PRAYUT DECLARES A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THAILAND!
(thanis/Shutterstock.com)
Thai Prime Minister Prayut has declared a national emergency, which will take effect from Thursday and will last for a month. The decision has been taken to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
The statement is expected to be followed by the announcement of a curfew. The prime minister said the virus situation now justifies a state of emergency in the country. He urges citizens not to panic and not to travel en masse from Bangkok. Prayut also asks the population not to hoard.
The cabinet also announced several measures to help workers, including a benefit of 5.000 baht per month for at least three months.
In his live-televised announcement at Government House, Prayut said new measures to contain the disease are coming and a committee would be formed to work out the measures. Some measures will be voluntary, others mandatory, says Prayut. He asks Thai not to return to the province: “Stay where you are. Do not go back to your home province or you will be fined. There will be checkpoints along the way. Please go into home quarantine (at your current location)”.
During the state of emergency, Prime Minister Prayut warned, people should be careful about what they post on social media. Those who misuse social media will be arrested and prosecuted. Sellers who raise prices of products unreasonably will also face fines.
Source: Bangkok Post
We have now mainly talked about tourists and their period of stay, but I am also curious whether this whole situation will ultimately have an influence on the foreigners who work here, including contracts - work permit - period of residence.
Any idea to what extent these approximately 2,5 million foreign workers contribute to the Thai economy? And most likely also to the reconstruction of the economy?
No, that's my question. Or do you find it unjustified.
I fear that those who are not immediately important will soon find that out. Possibly with an explanation that if they start rebuilding, they are of course always welcome back.
If that were the case (which I don't believe, by the way), the pensioners are more likely to be the victims than the working people. They actually contribute nothing to this society, one could argue. Just bring in some money and enjoy (benefit from) an old age.
Reasonings are what they are. I think you are more concerned about what your future holds. Especially in the field of work... networking can indeed solve that... Anyway, I'll leave it at this... You are married... Also a solution of course...
Chris, the retirees often make a Thai family have a lot more money to spend. Without that retired farang things would be different in Isaan.
Contributing nothing to this society, they should actually investigate that.
Why declare a state of emergency? I'm probably too stupid to understand that.
And why would retirees be more likely to be victims? At least when we're talking about foreigners.
They do contribute to society and more than many working and paid foreigners. And that costs Thai society nothing, as you rightly point out “Just bring in some money and enjoy (benefit) from old age.” What more do you want ?
Why would they victimize them? Apart from the fact that the same foreigners are also seen as the cause of the Corona situation in Thailand, but that also applies to the working ones.
They then have to pay those working people to sit at home doing nothing (profiting). Only costs their employer money. Those employed abroad will be contractually protected by their foreign employer. However, those that are paid by Thai companies/schools or the Thai government... I wouldn't be so sure about that. A contract there is worth as much as... fill in the blank. Perhaps those with a good network will escape, but it may just as well be that that network withdraws completely... You will then quickly find out how strong your network is/was.
Anyway, I asked the question in general and it is justified. I hope they can continue to sit at home doing nothing (profit).
Or else…. the lottery is still there.
I don't quite understand the reasoning that working foreigners mean less than pensioners. Besides the fact that I maintain Thai with my money (as the pensioner also does), I also pay wage tax on my income and I do my job, in this case educating students.
And I'm still working now, online with groups of students and writing scientific articles. So I just get paid.
That was in contradiction to your reasoning that retirees are freeloaders who don't really contribute anything to society.
Hopefully your students are not trained to the same level….
Anyway... like I said before, I'll leave it at that
– And every 100 Baht you earn you have earned in Thailand and is money that is already present in Thailand. You're just passing it around again.
– Every 100 Baht I spend as a pensioner is fresh money, which is not yet available in Thailand and which I keep importing.
Why don't we contribute to the Thai economy and reconstruction?
Quote:
'They don't actually contribute anything to this society, one could argue. '
So what? I think this is a really rude comment. Every person has value and the same value, and we must try to take good care of every person. We must take extra care of vulnerable people.
A crass reasoning? Yes I agree. He could come from Anutin.
I can't speak for others, but for me the annual figures of the last available year apply so there will be no problem this year. In addition, I know plenty of foreigners in companies that make an annual loss, so apparently the added value is not always important and that is reflected in how an extension of a work permit works. Application is difficult and then requires minimal formality.
Own companies will not be a problem. Those who depend on a Thai wage, on the other hand...
I fear that this will become mega international. There are many older people from all parts of the world, and especially Europe, living in Thailand. What if the victims include not only Thais but also a significant number of foreigners? How will the various governments of those foreign victims respond?
Goodbye
Fons
NOT. Have you heard anything from the Thai government now that a Thai woman in the USA has died of the virus? Not interesting. There are more important things.
I don't think they will lose any sleep over it, considering what is already happening here! And do you fear that this will become mega international? It has been that way for weeks. If the Thais do not respect a total lock down, it will be a bloodbath there.
Foreigners residing in Thailand (and elsewhere) have been called upon by their respective governments to identify themselves and come back, with or without government assistance. See also the posting about Minister Blok's initiative. https://www.ad.nl/politiek/megaoperatie-om-duizenden-gestrande-nederlandse-reizigers-terug-te-halen~aef3cb9c/
But those who have deregistered (emigrated) and settled in Thailand for a longer period of time (on the basis of a non-emigrant status) will still be confronted with the fact that they fall under Thai responsibility. No farang government will interfere in Thailand's sovereignty.
You are a Non-immigrant and so in that status you are never subject to Thai responsibility. Simply withdrawing your extension or not allowing it is sufficient for Thailand.
Permanent Resident status is another story.
Don't interfere, just discuss. This happens in all kinds of areas such as prisoners, scams, visas, taxes…..and so on.
An extremely wise decision to limit travel. One can take an example from that and especially a Thai family celebrating in Garmisch-Partenkirchen as if there was no virus.
Thai with about 20 ladies, no family
That unworldly Thai family could make the mistake of their lives. They were not loved by a very large part of the population anyway, for the doubters this behavior may be an eye-opener.
The Germans are ashamed of it. He is in an empty hotel in Bavaria, which now counts as a home for them. They seem to be partying and cycling around. He has no problem getting back home.
Erik, just read an article on hln.be from a man who had a party with 20 women. You don't think this is possible. To vomit.
I think you're right. But I also suspect that unfortunately it is too late.
Last weekend was already a large exodus of people fleeing back to their province…
Not that it helps but I fear the worst for these people..
There was also an exodus of more than 100 employees from Germany to Bangkok. Once again these people have been quarantined on military bases. The advantage of this uhm.. special man is that Thai Airways has stopped practically all flights abroad, but will continue to fly to Munich and Zurich. What customer service, it costs a lot of money, but then you get something. State of emergency or not.
With a bit of luck, Europeans can still come to Europe with Thai Air. Provided that the aircraft is not emptied for the transport of special persons.
That must be a very special and rich man who celebrates so far from home.
well, if you believe everything BILD writes, you are a poor person …….
because you have to pay to read the whole story on their website…….
I call that media mafia.
Have read what is about to happen in Thailand.An opinion about this?Yes, I do.Know that not so long ago Thai residents, working in Korea, among others, returned to Thailand.Korea decided, just like in the Netherlands, shopping malls, bars, shops and other places to close due to the many corona infected. There was no longer any work opportunity for the many Thai people, so they returned to Thailand, via Chiang Mai, and Suvarnibhum airport. Knowing that this group was at risk when they returned, they would be isolated on arrival. However, things already went wrong there, as many slipped through this "control" unseen and left for their original residential addresses in Thailand. operation. Malls, shops, restaurants and bars are already closed, so you also get an exodus of workers from Bangkok who want to return to their relatives elsewhere in the provinces. This naturally leads to a greater chance of an outbreak of the corona virus in the whole Thailand. Wouldn't know how the government in Thailand can prevent this from happening in an organized manner, because we are not talking about hundreds of people, but think more in the hundreds of thousands. Wish the government good luck because I love Thailand, but especially its people and my family members living in the North. b
Since today, most shops and shops are closed in Chiang Mai with the exception of supermarkets and food stores. In Central Festival, only the basement where the Tops supermarket is accessible was still accessible. The other floors are closed and no longer accessible.
The state of emergency will start next Thursday for a minimum of 1 month. It is still unclear what all this will entail. Like most, I also received an email from the Belgian embassy advising you to return to Belgium.
Are there expats considering returning, or not? I'd like to hear your opinion.
Goodbye.
I'm staying here: house arrest under palm trees, at the swimming pool, ... it could be worse!
The swimming pool, although it is private, may not be used. has also been published.
Your conclusion is incorrect. That decision is left to the hotel or condominium owner!
the chlorinated water has a disinfecting effect and swimming is healthy, so I will continue to do it twice a day. Stay home with my wife as much as possible and be one of the few to go to the Makro with a face mask.
It is difficult if you have emigrated and have nothing left in your home country. Then you are forced to follow all this sense or nonsense.
Do you think that it is better in the Netherlands or Belgium at the moment?
In the home country it is as crazy as it is going to be here. Just keep breathing and everything you can't spare. For the rest, just watch from the sidelines to see what's going to happen. I am exercising the necessary caution and will not be carried away by the mass hysteria that seems to be coming at me from all sides. Just keep using common sense in combination with common sense logic.
Dear Kees, that ′′ just keep breathing ′′ is precisely the difficult thing when you have Corona. And since 70% of the people get it, a lot of people die.
Good luck with your peasant clog logic.
Those who get "it" don't all get sick.
And those who get sick don't all die.
90% heals prove the figures from China.
In the last 5 months in the USA about 500.000 have been hospitalized because of the flu and about 50.000 have died (=10%). And that seems to be normal while there is even a vaccine against the flu. So don't panic.
Do you have faith in Prayut? Do you admire the discipline of the Thais? Do you believe that medicine in Thailand is ready and can handle this state of emergency? Then stay here. We will fly back on Thursday!
I am stuck in the Netherlands and trying to go back home to Chiang Mai. Looks like KLM only flies once a week. Plan to fly next Thursday. Don't know how the government's recent announcement of state of emergency is going to affect this.
No, not returning for the time being because it is no good in Belgium either.
We just stay here in Nongprue , just bought 5 boxes of Leo ,
We are in a closed Village, and I don't think we have too much to fear as long as we stay at home, only go to Tops or Freshfood to buy food.
So hope for the best, and stay healthy.
Have a ticket for March 30 back to the Netherlands, is that still possible or will the airport be closed?
And bus trip to the airport still allowed who knows....???
If I were you I would return immediately. Quickly rebook your ticket and go home before the airport closes or foreign airlines are no longer allowed to land. All my friends who were here on vacation have all returned early.
Do you fly with KLM, I fly with KLM back to the Netherlands on 30/03.
Received a message yesterday that the flight does not leave at 12.05 but at 22.30.
Think that's strange
There is a global pandemic going on, people are dying like flies, KLM has canceled 4 out of 5 flights and you find it strange that your flight is leaving a little later.
Dear Blackb,
Very strange indeed since the departure time on the KLM website is 12.05 pm. I'd ask if I were you.
My flight is still on 12.05
A delayed emergency with a back door.
Guess what will happen between now and Thursday while there is still a chance to join the family.
Everything is closed in pattaya, except for food and restaurants. I hear nothing from the Belgian embassy, possibly because my non-immigration O visa is valid until April 25. So another month left that I want to stay in Thailand (Corona is everywhere) I normally fly to brussels on April 21 with Qatar airways still flying for now, which gives me a few days spelling if they stopped flying to get a visa extension obtained. With my visa, I would have to submit a visa support letter from the Belgian embassy with the application. How do you get such a letter in this day and age? I can't find anything about this on their website. According to the post on this blog, the rules remain as they always were, with the exception ( point 3 ) that one can get the extension multiple times in a row. In my case this means: with letter 30 days, without 7 days.
Today, March 24, I read that the state of emergency will start on March 26 for 30 days (1 month) to see what the consequences will be, but if we no longer have the option to move, they will have to make the rules more flexible.
I need to renew my annual visa before April 15.
Went to look in soi 5 at the immigration.
Your temperature is measured there, but both before and after that a lot of people are closed
on top of each other because there is simply no more room. Inside it also seems to be full of people.
Why keep a meter and a half away? What kind of madness is this? I need to renew my visa,
am someone from the risk group (age and ICD for my heart).
Does anyone know a solution to obtain my visa without risking my health and that of others?
=The stay is permitted up to April 15, 2020=
This is in my passport.
Kees, a good acquaintance of ours, a Thai woman living in Jomtien, runs an office that has good access to the facilities within the immigration office on Soi 5. I am sure she will be happy to help you for a reasonable fee. After all, it is her profession.
Please email me for her phone number: [email protected]
That also tells me something, I have to go before April 4, and wanted to do it tomorrow, but if I can also have the phone number, I'll let her do it, my email: [email protected]
different
nt already.
This should have happened a week earlier, we had already been in self-quarantine for 10 days, which is not unpleasant, as long as fresh food and drinks are still available. People here need discipline, and unfortunately, even in these somewhat risky circumstances, that is sometimes hard to find. Hope for the best and stay healthy.
Well, then I still have to go to Global House tomorrow to buy my pots of paint… at least I can spend the day (morning) meaningfully. But hoarding? No… we don't. Stay home a lot.
Also have a ticket for March 30 KLM.
Is it still possible to take a taxi from Koh Chang to Bangkok airport! Or just fly from Traț to Bangkok Airport.
Difficult situation what to do?
My flight with Qatar is also scheduled for March 30, but if a lockdown is put in place, how am I supposed to get to the airport if we are no longer allowed to move?
Please note that four of Qatar's six daily flights from Suvarnabhumi have been canceled before 30/3.
https://fs.qatarairways.com/flightstatus/search
My brother and sister-in-law are traveling today, 25/3, with Travel Mart Bangkok from Koh Chang to Bangkok.
I think it is better to fly from Trat, then you are already inside when you arrive at Bangkok Airport, see if you can get there by taxi first.
good luck
Looked today for my flight with Thai airways April 02 and it will continue until now.
What a good idea to call on people not to leave Bangkok. Both De Telegraaf and Algemeen Dagblad today pay attention to someone who is having fun with 20 women in a German winter sports resort.
He probably saw that emergency coming and suddenly decided that Germany is a more pleasant country than his own Thailand.
I think it's a bloody disgrace.
Hastily decided? That person lives in Germany!
It's not all that crazy! I also have much more confidence in Germany's health system! Plus it's always better to have a party far from home. The firmer, the further away and the better 🙂 🙂
A very good action by the Thai government
And hope it works
But let the Dutch also first look at themselves before all kinds of opinions are given about Thailand.
Despite corona, the Dutch are going out en masse and do not always keep their distance
The government is shocked and then complaining about Thailand?!
Declaring a state of emergency with various measures to stop this Coronavirus is of course a very important decision.
What is just as, or actually even more important, is the compliance of the population, and the monitoring of this.
Any measure without these two things is largely pointless and predictable to failure.
When I look at the village here, many people know how to report about covid 19, but how someone can protect themselves against it is actually largely unknown to most.
I hold my heart, and hope it won't turn out like that as many virologists still suspect it at the moment.
Perhaps many Thai people need more realistic images from Italy and China to make them more aware of this highly contagious virus.
This photo makes it abundantly clear that Prayut and his friends don't know what keeping their distance is. It's not easy either. And these “gentlemen” must guide this country through this crisis. Do not make me laugh.
Dear Joe,
You are wrong, you have to laugh when you see the photo of Prayut with the face masks and now I don't know the "Gentlemen" around him, but the one without a face mask was that the minister of health?
Enjoy in good health with all of us and smile
The measure to close everything in Bangkok except for shops has led to an exodus to the provinces.
what we feared here on the blog is that the virus would spread more easily.
Well that worked out with us in the village, the first corona patient found in the 7/11 and taken away by ambulance.
Had just returned from Bangkok 1 day back.
And it was nice and busy in the 7/11 so more will follow.
what a smart government they are in this country.
beautiful country bad governance but we already knew that ..
In the case of Thailand, the cure is clearly worse than the disease. The way it is being done is totally out of proportion. The intention of measures is to slow down the virus. How many socially weak people will die as a result of the measures.
One measure would therefore be that 3 Bath p/m would be paid to workers for 5000 months, which probably refers to those who can no longer perform their work. But Thailand has millions of day laborers and workers with casual employment, without any contract. I am very curious if and how all these people also receive a minimum benefit. And a temporary measure will have to be taken for all those Thai people with debts related to the purchase of cars, motorcycles and other expensive consumer items. The vast majority of cars are purchased with a loan and the monthly repayments often exceed 5000 Bath. The banks should freeze repayments and interest for at least three months. Don't think I am in favor of buying on installment, but that is the case in Thailand and it is also propagated in every possible way.
I understand that the benefit of 5000 Baht is only for people who had a job with an employment contract and pay social security contributions. That probably only applies to 20-30% of the working population?
And at least 500 baht is spent on buying masks for the whole family that are now mandatory in public (transport). Masks that also don't help.
The Thais are creative enough to keep costs down as much as possible. In practice, this will mean that the masks are manufactured under the sewing machine and that they are regularly put in the washing machine with cold water.
While he says this, many people are crowded together again, it is understood how the virus is wasted. Distance yourself from each other for business, stay at home, and make sure you stay 1.50 from each other with boats. Mouth cap and wash hands.
Not that difficult but nowhere understood. People in Thailand think that if you wear a face mask you are protected. Furthermore, the face mask indicates to many people here in Thailand that they know there is a virus and therefore care but know nothing about reality and embrace each other and think as if with a face mask on. So it will take another few months before they find out that Carona sees things differently. It is better to explain Carona as a spirit.
On March 6, another boxing match was held at the military-owned Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, in defiance of the earlier order to stop all such activities. more than 100 of the 600 infected can be traced back to this. The military has a range of commercial activities.
How would things go in the barracks?
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/03/24/boxing-stadium-at-epicenter-of-outbreak-defied-closure-order/
Barracks? They are empty because there is no football so everyone has been sent home, with an AK47 and enough ammunition. In a lockdown, the army will patrol the street….(wink)
The Thai army practically does not use AKs. Lots of other toys. Standard assault rifle includes the M16. And shooting on the street with that, one has extensive experience with. The army knows what to do with unwilling civilians.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Royal_Thai_Army
Moderator: Please no off-topic discussions.
Even before the Coronavirus, tourism in Thailand was plummeting and now completely paralyzed in this sector.
Thailand is facing tough times and fear the worst.
There is absolutely no proper safety net to manage this crisis with the incompetent leaders.
I wish the Thai people a lot of strength and that they continue to support each other because it will certainly get worse.
Anyone who has an acquaintance or friends there and can help do it because there is a lot of poverty among them.
TonyM
[email protected] not to mention the football matches last Sunday in the country that took place here in Thailand and also many people [supporters] I'm curious this Sunday I don't think this government itself knows, here in the village you still see no difference same glass and everyone just drinks and holds each other, the village head, when he is home, wears a mask and then he leaves, so what do you expect from the other people in the village, hopefully not too many sick and no one dies.
Moderator: please keep the discussion to Thailand.
Wouldn't Prayuth notice that 2 fingers and a little finger are pointing at himself?