General Reports

[McAdonis]

The world has learnt an important lesson. In future, wherever there is a similar outbreak other countries will immediately prevent nationals from that country from entering their countries. Could you imagine if in December all countries prevented people from China from entering their countries then now we would all be enjoying the company of our favorite hotties all around the world, except China of course.

What about expats living in China who may have been exposed to the virus? Should they have been denied the opportunity to come home? I know some countries have forbidden even their own citizens from returning from "hot zones", but this has traditionally been repugnant in the USA where citizens by law cannot be denied entry. And under the right circumstances, lawful permanent residents must be permitted to enter as well. Plenty of other countries approach this like the USA does. In fact, not letting your citizens return is the exception versus the rule. This is a reality that cannot be ignored. In this super connected world, as long as this kind of movement is allowed to happen, then stopping "people from China" from entering is not going to be some fail safe approach to blocking spread of this very contagious virus. Some of those people are not Chinese citizens, but citizens from countries around the globe. And, their governments will let them come back home if they want to, and even arrange for flights to help make that happen. And with that, the virus is going to spread.

China reported to WHO on December 31st. If 194 countries had all blocked flights from China on December 31st, there still would have been an outbreak. The peaks would have just come later. The transmission would have happened via asymptomatic carriers from December 17th to 31st. If we could look at passenger manifests for international flights from December 17 to 31, I would not be surprised if there was least one Chinese national on 30 percent of all international flights. Cane mentioned expats living in China, but what about all the non-Chinese that would have flight connections in China during that two week period? White backpackers? African and Filipino guest workers? Businessmen? You can have a 72 hour layover in China without a visa.

Let's say I am a NYC resident who went on a business trip to Mumbai the last week of December. While on the cramped metro, I see nothing but a sea of brown faces. Unbeknownst to me, some of the people I am rubbing up against study in Wuhan and had recently returned to Mumbai to spend their winter holiday with family. So let's then say, they spread it to me, but I am one of the lucky ones who never shows symptoms. This means when I fly back to NYC the first week of January, airport security has zero reason to quarantine me, because I never spent a single second in China. I then return to my normal routine of commuting to the office everyday on the sardine-packed NYC metro system. Let also not forget, even in these hypothetical scenarios, I am addicted to mongering! So between my travel from Mumbai to NYC, I schedule a 72 hour layover in Frankfurt, and hole myself up in a FKK. And that leads me to spread it to twenty Romanian WGs. I think you get my point.

[Franciscass]

Lighten up Franciscass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN-aXzpQUdw

Was this Hong Kong bashing?

Hong Kong Flu 1968.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_flu

Was this Spain bashing?

Spanish Flu 1918.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

Was this Asian bashing?.

With respect If you want to use the word China or Chinese why not be accurate and say the virus that originated in China or is of Chinese origin.

I have absolutely no doubt that despite the failed efforts of some for obvious reasons to classify it as the Chinese Virus history whether cultural or medical will record and remember it as Covid-19 the name reasonable impartial people now use when referring to it.

Incidentally the Spanish flu did not originate in Spain just one example of the dangers in ascribing a country to a virus.

[John Clayton]

I think that after the novel corona virus has been eradicated...

There will be no "eradication" any more than cold viruses will be eradicated.

[Banana Boi]

Thank you guys for keeping all the COVID discussion to this thread.

[Turgid]

Of course there are many foreigners living, visiting or transiting China. It pretty difficult to prevent them returning to their home countries, especially when up to 50% show now symptoms when affected. The big difference between this and previous scares is that this virus is highly contagious. Once the genies was out of the bottle it was not going back in.

I think that after the novel corona virus has been eradicated and if another such virus emerges countries will be well advised to prevent all nationals from the affected country from entering their respective countries and quarantine all returning nationals upon arrival.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

I don't know if the old days can come back

No vaccine, no treatment. As long as there is none, we will have to stay at home or accept to live with covid-19. The solution to closing the world's borders and confining people will soon reach its limits. The economy is everywhere in free fall. Governments will therefore have to arbitrate. For the moment I feel them hesitate LOL.

Thailand has an open economy. This means that it depends for a lot on the international circuit. However, we will have to choose between covid-19 and the economy. The economy could do much more terrible damage. Tourism is 20% of the GDP in Thailand. There is almost no social safety net in Thailand. The queues for the soup kitchen are getting longer. The social uproar if this government does not relax the confinement rules could reappear, the Thais have already shown that they could easily take to the streets (and not only in Thailand for that matter).

On the other hand I understood that there are not that many cases in Thailand.

The sub-region (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.) seems relatively spared, the virus does not seem to like the heat, the sun and the humidity I heard.

The short-term solution could be to wear masks, respect social distances and confine people at risk to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Pending treatment. And re-circulate ASAP the money. Is there another solution?

In my opinion the question is not "if the old days can come back" but WHEN it will come back.

--------------------------------------------------

P.S.: "Country of 69 million inhabitants, with a GDP of 504 billion USD, Thailand is the second economy of Southeast Asia.

Thailand's macroeconomic fundamentals are solid. The country experienced sustained economic growth until 2018 (+ 4. 2% but it faltered in 2019 (+ 2. 4%) and the country will enter into recession in 2020 (-5. 3% Its export-oriented economy (50% of GDP) is well integrated into global value chains with an industrial base with regional scope, large solid and internationalized companies, constant tourist attractiveness (20% of GDP) but hard affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The particularly high current account surplus (28 billion USD or 6% of GDP) contributed to the appreciation of the baht.

Indicators and situation.
French government finance.
Updated 04/15/2020 ".

[PedroMorales]

If you feel that strongly about it you'd better campaign against the expression Spanish flu. Chinese virus just means a virus that originated in China. Do we really want to accept the authority of the Chinese Communist party to tell us what we can and can't say? They made a fuss about the perfectly reasonable expression Wuhan virus because they want to cover up their responsibility for it.

The Spanish flu did not start in Spain.

You obviously lack a sense of humour. Maybe you thought Trumps sarcasm about injecting disinfectant funny.

Bill Maher did an excellent interview last night.

Yes, only you ave a sense of humour. I am not interested in anything an uninformed pretend comic has to say. I do not need that bigot Maher to make me form an opinion on Trump or anyone else.

[Rodwint2]

If you feel that strongly about it you'd better campaign against the expression Spanish flu. Chinese virus just means a virus that originated in China. Do we really want to accept the authority of the Chinese Communist party to tell us what we can and can't say? They made a fuss about the perfectly reasonable expression Wuhan virus because they want to cover up their responsibility for it.

The Chinese Communist Party is, and has been, engaged in trying to write any "history" from their point of view. In other words, lie about what really happened. The CCP is not just trying to "spin" the whole Wuhan Virus narrative, they want it to go away in the worse way. The fastest and easiest way is to engage in "fake news" and social media to flood the West's internet channels with garbage to confuse the public. To a certain extent, they are getting away with it, because the liberal media is complicit in doing anything it can to end Trump's Presidency. If Obama was still President, the media would be groveling at his feet and never say that the emperor had no clothes. People who are really free and can think for themselves can and do know what bullshit is.

What is most surprising is the African, European and SE Asian "awakening" to the fact that the CCP is not their buddy after all. The fact that the CCP is willing to throw the entire world under the bus so to speak, has brought on the realization that like good vampires, the CCP will drain the economic life blood out of any country. The Belt and Road foreign policy is the prime vehicle in getting the rest of the world under their control. It is cheaper and monetarily more rewarding than trying to build a modern army or navy. One reason the CCP cancelled their last two aircraft carriers that were going to cost them billions of dollars to build and run every year.

The concept of "President For Life" is going to prove a difficult achievement for Putin and Xi. Watch the movie "Death of Stalin" for a humorous take on that concept!

[Smoothy]

A descriptive adjective is supposed to give meaning to the noun it precedes. Describing a corona virus as Chinese is misleading. It suggests it has a unique Chinese characteristic whatever that might mean, it does not. To date science has identified hundreds of corona viruses so why not be accurate and call it a coronavirus or use the acronym Covid-19. It's simple China bashing no more no less .

Lighten up Franciscass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN-aXzpQUdw

Was this Hong Kong bashing?

Hong Kong Flu 1968.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_flu

Was this Spain bashing?

Spanish Flu 1918.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

Was this Asian bashing?

Asian Flu 1957.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957%E...uenza_pandemic

Here's the link to that Maher video again. You may have missed it. Maher actually got it right. If had started in Milan, it would be called the Milan virus or the Italy virus. I have no doubt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEfDwc2G2_8

[Whoreman]

A descriptive adjective is supposed to give meaning to the noun it precedes. Describing a corona virus as Chinese is misleading. It suggests it has a unique Chinese characteristic whatever that might mean, it does not. To date science has identified hundreds of corona viruses so why not be accurate and call it a coronavirus or use the acronym Covid-19.

If you feel that strongly about it you'd better campaign against the expression Spanish flu. Chinese virus just means a virus that originated in China. Do we really want to accept the authority of the Chinese Communist party to tell us what we can and can't say? They made a fuss about the perfectly reasonable expression Wuhan virus because they want to cover up their responsibility for it.

[GDreams]

Bill Maher is an unfunny comedian, who gets off for attacking Trump et al. The video you linked is just him rambling. He has no part in fighting Covid19, which is its name. Cut down on the Sinophobia as it does not belong here. If you want people to vote for Biden or whoever, post where rhat belongs, not here.

You obviously lack a sense of humour. Maybe you thought Trumps sarcasm about injecting disinfectant funny.

Bill Maher did an excellent interview last night.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bill-mahe...063943156.html

[Member #4698]

The Stones are at it again. May not exactly belong in the Thai Forum, but what else is there to do on a Saturday morning during the lockdown day xx.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1253350430341554177

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ture=emb_title

[Crocodilexp]

I was taking a walk around Sukhumvit last evening around 6 pm, and everything seems normal.

Everything seems normal? Either you lack perception or you walked along a different Sukhumvit road than I did.

Sure, it's not 100% deserted, there are people, there are cars, there's even an occasional freelancer, but normal it is not, by any measure.

[PedroMorales]

I hate the grotesque xenophobic caricatures which consist in caricaturing and accusing countries and their people. I know that some journalists or editorialists make it their business.

At this stage there is no certainty. And all directions must be investigated.

Nevertheless I hope that to say that the virus comes from Wuhan in China and that perhaps it appeared following faults or errors is not regarded as sinophobic. It is hoped that the whole world can learn from its mistakes. How to do it if we hide them ? Fortunately we are in a globalized world where speech is destined to be free in all nations or we go directly to the world that George Orwell described in 1984 (unless we are already there ? ).

I think it is not a service to the people of China and to the world to hide the truth. There is a huge desire for free speech in China and it should be encouraged. I remind that the first doctor in China who launched the coronavirus alert and who died from it, Li Wenliang, was first imprisoned by the Chinese authorities for "spreading rumors". He is now considered a national hero in China.

China is not to blame for the languid and downright criminal responses in Europe and the USA. Stop blaming others, like you are a child.

George Orwell, mr 1984, was a government informant, part of thew 1984 system. A nasty, nasty, little man.

I thought the Ryanair link was good as it showed one major company intends to be around for a few more rounds and that air and hotel price wars on the way, which is good for mongers. However, regarding this site's focus, I don't know if the old days can come back. Much older folk will remember Burgos St in Singapore, which was like Sodom and Gomorah on steroids. Some have mentioned wild places in the PR China, which are now gone.

I figure a lot has to with how the various authorities want to move post lock down. If it was up to me, I would want women as they spend the money and we see that increasingly in Thailand and Pattaya. Guys just spend money on beer and broads.

But it is not my call. I figure the more adventurous and horny Chinese, Indians and Koreans will still want their weasels greased and the market will be thee for them. Maybe a smaller, more discreet and more expensive scene, where the only losers would be Cheap Charlies and the women we pay to love? Cash will be king and I am cash rich, so suggestions post Covid19 please.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

I hate the grotesque xenophobic caricatures which consist in caricaturing and accusing countries and their people. I know that some journalists or editorialists make it their business.

At this stage there is no certainty. And all directions must be investigated.

Nevertheless I hope that to say that the virus comes from Wuhan in China and that perhaps it appeared following faults or errors is not regarded as sinophobic. It is hoped that the whole world can learn from its mistakes. How to do it if we hide them ? Fortunately we are in a globalized world where speech is destined to be free in all nations or we go directly to the world that George Orwell described in 1984 (unless we are already there ? ).

I think it is not a service to the people of China and to the world to hide the truth. There is a huge desire for free speech in China and it should be encouraged. I remind that the first doctor in China who launched the coronavirus alert and who died from it, Li Wenliang, was first imprisoned by the Chinese authorities for "spreading rumors". He is now considered a national hero in China.