Hua Hin Forum

I'm currently seeing on Thai News (Channel 33) a story that my daughter-in-law told me earlier - Buriram has been locked down.

The governor of Buriram on Monday announced he is placing the whole province on lockdown in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Mr Tachakon Hatthayakur announced a string of new measures that will effectively “close the city”.

The new measures will see both Thai and foreign tourists trying to enter Buriram undergo screening at various points of entry, such as the airport, train station, hotels and along major routes into the province.

People visiting or returning to the province must inform the local village headman or community leader of their arrival, while a system will be put in place to monitor tourists for 14 days after they arrive in the province.

Group gatherings of more than 50 people have also been banned, including religious events such as merit making or monk ordination.

Special quarantine areas will be introduced at hospitals in the province, while a local hotel will be used as a temporary hospital if needed.

The news comes as Thailand reported its biggest jump in confirmed cases on Sunday, with the announcement of 32 new infections, which brought the total number of confirmed cases to 114.

Source:https://www.dailynews.co.th/regional/763162

Thanks Pharvey. That is very good, and clear enough for an older child to understand. Passed along already.

EDIT: This is the first time I've actually read confirmation that the virus does not do well in high ambient temperatures, or in the sun.

Excellent mail, Pharvey. The majority makes complete sense. However it states that 26+ degrees will kill the virus. Although that's what we're hoping, the experts suggest that currently there is no evidence of that. We don't know as yet how this particular virus reacts to better weather.

SOME HOSPITALS APPLY ‘FARANG PRICING’ FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING

Prices from Bangkok Hospital Group is conspicuously absent and I'm surprised they don't do the testing.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured ... us-testing


BANGKOK — At least two hospitals in Bangkok are charging foreigners more for coronavirus tests, a survey found on Monday.

While the vast majority of hospitals surveyed by Khaosod English apply the same fees to Thais and foreigners in their testing, Ramathibodi and Paolo Phaholyothin hospitals charge foreigners by about 40 percent more than Thai nationals.

But regardless of nationalities, coronavirus testing fees in Bangkok generally cost in the thousands. The price is considered so steep that Roongreung Kitpati, an advisor to the Ministry of Health, said Sunday that those without symptoms or at-risk travel history should refrain from getting checkups, which could overcrowd hospitals and use up test kits.

“If you aren’t sick, please don’t get tests because it’s useless and wastes money. Most tests yield negative results. But if you are in an at-risk group, such as contact with the infected, please contact the Department hotline,” Roongreung said.

Many hospitals will also only provide Covid-19 testing if the person has symptoms such as fever over 37.5C, cough, runny rose, respiratory problems, and if they have travel history to an at-risk country, are in contact with someone who returned from such a country or currently has the virus, or are a medical personnel who is in close contact to the infected.

Here are the costs if you do get a coronavirus test at a hospital:

Public/University Hospitals

Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital: Tests are 3,000 – 6,000 baht, same price for foreigners. Admission available.

Ramathibodi Hospital: Due to limited test kits, testing will only be given to those with Covid-19 symptoms. Tests cost 5,000 baht for Thais, 7,000 baht to foreigners.

Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital: Does not provide Covid tests unless patients already have Covid-19 symptoms. The hospital said they cannot determine the price for a test, since they can only be prescribed by doctors.

Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute: Tests cost 8,000 – 14,000 baht, but may be free depending on the doctors’ discretion.

Private Hospitals

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital: 6,500 baht for a Drive Thru service where doctors will swab your nose and throat. Medical results will be sent through text messages within eight hours. Same price for both Thais and foreigners. Book via their Facebook, though the service is fully booked through Thursday.

Vichaiyut Hospital: 7,500 baht, not including any prescribed medicine. Same price for Thai and foreigners, but tests are reserved for those showing symptoms.

Bangkok Christian Hospital: 8,200 – 10,000 baht. Same price for Thais and foreigners.

St. Louis Hospital: 8,000 baht but will only test those showing Covid-19 symptoms. Same price for Thais and foreigners.

Phyathai 2 Hospital: 6,500 baht, but will have additional service fees. Same price for Thais and foreigners.

Phyathai 3 Hospital: Same price as Phyathai 2, but will only test on those with symptoms or recent travel to at-risk countries.

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital: Will not say how much a test costs. Tests can only be prescribed by doctors, no walk-in check ups available.

Samitivej Hospital Thonburi: 8,000 – 10,000 baht, same price for foreigners.

Bumrungrad International Hospital: 10,500 baht for those with no Covid-19 symptoms, test results available within 48 hours. Those with symptoms pay 7,500 – 18,500 baht, but the hospital will not admit Covid-19 patients. They will be sent to other hospitals.

Paolo Phaholyothin Hospital: 5,000 baht for Thais, 7,000 baht to foreigners.

PatRangsit Hospital: 8,000 baht for both Thais and foreigners.

Praram 9 Hospital: 10,000 baht for patients with symptoms, 8,000 baht for those without. Same price for Thais and foreigners.

Mongkutwattana Hospital: 6,000 baht for both Thais and foreigners.

Covid-19 Tests Unavailable At:

BNH Hospital

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital

Bangkok Hospital

Siriraj Hospital

Rajavithi Hospital; but treats patients sent via the Department of Disease Control for free.
In the chances that you test positive for the coronavirus and wish to use your social security benefits, contact the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422, who will then redirect patients for treatment at three state hospitals: Chulalongkorn Memorial, Rajavithi, and Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute.

Nice to see the US getting donations from China

Alibaba's Ma donates coronavirus test kits to US

Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has sent the first shipment of surgical masks and coronavirus test kits to the US.

The Chinese billionaire tweeted two pictures of the pallets of goods being loaded on to a plane in Shanghai.

Earlier this month he said he would give 500,000 testing kits and one million masks to America.

Mr Ma is also sending consignments of medical supplies to Europe as he called for international cooperation efforts to combat the pandemic.

In his first tweet, Asia's richest person posted photos of a China Eastern Airlines jet being loaded with boxes of coronavirus test kits and face masks as they were shipped to the US.

Source BBC News

This was passed to me a couple of days ago. I have no reason not to believe its real.

Yes indeed, concerning BH, price gouging at its best. Thailand will evolve sooner or later (maybe) to make things like that illegal both in times of emergency and in everyday life.

HHTel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:38 pm Excellent mail, Pharvey. The majority makes complete sense. However it states that 26+ degrees will kill the virus. Although that's what we're hoping, the experts suggest that currently there is no evidence of that. We don't know as yet how this particular virus reacts to better weather.

The question of the virus not lasting long in the heat has been mentioned by number of experts on TV. Last evening CNN had an excellent specialist being questioned and he said that if the virus was left by a persons hand on a say hand rail, it would be killed in seconds if the temp was high ( I think he said 30+ degrees) Perhaps this is why Thailand seems to have had less cases?
It certainly makes good sense to me.

PeteC wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:26 pm Thanks Pharvey. That is very good, and clear enough for an older child to understand. Passed along already.

EDIT: This is the first time I've actually read confirmation that the virus does not do well in high ambient temperatures, or in the sun.

HHTel wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:38 pm Excellent mail, Pharvey. The majority makes complete sense. However it states that 26+ degrees will kill the virus. Although that's what we're hoping, the experts suggest that currently there is no evidence of that. We don't know as yet how this particular virus reacts to better weather.

The post in question that Pharvey mentioned, which was widely shared on social media, has since been labeled as dangerous and false information by the institute that it supposedly came from. It has come from an account not linked to any health organisation at all. Being shared over 100k times, some health authorities felt the need to step in to stop the spread of useless and harmful data.

In particular, they said 'drinking water so the virus goes to the stomach, thus being eliminated by acids' is absolutely false. Complete garbage.

Is in all the usual sources. I'll post one link below but there are many concerning this particular post. I got the original that Pharvey got by email and facebook also.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thever ... x-covid-19

^ Sincere apologies if it's "false news" or "utter cr@p". It was shared via my company, so........

I actually thought most made a lot of sense. Will have to investigate further.

pharvey wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:35 pm ^ Sincere apologies if it's "false news" or "utter cr@p". It was shared via my company, so........

I actually thought most made a lot of sense. Will have to investigate further.

I thought it was a very reasonable email when I got it, too. Even held my breath for 10 seconds to check the ol' lungs.... Ffs.

The next day the news stressed that the post had no scientifically proven truth behind it. And wasn't actually from any medical practitioners of the supposed address (red flag).

Got me doing the 10 second 'hold your breath' thing anywho.

Lost wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:09 pm Got me doing the 10 second 'hold your breath' thing anywho.

+1 & I started drinking water every 15 minutes

Lost wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:09 pmGot me doing the 10 second 'hold your breath' thing anywho.

The LHG has suggested I try it for 10 minutes..... Wonder why

pharvey wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:13 pm

Lost wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:09 pmGot me doing the 10 second 'hold your breath' thing anywho.

The LHG has suggested I try it for 10 minutes..... Wonder why