General Reports

[QUOTE=Berrys66;2474953]But how long will their luck hold out considering mexico and Brazil figures? Hospitals in isaan won't be able to cope with high numbers of covid.

Its suspicious that thyre somehow immune or not.[/QUOTE]How long? My opinion is as soon as they start to open up International airspace since their economy is dying and no matter how much they put out those smoke and mirrors figures and ideas for local to travel and spend money which in time will not be enough they will have to expand that means open it up. And when it does the number will spike just isn't just for Thailand for everyone else in the world.

They have done a remarkable job by locking this country down from the outside and surprisingly never seen so much road, drains, electrical work being done in Pattaya in all my years living here and being done at once. Just yesterday I was using Hwy 7, from Nongprue to Sukhumwit it's surface is all concrete admittingly done real well not a crack or hole smooth but somehow someone decided it needs a complete pave over with black tar.

When it comes to Isaan or anywhere in Thailand it would be a big YES when the next wave comes from the outside they have nothing in place they are totally unprepared that is when their luck will run out a big reason so many retired ex-pats want and enjoy this lockdown. In general, the old and weak here the Virus will target first?

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2475062]They have done a remarkable job by locking this country down from the outside[/QUOTE]LBM,

Indeed. My view is that in addition they have taken two actions which more than any has limited the impact.

The first is that since the Lumpini Boxing Stadium fiasco all people who test positive are hospitalised until they test clear twice, even if not showing symptoms. This has meant those with mild or no symptoms weren't sent home to "self-isolate" and then sneak out to the shops or whatever because they felt OK. Transmission prevented.

The second is that they were able to implement contact tracing on a significant scale through the health volunteer network (1 million of them is the quoted number). I know of a country with a similar size population whose contact tracing capacity was only about 5 cases a day. This meant that any chance of contact tracing had evaporated before they even knew there was a problem.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2475062]When it comes to Isaan or anywhere in Thailand it would be a big YES when the next wave comes from the outside[/QUOTE]This is why the Thai strategy has become eradication not control. The healthcare system simply simply couldn't cope with a significant outbreak. To a certain extent they are now victims of their own success. The public uproar after the Military "Walk Like an Egyptian" incident in Rayong shows the general determination and expectation that there should be no second wave. Of course those feelings are far less in Tourism areas like Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, parts of Bangkok, etc.

There is a piece on Pattaya News clarifying some of the incorrect reporting which has been going on about tourism prospects. [URL]https://thepattayanews.com/2020/08/13/fact-check-is-thailand-closed-to-all-foreign-tourists-until-2021/[/URL] There's not a lot of "New news" but it does clarify the situation about the Elite Visa. At present they are not being allowed entry although acceptance of it is approved "in principle". This may be because they are quite able to fill the repatriation flights with Thai returnees, spouses or Thais and work permit holders at present.

[QUOTE=Chacal60;2475049]Only later did I learn this was a joking reference to that moron's cognitive fart. I've been avoiding the news for almost four years now.[/QUOTE]You've got to avoid it for another four, he's going to be re-elected.

[QUOTE=Berrys66;2474953]But how long will their luck hold out considering mexico and Brazil figures? [/QUOTE]Isn't it more appropriate to consider figures in neighboring countries: Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam?

Very few cases and even fewer deaths.

[QUOTE=MasterMonger;2473756]
But seriously 700,000 dead in almost 9 months is influenza like numbers, about 77 million away from the 1% you need to be considered a global pandemic like the Spanish flu that killed 20 million when the population was 1. 5 Billion. According to the numbers provided by the governments Covid-19 should not be considered much more dangerous than the flu. When the numbers go above 3 million in 12 months I will wear a mask. I will even get a vaccine if they go above 78 million. Numbers are facts, just like the sky is blue. If the news said the sky was green, would you believe it or would you go take a look? So, why don't people look and compare the actual numbers of COVID-19?[/QUOTE]The big difference with influenza is that the world has limited the number of deaths to 'only' 700,000 by taking all kinds of drastic measures. If we hadn't done that the death rate would have been much higher by now.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;2475718]The big difference with influenza is that the world has limited the number of deaths to 'only' 700,000 by taking all kinds of drastic measures. If we hadn't done that the death rate would have been much higher by now.[/QUOTE]And I'll add, we know how the flu behaves, we know what it does to the body, and we know the after-effects. This is a novel virus. We are not sure what the long-term effects will be. We are also not sure how it will mutate. I think being a bit cautious is prudent until we understand those things and have a good arsenal of fairly effective treatments that we are sure of.

For those who think they are traveling again soon think again. There is a new COVID strain D614 G which is a mutation of the original COVID strain. It is 10 x more infectious than the original COVID strain and has been found in SEA. It has been traced back to Europe.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2476324]There is a new COVID strain D614 G which is a mutation of the original COVID strain. It is 10 x more infectious than the original COVID strain and has been found in SEA.[/QUOTE]Yes, experts are looking at this new virus variant. But overly simplistic statements are not helpful. There is a good article on this variant up on [URL]Medium.com[/URL], which is a website that collects long-form content written by people who are actually knowledgeable.

Here is the abstract:

The variant is more infectious in laboratory settings; whether it means increased viral spread in humans is unconfirmed. Current evidence says that the variant is not any deadlier. And so, treatment options should not be any more different. Both (new and old) variants should react similarly to vaccines, studies suggest, as the mutation does not change the immunogenic part of the spike protein; that is, the receptor-binding domain (RBD).

If you are inclined to read the full article, you may find it here:

[URL]https://medium.com/microbial-instincts/what-the-d614g-mutation-means-for-covid-19-spread-fatality-treatment-and-vaccine-7dda1c066f0d[/URL]

[QUOTE=Bunky;2476423]Yes, experts are looking at this new virus variant. But overly simplistic statements are not helpful. There is a good article on this variant up on [URL]Medium.com[/URL], which is a website that collects long-form content written by people who are actually knowledgeable.

Here is the abstract:

The variant is more infectious in laboratory settings; whether it means increased viral spread in humans is unconfirmed. Current evidence says that the variant is not any deadlier. And so, treatment options should not be any more different. Both (new and old) variants should react similarly to vaccines, studies suggest, as the mutation does not change the immunogenic part of the spike protein; that is, the receptor-binding domain (RBD).

If you are inclined to read the full article, you may find it here:

[URL]https://medium.com/microbial-instincts/what-the-d614g-mutation-means-for-covid-19-spread-fatality-treatment-and-vaccine-7dda1c066f0d[/URL][/QUOTE]My friend living in Khon Kaen says that things are normal and with the rules observed there seems to be no big out breaks in Bangkok or the provinces.

[QUOTE=Rodwint2;2476504]My friend living in Khon Kaen says that things are normal and with the rules observed there seems to be no big out breaks in Bangkok or the provinces.[/QUOTE]My Thai girl sent me a photo of her classroom where she teaches. Nobody had on masks. She says there is no virus in Chaiyaphum.

[QUOTE=Rodwint2;2476504]My friend living in Khon Kaen says that things are normal and with the rules observed there seems to be no big out breaks in Bangkok or the provinces.[/QUOTE]Yes things are pretty much normal in Thailand. You still have to wear a mask and sign in and get your temp taken to go into places like the mall. Some people still ride around on their motorbikes wearing a mask. I am in the poolhall now with 30 people inside and 1 lady and 1 man that work here have on masks. All the other employees and patrons do not.

Have sex worker prices increased beyond the rate of inflation in Thailand? Is so, in what markets has this occurred? Among street walkers, gogos, bar girls, escorts, massage places, clubs, dating sites, freelancers, etc? If so, by how much have rates increased beyond the rate of inflation? Due to what factors? Based on what evidence? Personal experiences which may differ between customers as YMMV?

My research regarding the period from 2004 through 2013 concerning NEP area street walkers found that prices did not go up. Neither did service or attitude go down.

If inflation had an average increase of 3.9 percent per year the rates should have increased about 47% over those 10 years. On that basis a price of 1000 baht should have increased to almost 1500 baht by 2014.

In 20 years of inflation at a average rate of 3.94 percent inflation per year the price increase should go from 1000 to almost 2200 baht. That's not even considering the many other factors that could increase prices even more.

It seems around the year 2000 long time sessions were much more usual relative to short time sessions than they are now. I'd suggest that "pay for play" ladies then were more naive & had fewer customers in the country. So the competition between them to get & keep customers motivated them to perform well & worked to keep prices from increasing much if anything. As did the ladies relative naivety about STIs, customers & the worldwide sex industry in general also contribute to low rates and good service.

Various factors, in addition to inflation, less naivety and increased customer numbers may work towards moving prices up and or service, including attitude, down. Such as an increase in men as sponsors sending monthly cash donations to sex workers. Or those generous ones who buy ladies expensive jewelry and give them huge one time amounts of baht out of nothing but the goodness of their heart. Also ladies getting large amounts of earnings from their porn appearances. Add to that customers who offer tips, large and small, after a session and for various reasons. Then there may also be increased drug use leading to a general increase in poorer performance. Increased pimping or otherwise being under the influence or control of a boss or employer may be another factor. Those factors and other possible variables could work together to lead to an increase in prices and or a decline in service.

You don't factor in the effect of pimps working gals harder to process more guys in a 24 hour period. The gals who were happy with all night sessions around 15 years ago had pimps on their backs to get busier. And do more gents on short times, hence the fall in attitudes.

[QUOTE=Berrys66;2477144]You don't factor in the effect of pimps working gals harder to process more guys in a 24 hour period. The gals who were happy with all night sessions around 15 years ago had pimps on their backs to get busier. And do more gents on short times, hence the fall in attitudes.[/QUOTE]Uh, I don't really think that's a factor. After 20 plus years here I've not seen evidence of wide scale pimping in LOS. Especially in the scene directed at foreigners.

[QUOTE=PinkPearl;2476942]If inflation had an average increase of 3.9 percent per year the rates should have increased about 47% over those 10 years.[/QUOTE]Where are you pulling that 3. 9% inflation from?

Officially, average annual inflation was 1. 6% over the last 10 years, and 2% over the last 20 years. [URL=="https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/THA/thailand/inflation-rate-cpi"]source[/URL]. I feel consumer prices have risen faster, but that's the official data.

So, if ST cost 1000 baht in 2010, should be 1170 baht in 2020 due to inflation.