Coronavirus Precautions/News/Updates for Hua Hin/Prachuap

[HHTel]

A few weeks ago, we had a 'tin city' erected close by for workers at some building site. No problem at the time. I know how it works and once the construction is complete, they'd pack up and go to their next job. There's probably between 50 and 100 people there.

Under the current crisis, I noticed the police there a couple of days ago. I'm assuming that they were being moved on as for the last couple of days the site has been almost deserted.

However, they seem to be back with a vengeance. Coming back from 7/11 I noticed that the mobile shops have opened up on the road (not food stalls but stalls selling clothes etc.). Just as I was passing an open truck turned up with the workers. There must have been at least 20 guys packed like sardines in the back and not one mask between them. (you all know the scene).

No precautions that I could see. Hygiene must be a problem in a setup of this nature. It needs just one person to be afflicted (and we already know that he may be asymptomatic) and it could turn into a 'hot spot'.

As a 'dirty farang', I just have to accept it as I don't have any reporting rights as such. The locals will have sympathy and the usual 'Mai Pen Rai' and 'Ko dai'.

It makes me so damned angry.

[STEVE G]

The rate of increase is seen to drop but the picture is not good!

If the number of confirmed cases was the absolute number infected, then the a drop in the rate of increase would mean that each person infected was causing less new infections which would be an improvement. The problem is that the number of confirmed cases seems to be now more of an indication of the limits of testing rather than the number of people with the virus.

[HHTel]

Well it seems that the 'experts' having looked at the benefit of masks have basically not changed their original recommendations. They sight more reasons for not wearing one.

Coronavirus: Who needs masks or other protective gear?

Facemasks, gloves and other protective gear can help stop the spread of coronavirus - but only in the right circumstances.

Some people are also making homemade masks - and Americans are now being advised to use them in public - but are they safe?

Why doesn't everyone wear a mask?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has looked at the latest evidence, including whether the virus can be projected further than previously thought.

It wanted to re-examine whether the general public might benefit from wearing masks.

Its experts decided that it remains the case that medical masks should be reserved for healthcare workers, not the general public.

Only two groups of people should wear protective masks, those who are:

sick and showing symptoms
caring for people suspected to have the coronavirus
Masks are not recommended for the general public because:

they can be contaminated by other people's coughs and sneezes or when putting them on or removing them
frequent hand-washing and social distancing are more effective
they might offer a false sense of security
Coronavirus is spread by droplets that can spray into the air when those infected talk, cough and sneeze. These can enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth, either directly or after touching a contaminated object.

Do homemade face masks work?
Only the sick, or those caring for patients of coronavirus, had previously been told to wear masks. But US officials hope the new rules could stop people without symptoms unknowingly spreading coronavirus.

However, reusable cloth masks are also not recommended and may even increase the chance of infection, say European advisers.

They say there is a high chance virus particles could go through cloth. Problems with moisture could also mean the cloth retains the virus, they warn.

The UK is not advising most people to wear either medical or homemade masks. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the government is following medical and scientific advice on their use.

England's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van Tam says he does not believe that healthy people wearing them in the UK would reduce the spread of the disease. "What matters now is social distancing," he says.

The general public are not advised to wear gloves or any other protective gear.

To protect yourself from coronavirus, the NHS recommends:

Wash hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds and immediately on returning home

Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve - not your hands - when you cough or sneeze

Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Read the full report:
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51205344

[handdrummer]

Last week in Makro, a cashier was wearing a transparent plastic face shield. My wife asked her where she got it and she said, the head office. That type of mask would protect you from anyone coughing or sneezing in your direction. (Aside to the audience: she was the prettiest cashier that day. I don't know if that influenced the head office.)

On Thai news there was a woman who made a full head and face mask by cutting out the bottom of a 1 gallon plastic bottle. She left the spout intact. Maybe as a feeding/water inlet?

[caller]

They had full face transparent shields for sale in Bluport yesterday. Just outside of Gourmet market by the help desk thingy they have there. They tend to put sanistisers and masks on a counter there. And Dettol - I bought two disinfectant sprays.

[Nereus]

Hospital praised for coronavirus protection idea for newborn babies

https://au.news.yahoo.com/newborn-babie ... 44944.html

Babies born amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand have been given little face shields to protect them from coronavirus.
Pictures of babies wearing the shields covering their entire face were snapped at Praram 9 Hospital in Bangkok, while nurses hold the newborns behind a glass screen.

The babies wore the protective visors even when they were being held by their mothers, according to Yahoo UK.
One photo shows a mother taking a photo of her baby through the glass windows while a nurse holds the infant up for her.
The images have been shared widely on social media with many praising the hospital’s precautionary measures.

baby mask.jpg

(99.74 KiB) Downloaded 761 times

[caller]

So what's happening up by the airport?

The road heading south is funneled into the middle lane and awning has been set up either side of this one remaining open lane. I saw them setting this up yesterday and now it looks finished. As I drove through, half a dozen people were sat sheltered under the awning but no cars were being stopped. The road was empty in any case. Last U-turn is before the tunnel under the runway.

[Big Boy]

That's been there for a couple of weeks now. I've been through there a few times (twice today), but every time I've been through, they've always been at the trough stuffing their faces. Probably lucky they weren't one of the PM's snap checks last night.

[HHTel]

Hospital praised for coronavirus protection idea for newborn babies

https://au.news.yahoo.com/newborn-babie ... 44944.html

Babies born amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand have been given little face shields to protect them from coronavirus.
Pictures of babies wearing the shields covering their entire face were snapped at Praram 9 Hospital in Bangkok, while nurses hold the newborns behind a glass screen.

The babies wore the protective visors even when they were being held by their mothers, according to Yahoo UK.
One photo shows a mother taking a photo of her baby through the glass windows while a nurse holds the infant up for her.
The images have been shared widely on social media with many praising the hospital’s precautionary measures.

baby mask.jpg

Newborn human babies are protected with face shields

Human babies!!!

[hhinner]

Apart from the airports and similar places, where is this social distancing taking place? Certainly not in convenience stores and markets. Haven't seen any of it in Makro. Or even at the checkpoint entering Hua Hin.

[Big Boy]

I was at Thai Watsadu a couple of hours ago - they were hot on it as we were entering the store - little squares where we had to stand. Weren't allowed to move until the square in front of us was empty.

Hua Hin Hospital are making efforts, every other seat has a cross indicating don't sit.

Those are the only places I've been for a few weeks

[Dannie Boy]

I was at Thai Watsadu a couple of hours ago - they were hot on it as we were entering the store - little squares where we had to stand. Weren't allowed to move until the square in front of us was empty.

Hua Hin Hospital are making efforts, every other seat has a cross indicating don't sit.

Those are the only places I've been for a few weeks

I too witnessed that the other day In TW - the only thing is that once inside it was a free for all - I’m sure that most Thais think that masks (and possibly gloves) = safety.

[Big Boy]

When I was in there, it's so vast we didn't really get close to anybody until the check out.

[huahin4ever]

Can someone please translate or post in English what's in this document?

YNWA

[Big Boy]

I don't read Thai, and won't put it through my translator because it looks familiar. I will tell you my understanding and others can confirm or disagree later.

It is the order telling Farangs that they need to report to various centres if they arrived back in Thailand after 15th March. The closure date was 10 April but there was an extension to 12 April. Those who didn't attend now face the full penalty allowed under law.

I think the letter was sent to Landlords etc trying to help fish the non-attendees out.

I'll wait for the correct translation now, but I don't think I'm too far away from the mark. Basically, if you're asking now, and haven't reported, you're too late.

[Edit] Promulgating orders as .jpg files, written in Thai is serving very little purpose when trying to contact non-Thai literates.