Thailand's tourism minister: Everything will be fine after Songkran - the hot weather will blow the virus away!

[webfact]

Thailand's tourism minister: Everything will be fine after Songkran - the hot weather will blow the virus away!

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's embattled minister for tourism and sports has painted a rosy picture for the future regarding the Covid-19 virus outbreak.

 

As other countries were hunkering down and cities were being sealed off Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said he expects everything will be much better for Thailand by Songkran - mid April.

 

He told Thai Rath after a meeting in the south that the virus does not like hot weather and along with other countries entering summer its impact will lessen.

 

Plus he expected his Chinese friends to have come up with a vaccine by then.

 

"We'll be back to normal within half a year," he said. "After Songkran the worst will be behind us".

 

Pipat pointed to Thailand's brilliant response to the virus crisis and the kingdom's renowned health facilities, respected and appreciated across the globe.

 

Thai Rath reported 38.9 million tourists visited Thailand last year after fast development of the tourism sector in recent years made the industry worth 18% of Gross Domestic Product.

 

The minister had hoped that this would rise to 20% of GDP this year - until the virus came along to spoil the party.

 

Still, everything would be fine soon, he said, after giving out sport and exercise awards at the Roi Thong Resort in Phattalung.

 

"The virus can't survive long in hot weather".

 

Songkran is usually the hottest time of the year in many parts of Thailand.

 

The minister also had good news for vendors, hoteliers, retailers and traders especially in tourist areas. Government measures and budgets sought by his ministry would be revealed to help everyone in the coming week.

 

The minister was pictured next to several superheroes including Captain America and The Incredible Hulk, notes Thaivisa.

 

Pipat's comments come as international news media reported dire warnings and events related to the Covid-19 virus especially  in Italy and South Korea where whole communities and cities were being cordoned off and where some streets were deserted.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

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[steven100]

it's all under control ..... 

[Denim]

Wow, what a relief it is to know that the country is in such safe and capable hands.

 

Now ,  if he can be persuaded to do a rain dance the predicted drought will never happen and the country will prosper.

[NCC1701A]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

He told Thai Rath after a meeting in the south that the virus does not like hot weather and along with other countries entering summer its impact will lessen.

did you speak with the virus directly during that meeting or is this conjecture on your part?

[MikeyScars]

"After Songkran the worst will be behind us"

"We'll be back to normal within half a year,"

 

Plus he expected his Chinese friends to have come up with a vaccine by then.

 

Such an irresponsible remarks....imbecile...

[Jessi]

the hot weather will blow the virus away!

Sounds to me you are blowing a lot of hot air.????

[Grumpy John]

That picture shows how good one can look after the scars from the lobotomy surgery heal.  It's only when his mouth starts moving does the observer become aware the operation was successfully performed! 

[spiekerjozef]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Everything will be fine after Songkran - the hot weather will blow the virus away!

.....something else will blow the tourists (away).

[Creasy]

Another massive facepalm moment for Thailand from one of its esteemed leaders.

[GeorgeCross]

lets hope so because asking thousands of people to gather together then get cold, wet and drunk sounds like a huge outbreak gamble to me.

 

 

[Jingthing]

A tourism minister is an infectious disease expert?

[BlackJack]

OMB

 

[metisdead]

Posts in violation of the following forum rule have been removed:

 

8.) You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages, vulgarities, obscenities or profanities.

 

 

A baiting troll post has now been removed. 

Edited February 24, 2020 by metisdead

[richard10365]

Actually, there is some historical truth to his assumptions. Google it. However, what happens above the equator may not necessarily happen below the equator.

[madmitch]

This guy is an imbecile and an embarrassment to Thailand as tourism minister.

 

Sack him and let him spend the rest of his life spending his wife's millions.

[Wiggy]

Flu does spread quicker in colder temperatures (there's never usually a 'flu season' in summer, for example), so he may have a point, albeit not entirely substantiated.

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080330203401.htm

[thasoss]

I hope he's right.

[BKKrichard]

Under control?

Let's start at the basics.

 

Where can you get yourself tested?

 

[GeorgeCross]

5 minutes ago, BKKrichard said:

Under control?

Let's start at the basics.

 

Where can you get yourself tested?

 

 

singapore

 

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"The virus can't survive long in hot weather".

This man has obviously not a clue about what temperatures are needed to sterilize things. If he has a clue, then it will be a grim hot Song Kran coming up. Klick here to: BY YOUR AIRCON NOW!

[BKKrichard]

Let's grab a flight to Singapore then????

[FarFlungFalang]

59 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

A tourism minister is an infectious disease expert?

The tourism minister is an infectious disease .....oops slipped.Sorry.

[GarryP]

38 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

Flu does spread quicker in colder temperatures (there's never usually a 'flu season' in summer, for example), so he may have a point, albeit not entirely substantiated.

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080330203401.htm

In the colder months people tend to stay indoors. That is, they tend to be in more confined spaces which leads to transmission of the virus. While when the weather warms up people spend more time outside in less crowded space which leads to lower transmission. It is not that the virus cannot survive in warmer temperatures, just that the opportunity for transmission is reduced. Hence higher transmission in winter.

 

In any case, my conclusion is that the minister is a dimwit.  

  

[FarFlungFalang]

44 minutes ago, Wiggy said:

so he may have a point

He does have a point it's a pin point and he calls it his brain.

[marko kok prong]

Sounds like this guy was a pal of Mad Mike Hughes.

[wendyfromoz]

2 hours ago, MikeyScars said:

"After Songkran the worst will be behind us"

"We'll be back to normal within half a year,"

 

Plus he expected his Chinese friends to have come up with a vaccine by then.

 

Such an irresponsible remarks....imbecile...

Australian coronavirus vaccine goes into test production

https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-coronavirus-vaccine-goes-into-test-production-20200221-p5436l.html

[FarFlungFalang]

2 minutes ago, GarryP said:

In any case, my conclusion is that the minister is a dimwit. 

If a dimwit was that stupid he would be called something completely different.(&^%^#$@@@#$%&*)**&&^&%$%$$#$#$.

[FarFlungFalang]

3 minutes ago, wendyfromoz said:

Australian coronavirus vaccine goes into test production

https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-coronavirus-vaccine-goes-into-test-production-20200221-p5436l.html

That's great news.The cynic in me thinks that it will have to be copied and mass produced by China to considered for use in Thailand.

[DrTuner]

15 minutes ago, GarryP said:

In the colder months people tend to stay indoors. That is, they tend to be in more confined spaces which leads to transmission of the virus. While when the weather warms up people spend more time outside in less crowded space which leads to lower transmission. It is not that the virus cannot survive in warmer temperatures, just that the opportunity for transmission is reduced. Hence higher transmission in winter.

And in Thailand it's the opposite, people cram into air conditioned malls in the hot season. Not unusual to get a cold here when it's over 35 outside.

[Orton Rd]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

A tourism minister is an infectious disease expert?

Why not, probably has more idea than a health minister with no medical qualifications ????