to evaluate the situation and see if more measures are necessary to prevent a surge in new infections after Songkran. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014630

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand records 16,994 Covid-19 cases and 124 deaths on Monday

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

Public Health Ministry reported on Monday (April 18) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 16,994 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 76 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014635

Nature's way of thinning out the weary herd.

• Everybody will get Omicron sooner or later, says lung expert

Almost every person in Thailand will at some point contract the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and should learn how to live with the risk, a lung specialist said.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs shared his opinion on the Covid-19 situation two years after its arrival in a Facebook post on Monday.

He said Covid-19 was a new disease and it took a while to understand it. As a frontline doctor who treated several Covid-19 patients, he said the pandemic can be summarised into five points:

Covid-19 can be spread via airborne particles

In March 2020, a cluster of infections was sparked at the Lumpini Boxing Stadium even though people were more than 10 metres from the source. This is because the stadium was not well-ventilated and air-conditioned. This proved that wearing masks can curb the virus from spreading.

Thailand began importing Sinovac in February 2021 and Manoon said he and his family members were among the first to receive this jab. However, in July 2021, he suggested that the government stop importing Sinovac because people who contracted Covid-19 after getting the jab had more severe symptoms compared to those who had received AstraZeneca.

People have realised that inactivated vaccines are not very effective, but provide some protection.

Learning to live with Covid-19

In October 2021, he wrote that the virus cannot be defeated and it will be impossible to reduce the number of patients to zero even with the strictest lockdown measures. Fully vaccinated people can still be infected with Covid-19 because it can mutate and skip the immunity gained from vaccination or previous infections.

In January 2022, Manoon said the Omicron variant can spread quicker than other variants, so everyone should receive vaccines to prevent the severity of symptoms and death.

He said that once vaccinated, people do not have to be afraid because they are likely to have mild or no symptoms when infected.

There is no proof Favipiravir can prevent death from Covid

In a post in March 2022, Manoon pointed out that though many Covid-19 patients were prescribed Favipiravir early, they still developed pneumonia. However, he said, deaths and severe symptoms can be effectively reduced with new medicines like Molnupiravir and Paxlovid.

Hence, he said, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation should stop producing and importing Favipiravir because doctors will soon stop prescribing it. https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014649

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[robertjohn5814]

The problem is that there are big health risks with both habits. Both smoking and vaping involve nicotine, which is very addictive. Smoking has been proven to cause cancer, which can kill you.

[robertjohn5814]

The people around you do not share your same views like smoking and vaping, because when you are in a group of people, chances are, that is going to be the case.

[fishlocker]

If only grass was free weed quit alcohol, drive slower and eat bacon double cheeseburgers.
But the vegans may have a tizzy over it.
Let's go Brandon!

[Bange]

It's been three years since the outbreak of COVID-19, when will the Bangkok epidemic end, and now the global economy is already facing collapse