Thailand to charter commercial flight to evacuate Thai people from Wuhan

[webfact]

Thailand to charter commercial flight to evacuate Thai people from Wuhan

 

 

The Thai government has decided to charter an aircraft from a commercial airline, rather than a military transport plane, to evacuate Thai people trapped in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday.

 

He explained that the change is intended to avoid potential difficulties pertaining to international aviation. He added, however, that it will be the Chinese authorities who determine whether the Thai people there are clear of coronavirus infection, in which case they will be allowed to leave China.

 

The Chinese government has recently allowed Japan to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan, the first country to be granted such access. 206 Japanese citizens were evacuated, four of whom had a fever and/or a cough.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-to-charter-commercial-flight-to-evacuate-thai-people-from-wuhan/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-01-30

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[legend49]

Do they have a military aircraft that is SERVICEABLE for that distance?

[Geoffggi]

Where will tase people be held in isolation for the recommended period of 14 days as per western standards...??

[RotBenz8888]

If we only had those submarines, we could've gone up Yangtze River to Wuhan for evacuation. Now we are forced to use aircrafts.

[Matzzon]

Yep, that must be much more economical, than to use people and aircraft they are already paying for. PutZ!

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Where will tase people be held in isolation for the recommended period of 14 days as per western standards...??

In the PM's private suite I hope.

[englishoak]

They dont currently have permission to evacuate anyone.... thats the real news

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Chinese government has recently allowed Japan to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan, the first country to be granted such access.

 

The Thai PBS report seems to have forgotten that the U.S. on Wednesday also flew out almost 200 of its Wuhan consulate staff, family members and other Americans.

 

Equally so, that the American group went thru two health checks in China, another two health checks during a stopover in Alaska, and will have additional health checks and a 3-day further "evaluation period" -- they're not calling it a quarantine -- after arriving at a military airfield in California.

 

https://apnews.com/e3f13d6f778eae1dd6a062499ed889e7

 

What's Thailand going to do with their returnees upon arrival back in LOS? Digital thermometer checks?

 

Edited January 30, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Quote

He said that, while screening of arriving and departing Chinese tourists, the Thai government must remain sensitive to maintaining the good relations between Thailand and China.

 

Guess we all have been reassured now just what the PM's priorities are... And I'm not sure that Thailand public health is anywhere near the top of that list.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Wonder if they'll use an airline like this one???  

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

21 minutes ago, englishoak said:

They dont currently have permission to evacuate anyone.... thats the real news

 

Will be interesting to see when  / if the actual Thai evacuation flight occurs. No timeframe mentioned in the ThaiPBS piece.

 

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, legend49 said:

Do they have a military aircraft that is SERVICEABLE for that distance?

Who knows, but okay for "rain making" over Thailand!

[mickey rat]

When will they start evacuating from Thailand? Very unhealthy 2.5PM levels and now this... 

[trainman34014]

So; the all powerful Thai Military led by over a thousand Super Hero Generals don't have any Pilots or Aircraft capable of finding their way to Wuhan and back without breakdown or getting lost ?   Or maybe there are no Thai Pilots who fancy going into the desease Epicentre and nobody will order them to do it as they are all 'connected' to 'important' people and can't be given orders !

[Fred white]

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The Thai PBS report seems to have forgotten that the U.S. on Wednesday also flew out almost 200 of its Wuhan consulate staff, family members and other Americans.

 

Equally so, that the American group went thru two health checks in China, another two health checks during a stopover in Alaska, and will have additional health checks and a 3-day further "evaluation period" -- they're not calling it a quarantine -- after arriving at a military airfield in California.

 

https://apnews.com/e3f13d6f778eae1dd6a062499ed889e7

 

What's Thailand going to do with their returnees upon arrival back in LOS? Digital thermometer checks?

 

Don't forget the UK and France are doing the same thing

[Fred white]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

In the PM's private suite I hope.

Maybe the grand palace

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

32 minutes ago, Fred white said:

Don't forget the UK and France are doing the same thing

 

Ya, I believe the U.S. and Japan were the first two to have their planes depart on Wednesday. I haven't read yet of any of the others that have actually departed Wuhan yet.

 

Curiously, an AP article on the subject described the situation as the "wealthy" countries -- U.S., Japan and Europe mainly -- getting their people out, while folks from other countries are basically going to be stuck there.

 

The Thai govt. just the other day, after consulting with China, said there was no way to evacuate the Thai population there under current circumstances. Now in the news today, Thailand is saying they have a plan to fly their people out..no timeframe given.

Edited January 30, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Looks like the U.S. used a chartered airline as well, according to the news reports:

 

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-passengers-evacuated-wuhan-china-no-coronavirus

 

Kalitta Air is an American cargo airline headquartered in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. It operates international scheduled and ad-hoc cargo charter services.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalitta_Air

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And Japan now has had two chartered flights out, and is planning a third -- apparently using ANA Airlines planes...

 

 

And some (at least three) in the Japanese groups being repatriated are now testing positive for the coronavirus, and the Japan govt. is facing criticism at home for allowing the returnees to "self-quarantine" at home.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/three-japanese-evacuated-wuhan-coronavirus-031705416.html

 

Quote

 

But while returnees praised the government's effort to bring them home quickly, there has been criticism of Japan's decision to allow the arrivals to "self-quarantine", with two people on the first flight even refusing to be tested for the virus.

,,,

Some 15 people from the first flight have been hospitalised with varying symptoms, while another 13 on the second evacuation also reported feeling unwell.

Japan is not forcibly quarantining arrivals, saying they lack the legal basis to confine people who have not tested positive for the virus. Instead, returnees have been asked to stay at home until they test negative for the virus.

 

 

Edited January 30, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Fred white]

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

And Japan now has had two chartered flights out, and is planning a third -- apparently using ANA Airlines planes...

 

 

And some (at least three) in the Japanese groups being repatriated are now testing positive for the coronavirus, and the Japan govt. is facing criticism at home for allowing the returnees to "self-quarantine" at home.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/three-japanese-evacuated-wuhan-coronavirus-031705416.html

 

 

BS if it concerns public health I think the govt should have the right to keep them in quarantine

[tifino]

1 minute ago, Fred white said:

BS if it concerns public health I think the govt should have the right to keep them in quarantine

 

... and LOS hasn't got an Equivalent of a Christmas Island Detention Camp, nor a Gitmo... 

maybe they have some old ex-Leper Sanitariums up in the hills? 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

12 minutes ago, Fred white said:

BS if it concerns public health I think the govt should have the right to keep them in quarantine

 

The way the U.S. health authorities worded their comments about that same issue was interesting... They didn't say the returnees had been quarantined or ordered to remain on the military base where they arrived.

 

And instead, used words like they were "asked" to remain for checkups, and that if any wanted to leave, there would have to be a joint "discussion" about that.  AFAIK, the reports thus far say the U.S. folks have been OK remaining there for health checkups for at least 3 days and potentially longer depending on the circumstances.

Edited January 30, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 minutes ago, tifino said:

 

... and LOS hasn't got an Equivalent of a Christmas Island Detention Camp, nor a Gitmo... 

maybe they have some old ex-Leper Sanitariums up in the hills? 

 

They do have a special prison in BKK where folks in disfavor are kept...  But that probably wouldn't work.... 

 

Maybe Immigration can offer up one of their sterling facilities!  

[tifino]

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

They do have a special prison in BKK where folks in disfavor are kept...  But that probably wouldn't work.... 

 

Maybe Immigration can offer up one of their sterling facilities!  

probably not work eh!! - as that room only has one Exit... on to a 'plane

 

[tifino]

 if myriads of different countries flooded the South China Sea, as a means of passage i.e. quickest way to Japan and others to the South, especially military ones... would China baulk sovereignity??

[anchadian]

Jonathan Head's quote in respect to today's article in the Bangkok Post.  Cannot post link.

 

Thailand’s messaging on WuhanCoronovirus continues to be poor. Insists it cannot send an aircraft to rescue stranded Thais.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 hours ago, anchadian said:

Jonathan Head's quote in respect to today's article in the Bangkok Post.  Cannot post link.

 

Thailand’s messaging on WuhanCoronovirus continues to be poor. Insists it cannot send an aircraft to rescue stranded Thais.

 

First they said they couldn't... Then, a couple days later yesterday, after a very important person raised the issue in a social media post, then they said they could...but gave no timeframe for that happening and made it contingent on Chinese government permission.

 

Now today, as of about 3 pm Friday, the BKK Post has an online article quoting Prawit as saying a jet will leave Thailand on Saturday to head to China to evacuate the Thais there. The report said 64 Thai citizens were confirmed to be in Wuhan, and any showing symptoms would be quarantined in hospital for 14 days upon return to Thailand.

 

 

Edited January 31, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And now as of today, yesterday's promised Saturday flight seems to have been postposed, and Anutin is being quoted here and elsewhere now as saying a plane is due to depart early next week.