The COVID-2019 Thread

[harrybarracuda]

Thailand is eyeing plans for vaccine passports and quarantine waivers as the global Covid-19 inoculation drive gathers pace.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha this week ordered officials to look into vaccine certificates for international travel after signaling the country is open to scrapping the two-week quarantine for inoculated visitors.

The local tourism industry wants mandatory quarantines to be lifted from as early as July 1 so it can open to potentially millions of vaccinated tourists.

A successful reopening could spur other tourism-reliant nations to follow suit, as countries like the UK set out ambitious timelines for easing restrictions on their populations and resuming international travel.

While the World Health Organization warned this week about the risks of loosening up too fast, places like Thailand, which saw almost 40 million overseas visitors in 2019, are seeing long-lasting damage to their economies with global travel paralyzed and borders closed a year into the pandemic.

"A gradual reopening, with the appropriate cautionary steps taken, will undoubtedly save businesses, jobs and bolster the economy," said John Blanco, general manager at luxury hotel Capella Bangkok.

"Given the building global momentum of vaccination, it would make sense to begin planning for the necessary steps," he said.

The central bank says tourism, which accounted for about a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product pre-pandemic, is key to returning the economy to growth. Thailand's GDP contracted 6.1% in 2020, the most this century.

Despite a flare-up in infections earlier this year, the country has largely contained Covid-19, with just 85 deaths over the course of the pandemic.

It needs to balance keeping the virus out and protecting the local population with countering the economic hit. While it’s already made some efforts to reopen borders to foreign tourists, strict quarantine rules have kept most away.

William Heinecke, chairman of Minor International, which operates 500 hotels worldwide, is leading a campaign to petition the government to reopen the borders from the third quarter after the pandemic forced hundreds of hotels and tourism businesses to close.

"The current situation is unsustainable," says the online petition, which got almost 7,500 signatories in three days.

"The July 1 reopening would be a strategic opportunity for Thailand to show a leadership role among Asian countries and prepare the way for a solid recovery of the Thai economy in 2022."

Prime Minister Prayut has cautioned against rushing to issue vaccine passports and wants more coordination with other countries.

On track to have vaccinated most of its population soon, Israel is making deals to allow its citizens to travel to a number of countries, including Greece.

While months away from issuing them, the European Union is also prioritizing immunity certificates, and Britain is expected to conclude a review of "Covid status certification," but only by June 21.

Europeans, including people from the UK, made up 16% of the foreign tourists into Thailand in 2019.

The country started to roll out vaccines this week and aims to inoculate 50% of its population by the end of this year. There are also plans to distribute vaccines in tourist hotspots such as Phuket and Koh Samui in preparation for a wider reopening.

The government eased curbs on businesses and travel after bringing the recent virus resurgence under control. But having skipped a nationwide lockdown to tackle the resurgence, Thailand may not return to zero cases anytime soon, according to Asst Prof Thira Woratanarat at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine.

"Figuring out how to reopen for tourists is as important as planning vaccine distribution," said Somprawin Manprasert, chief economist at Bank of Ayudhya. "The sooner the country can reopen for tourists, the sooner the recovery."

"The second wave just delayed the recovery, rather than derailed it," he said. "Even though we’re still in the dark, there’s light at the end of the tunnel."

Push to end tourist quarantine as shots rolled out

[OhOh]

to have enough vaccines for every adult by the end of May, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday.

You're suggesting the current leader will fulfil his promises. That will be unusual.

[harrybarracuda]

You're suggesting the current leader will fulfil his promises. That will be unusual.

Four years of the bullshitting baldy orange loser will do that to you.

[strigils]

Bloody Boomers are revolting

Covid news - live: Study shows 40% of over-80s breaking lockdown as modified jabs fast-tracked

Boris Johnson has appealed for over-80s to continue observing lockdown restrictions after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine after a new study found more than 40 per cent had breached them.


According to a survey released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 43 per cent of the 2.6 million over-80s who have received at least their first jab admitted meeting someone not in their household or support bubble indoors.


For those who had already had their second dose of the vaccine, this figure climbed to 48 per cent.


The UK’s medicines regulator has said coronavirus vaccines tweaked to deal with variants will be fast-tracked without compromising on safety or effectiveness.


The approach will be similar to the regulatory process for the modified flu vaccine, to deal with new strains each year, with a brand new approval not required.


Scientists have previously said a Covid-19 variant resistant to the current crop of vaccines is likely to emerge at some point, but vaccines can also be adapted quickly.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-vaccine-news-live-uk-cases-b1812226.html

[Joe 90]

Brexit Sour grapes from the Italians...
The Italian government has blocked the export of an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine shipment to Australia.

The decision affects 250,000 doses of the vaccine produced at an AstraZeneca facility in Italy.

Italy is the first EU country to use the bloc's new regulations allowing exports to be stopped if the company providing the vaccines has failed to meet its obligations to the EU.

The move has been backed by the European Commission, reports say.

AstraZeneca is on track to provide only 40% of the agreed supply to member states in the first three months of the year. It has cited production problems for the shortfall.

In January, then Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described delays in vaccine supplies by both AstraZeneca and Pfizer as "unacceptable" and accused the companies of violating their contracts.

His successor, Mario Draghi, who took office last month, has prioritised ramping up the vaccination programme, and argued that the rules should be applied rigorously.

The EU has been widely criticised for the slow pace of its vaccination programme.

[Troy]

^^ Jeez, do you blame them? Many living alone and need some social life rather than dieing alone for government convenience. My dad broke the rules to get his haircut. Job done, drove his mates there one by one to help out. They've dodged enough bullets in their life to know the risks...

[strigils]

^^ Jeez, do you blame them?

No Troy i don't, in fact the opposite. I have had first hand experience of those over 70 being isolated and have seen the decline in those separated from their families, some have really gone downhill. They had an uncertain time left before COVID pl;aced that in the balance and to have to spend what little remains separated from those they care about and who care for them is awful IMO. I've broken the rules quite a bit to visit some over 70s i know (not family) and quite frankly as long as i took stringent precautions i feel the hour or two spent with them and having some food and a few drinks was worth the risk, they thought so too. Next time i'll up the sarcasm.

[harrybarracuda]

Brexit Sour grapes from the Italians...
The Italian government has blocked the export of an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine shipment to Australia.

Isn't it fucking just, especially when you consider the squareheads can't give the stuff away.

[harrybarracuda]

Cyprus has said it will open its borders to vaccinated Britons from the start of May - but UK government travel restrictions will still be in force.

The Cypriot government said those who had both Covid jabs could travel there without restrictions from 1 May.

Covid-19: Cyprus to welcome vaccinated UK tourists from May - BBC News

[harrybarracuda]

[harrybarracuda]

Virtually everyone I have spoken to that had the Covishield vaccine reported a day or two of flu-like symptoms (fever, fatigue) after the jabs. Nothing serious, and now you know it going in, nothing to worry about either, should that vaccine be the one on offer.

Canada on Wednesday (local time) thanked India for sending coronavirus vaccines, of which 500,000 doses reached on March 4, a week after the AstraZeneca vaccine was approved.

Anita Anand, MP for Oakville and Minister of Public Services and Procurement, said in a tweet, "The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in Canada. The first tranche of 500,000 doses arrived this morning from Serum Institute of India with 1.5 million more doses to follow. Thank you to all whose hard work made this happen. We look forward to future collaboration." She had earlier said that another 944,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be reaching Canada this week, of which 444,600 doses are of Pfizer and 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca.

Canada thanks India as 500,000 doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccine arrives

[harrybarracuda]

It seems the vaccine is readily available in Florida - if you make the right payment.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...cine-donation/

[Slick]

It seems the vaccine is readily available in Florida - if you make the right payment.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...cine-donation/

Ole Dems sure do have their gunsights fixed firmly on DeSantis.

Internal polling & advice must show him as a threat.

[S Landreth]

It seems the vaccine is readily available in Florida - if you make the right payment.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...cine-donation/

He’s another embarrassment to Florida.

Fried’s remarks came after The Miami Herald published a story revealing that nearly all residents 65 and older in a wealthy enclave of Key Largo had been vaccinated for COVID-19 in January, even as many of Florida’s most vulnerable residents scrambled to find available vaccines.

All of the Key Largo residents who have donated to DeSantis’s political committee live in that specific enclave, called Ocean Reef Club, and all contributed $5,000 to the committee through December 2020, the Herald reported.

About a month after the vaccinations in Ocean Reef Club, one of the community’s wealthy residents, Bruce Rauner, the former Republican governor of Illinois, wrote DeSantis’s political committee a check for $250,000.: Top Florida Democrat calls on FBI to investigate DeSantis over vaccine distribution | TheHill - Wealthy residents of Ocean Reef had vaccines in January | Miami Herald

[panama hat]

Ole Dems sure do have their gunsights fixed firmly on DeSantis.

Internal polling & advice must show him as a threat.

Interestingly you don't see him as in any way odd or ineffective. Well, you wouldn't, would you.

[bsnub]

Interestingly you don't see him as in any way odd or ineffective. Well, you wouldn't, would you.

Probably sees a lot of himself in DeSantis. Both are gormless scumbags but too stupid to see it.

[harrybarracuda]

Ole Dems sure do have their gunsights fixed firmly on DeSantis.

Internal polling & advice must show him as a threat.

I'm not a "Dem".

I just think it's unethical to abuse your position and use public resources to reward people who fund your campaign.

Do you think this is right?

[Slick]

I'm not a "Dem".

I just think it's unethical to abuse your position and use public resources to reward people who fund your campaign.

Do you think this is right?

Democrat politicians, as noted in your article, are going after the guy and going all out trying to keep bad press going. Every time you read an article like the one you noted usually start with “Democrats say....” then follow up with speculation.

If the guy is playing favorites with the vaccine then he gets the firing squad, if it were up to me, but there’s nothing there. Just partisan hit pieces written for people just like you.

[bsnub]

Democrat politicians

Firstly you hopelessly brainwashed buffoon it is pronounced "Democratic" so let's establish that first you dimwitted fucktard. Every time you buffoons do that you look like ignorant illiterate clowns.

[panama hat]

I'm not a "Dem".

I just think it's unethical to abuse your position and use public resources to reward people who fund your campaign.

Do you think this is right?

And immediately . . .

Democrat

Weak as piss response, but then nothing else was expected

[cyrille]

After a year of clapping for the NHS...

A nurses’ union is preparing for strike action as anger grows about the 1% pay rise proposed for NHS staff in England.


The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said that at an emergency meeting called by its governing council, members voted to set up a £35m fund to support workers facing loss of earnings owing to industrial action.


It said it would only be used by members “should they wish to take action”, cautioning that the “next steps will be decided in conjunction” with them.


The group has called the planned pay increase “pitiful”, and doctors’ groups have accused the government of a dereliction of duty after Boris Johnson’s effusive praise for health and social care workers during the pandemic.


The junior health minister Nadine Dorries said on Friday that ideally nurses would get a bigger pay rise, and she suggested the government could “move” on the issue.


Dorries told BBC Breakfast: “I was actually surprised because I knew that we’d frozen public sector pay, that no one in the public sector was receiving a pay rise, so I was pleasantly surprised that we were making an offer.”

Nurses' union prepares for strike action over 1% pay offer for NHS staff | NHS | The Guardian

[russellsimpson]

Bloody Boomers are revolting

Yes. I've been saying that for years.

[strigils]

After a year of clapping for the NHS...

Wrong thread Cyrille, this should go in the "Brexitbutthurt" or "IHatetheUK" threads

[harrybarracuda]

If the guy is playing favorites with the vaccine then he gets the firing squad, if it were up to me, but there’s nothing there. Just partisan hit pieces written for people just like you.

You see this is why we think republicans are as dumb as fucking rocks.

Republican politicians can literally get away with anything as long as long as they can convince morons like you that it "owns the libs".

[Troy]

No Troy i don't, in fact the opposite. I have had first hand experience of those over 70 being isolated and have seen the decline in those separated from their families, some have really gone downhill. They had an uncertain time left before COVID pl;aced that in the balance and to have to spend what little remains separated from those they care about and who care for them is awful IMO. I've broken the rules quite a bit to visit some over 70s i know (not family) and quite frankly as long as i took stringent precautions i feel the hour or two spent with them and having some food and a few drinks was worth the risk, they thought so too. Next time i'll up the sarcasm.

Not having a go at you, just the news you posted. Good to hear that have the time to look after a few folks that need it.

Covid is a real sh!t at the moment with my Dad living alone...