Another month has gone by, and Planet Earth's citizenry continues to find itself being cowed by the Coronavirus-Coronaphobia double-whammy imposed by virtually all countries.   It is axiomatic that these global border lock-downs have continued to destroy tourism worldwide - and more to the point - tourism in Thailand.   We continue to monitor the Coronavirus situation locally and abroad in order to provide our readers with realistic expectations regarding timeframe(s) for reopening of Thailand's Night Entertainment Scene.   This month, however, there is a 'light at the end of the tunnel'...        ...Continued below...

      Remember these?   It is a virtual certainty that something similar awaits the traveller in 2021.   Those who feel their freedoms are being yanked out from underneath them by having to wear masks in certain situations, and having to carry proof of vaccination will cordially be invited to stay home.   (Yes, we frequently receive comments along these lines from those who have found a way to keep themselves in a state of perpetual of indignation...)

            This last November three drug companies, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca and Moderna, announced they will commence production and distribution of the vaccines which they have separately developed.   (These companies claim a greater-than-90% effectiveness - three times more effective than the seasonal flu vaccine.)   Distribution is foreseen to commence sometime later this month (December).   Should the timeline for this initial deployment be met, it is likely widespread vaccination programs will get under way in Europe (including the UK) and USA by January 2021.   (One hopes that the world's governments see the value in vaccinating the medical community, the elderly and the 'must-travels' first.)   It is conceivable that, through vaccinations, Covid-19 will cease to be a serious medical, and (more importantly), social problem by the middle of 2021.

            This month, we continue to reaffirm that sound countermeasures, when diligently applied, will stop the spread of Coronavirus in regions following the 'Isolation Protocol'.   For several months, Thailand has not had a single 'in-house' case other than those in quarantine upon returning to Thailand from abroad.   This last month there have been two 'anomaly' appearances of the virus.   One person was tested and found to have developed antibodies, indicating he had once been infected.   Working the backtrail (tracing), none of his contacts, past or present, tested positive for Covid-19 contact.   The second case was of a young woman who came to Thailand from Burma via a 'natural' route (translation: she came across the Thai-Burma border by wading across one of the common boundary rivers which are very low in water this time of year).   She developed symptoms and was hospitalized, while some 30-plus people she contacted were 'back-traced' and tested (none were infected).   Currently, Thailand is technically continuing to follow its 'Isolation Protocol'; masks must be worn on public transportation, to include taxis (taxis often not observing), and in public buildings and medical facilities - however elsewhere it is rather voluntary.   'Social distancing' is technically still on the books, but almost universally ignored.   Automatic and semi-automatic temperature readings are still being taken at certain public and commercial buildings.   Free sanitizing gel is universally available, and now mostly ignored.   Those entering the country are still required to enter quarantine for 14 days, either at government-provided hotels, or (more expensive) a hotel from a short-list of authorized 4 and 5 star hotels.   Self-quarantine is not allowed.   Those found to be Covid-19-positive will be hospitalized in select government quarantine hospitals until fully recovered.
    ...Continued below...

         Here we reiterate from last month's column: there is only one long-term solution to ridding the world of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and that is through "Immunity".   And there have only ever been only two possibilities to arrive at immunity:
    *  First is through herd-immunity, which in several countries, appears to be winning out (falling or plateaued death rates, in spite of increasing numbers of new cases).   Thailand has recently taken (limited) measures, which in the long run tend to promote herd immunity:   In addition to commencing the long-term special tourist visas, Thailand will be starting 'business' visas with China and Japan for those able to pass the required medical screening.   While these are the types of steps necessary to return to normalcy, the currently envisioned process will be too slow to be meaningful in the economic sense, and will impact the Night Entertainment Scene little, if at all.
    *  The second possible method to obtain immunity is through a vaccine such as discussed above.    While the new vaccines are a cause for hope, they are not yet a cause for celebration.   In the slight chance the vaccines are not successful, nations will need to adopt, and to pursue courses of conduct which will be more able to provide herd immunity (such as the Sweden Model).

Graffiti #1214
The Blazerz...
8 ft high x 12 ft

Graffiti #1215
Bad Cat
8 ft high x 22 ft

Graffiti #1216
Thy Protest
2 ft high x 3 ft

Graffiti #1217
Ocid One
6 ft high x 13 ft

Graffiti #1218
Aborock
6 ft high x 21 ft

Graffiti #1219
Freshie
8 ft high x 18 ft

Graffiti #1220
Aches 'N Pains
7 ft high x 16 ft