Quietguy

The UK police have now begun pulling up people and motorists to ask them why they are out. Emergency laws brought in today mean that people who are ignoring advice about going out can be fined, with increasing fines for further violations. I haven't been out for a week now. I don't each much, I've still got enough food to keep me going for a few days.

^^^ I see you have eaten the cows now!

I did, and I was actually moved to tears by the show of support along my road. My upstairs neighbour is a junior hospital doctor.

There might be soon. General in charge of security is calling on people to stay indoors over the coming weekend or curfew could be imposed. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/1887060/stay-home-or-face-curfew-says-defence-chief

No curfew then?

https://www.pattayamail.com/featured/from-bargirls-to-taxi-drivers-to-food-vendors-pattayas-shutdown-a-domino-effect-disaster-292807

Thai Airways suspends flights

He will have to avoid contact with his parents.

DC I'm glad I'm not on any committee which has any impact on your life too! I only made that suggestion because, as you say, thousands in Pattaya, Bangkok and other areas which rely on tourism are going to be left without any, or little, income. The UK Government has imposed a 3 month (possibly to be extended) moratorium on any new repossession/eviction court cases. There was concern that this might not make any difference to the approximately 20,000 repossession/eviction cases already in progress, but this morning it has been announced that the Lord Chancellor has told courts to avoid issuing any eviction notices in current cases too. I know in Thailand landlords don't go through the formalities of a court procedure to evict people. I know a lb who came home to find a handwritten note on her door telling her that she and her room mate had to leave by the end of the week - 3 days notice. I would hope that landlords understand their tenants financial difficulties at present and would come to some arrangement about rents. A lot of people are apparently already returning to their home towns and villages, so landlords will probably find it difficult to find new tenants if they evict their present tenants. I was only suggesting that the Thai Government need to give some guidance, I shouldn't have said 'directive' - but I think that was the word used in the news report. I would think they will give some advice on this. The announcement that the Government will make 5,000 bt a month available to some workers should help if it actually works in practice. I hope this is all resolved without too many problems for renters, or landlords.

Reports in Thaiger and Pattaya News that the Thai Government will make payments of 5,000 baht a month to 'informal workers'.

South African flights suspended

I hope that the Thai Government will also take steps to suspend rent payments for the period of the State of Emergency. Otherwise how can people (including bars) who are not earning pay their rent? We'll just have to wait until tomorrow and see what their directives are.

A graph from the Financial Times indicates places where a lockdown was implemented early have seen a lower rate of increase in Covid-19. Of course that might change I suppose. The US has one of the highest rates of increase, and the World Health Organisation says the US has the potential to become the epicentre of the virus.

i agree. But I can only go on the advice of our doctors, epidemiologists, nurses and scientists who are overwhelmingly calling for a lockdown.

Same in uk. So far over 11,500 retired NHS staff including 6000 retired doctors and 2,500 nurses have volunteered to return to work to help out.

It won't stop the virus but it will slow it's spread. If it spreads as quickly as present, doubling every couple of days, it will overwhelm any health service. A total lockdown seems to have worked in Wuhan.