Showing 21 - 26 of 26
Why close the parks?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 04/04/2020
» Over the past month, hundreds of people -- especially the elderly -- jogged in Benjakiti Park daily and thousands in Lumpini Park. At this time, it is important for people, especially elderly people, to get lots of sunshine and exercise.
Mass testing best
News, Postbag, Published on 21/03/2020
» The most effective and cheapest way of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic will be to conduct mass testing of the population, as urged by eminent French infectious diseases expert Dr Didier Raoult. He has pointed out that cheaply mass produced testing equipment is already available and is being used effectively in South Korea. Countries, including Thailand, should build up this mass testing capability as fast as it can and test as many people as possible. That way it will be possible to isolate only those who test positive and it also makes it possible to treat those who start showing symptoms early which boosts the chance of a favourable outcome for them. This will be far more effective than locking down entire populations of people who are not infected and causing a massive economic dislocation in the process. In Thailand's case, it may cost US$325 million (10.5 billion baht) to test the entire population, but that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the $8 billion cost of a 5% decline in GDP.
FFP was singled out
Oped, Postbag, Published on 14/03/2020
» Re: "It's not just about FFP", (PostBag, March 12). Khun Piya Samyan defends the Constitutional Court dissolving the Future Forward Party, because "it did violate the law regarding acquisition of income". This is about the "rule of law that is equally applied to all". I fully agree with Khun Piya that the law must be applied without fear or favour -- for if not, the government would be weaponising the law to slay its enemies, so to speak.
Unmasking solutions
News, Postbag, Published on 06/03/2020
» Re: "Govt moves to stop face-mask hoarding", (BP, March 4). PM Prayut boosting face mask production to fight Covid-19 is misguided and should be focused on hand-cleaning instead. The World Health Organisation reports,
Easy, but dire, option
News, Postbag, Published on 03/02/2020
» Re: "Chinese tourists desert Phuket as virus spreads", (Online, Feb 1).
Better safe than sorry
News, Postbag, Published on 30/01/2020
» Thailand's very fortunate that we've had only a few cases of coronavirus to date but for-hire drivers, such as those of taxis, Grab, tour drivers and guides should wear surgical masks whenever they're in contact with others. This is to protect them from possibly becoming infected from their passengers or tour members and to lessen the chances of them infecting others.