Who's staying vs who's leaving? Coronavirus edition.

[TeacherTango]

A couple of days ago I decided I was better returning back home to wait out the coronavirus. Everything is progressing so fast and as a teacher I could see that schools were going to get shut down. 

 

So i'll lose a months salary, my deposit and everything I accumulated here. Safe to say the girlfriends not thrilled. 

 

Anyone else in the same boat? Who is going to stay in Thailand for lockdown and who plans on getting out of dodge? 

 

Gonna be a long year.... Keep fighting lads

[ivor bigun]

I am home, its been it for 15 years ,our house is here ,my wife and son are here ,i have family in the UK as well ,they are in their home . 

home is where your heart is.

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

9 minutes ago, ivor bigun said:

I am home, its been it for 15 years ,our house is here ,my wife and son are here ,i have family in the UK as well ,they are in their home . 

home is where your heart is.

You spot on.

[ChaiyaTH]

I guess if I were you it would depend on how much I have saved and how much you currently spend on rent. You could easily switch to a 2-3K room and sit out 2-3 months with a small budget, no need to spend that much. Or leaving, but then you also waste on a flight ticket, might see schools opening 3 weeks after that and needing to buy a flight again to return here + find a new room. 

Can imagine many teachers are going to have relative big problems because of this, often no savings either and on very tight budgets already.
Maybe I will be affected by it sooner or later too, if a global economic collapse happens, it all becomes a chair dance. Can't know who gets hurt upfront.

If you really go into temporary survival budget mode, get a 3K baht room, you should be able to survive for 2-3 months on <1000 usd.

Edited March 17, 2020 by ChaiyaTH

[timendres]

Own a company here in BKK. Extend based on work permit.

Happy to stay, and no desire to go back to the US.

In my opinion, there is no place you can run from the Wuhan.

[JCP108]

I was going to go home (U.S.) for a week to visit starting two days ago. At that moment, things were getting chaotic enough that I feared I would get stuck there instead of here and if I am stuck somewhere, I prefer it to be here. So, I canceled my trip. I very much need to go home for some family stuff. But, getting stuck there for an extended time would cost me more $ than staying here. If it stretched into many weeks or months, that would suck. Also, wife is here and neither of us would like to separated for months. 

[johnray]

The schools seem to be closing for only a few weeks.

[geriatrickid]

I don't believe that people will be able to go home for some time. International flights are being suspended. The flights left will be very expensive.

At this time entry into most countries will require self isolation for 2 weeks and I doubt some of the returnees have the means or the  locations where they can go to self isolate.

[Moonlover]

Everywhere else that one looks around, in terms of this virus looks a lot less attractive than rural Issan does right now. Plenty of food all around us and little social mixing outside our own community. So I reckon the risk of encountering this virus quite low.

 

Like @ivor bigun above, I'm here with my wife and her family, so moving isn't really an option anyway. But even if I did have that choice, I'd stick it out right here.

 

I'm sticking to my belief that Thailand, especially the rural areas are not in any great danger anyway.

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by Moonlover

[Isaanbiker]

5 minutes ago, johnray said:

The schools seem to be closing for only a few weeks.

Nobody knows what the Corona situation will be in May.

 

Not even Pinocchio's fortune-tellers could give you the answer.

 

If the virus is still active in the middle of May, I'm confident that the start of a new academic year will be postponed. 

 

To answer your question. I've been here for 18 years, happily married to a nice Isaan lady and there's absolutely no reason for me to leave Thailand.

 

  Why? Just to get to another, perhaps even more infected country? BTW, I see Thailand as my home. 

 

  I'll be staying. 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by Isaanbiker

[Isaanbiker]

13 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

I was going to go home (U.S.) for a week to visit starting two days ago. At that moment, things were getting chaotic enough that I feared I would get stuck there instead of here and if I am stuck somewhere, I prefer it to be here. So, I canceled my trip. I very much need to go home for some family stuff. But, getting stuck there for an extended time would cost me more $ than staying here. If it stretched into many weeks or months, that would suck. Also, wife is here and neither of us would like to separated for months. 

Who'd do your laundry when you're gone?

 

   Please do not make the mistake and fly to the US now. Then you've got problems in the US and when you come back.

 

It's the worst time to travel. If you don;t have to, stay here and enjoy life.

 

  Too many people are xenophobic about the virus, keep healthy, stay away from people as much as you can and you'll be fine. 

 

Positive thinking helps a lot and it's not only producing Adrenaline.

 

  Let's wait it out, shall we? Kind regards from lower Isaan. 

[NCC1701A]

yes we are now starting to see reports of the economic fallout here in Thailand.

 

this is really the first day with all the announced closures. I hope the US Social Security system does not collapse.

or banks starting to fail. 

 

good luck everybody.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

I booked to fly back to the UK on the early bird Friday morning flight this morning (after much shouting at the bank on the phone who were sending authorization codes to a completely wrong phone not on my accounts) - assuming Thai doesn't cancel the flight in the next 48 hours. Be honest I do not think they will cancel in such a short time, but you never know, though I am presuming they will start cancelling in the near future potentially.

 

I have enough money for the wife pay the rent and feed the kid, and will find a bed and breakfast for myself for a few months.

 

I am one of the at risk people due to an illness I had years back and I need medication from UK hospitals every 9 months, and am due back in the UK in June anyhow.

 

Do I want to go, no, far from it, but for me the decision is easy due to me own health situation.

 

Hopefully a few months and I can return - fingers crossed. My retirement based extension end in January, and if everything is not back to normal by then, then I thick many of you reading this may not be here welcoming me back !

 

I think people should also consider what happens to them if the banks fail here and in other places, what if you lose access to money. At least I know if I am in the UK, I can try and sort it. I think you need imagine worst case scenario rather than just think 'well, not worry, what will be will be'. 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by RichardColeman

[orchis]

I will stay put; I live in a small village, very self-contained, enough of food and everything,  enough to keep busy, the places I go to see little custom.

In my own country the situation is already very much worse, it is very urban and densely populated, people have no discipline. Also I'd rather not travel at all, not overseas and not here.
 

Edited March 17, 2020 by orchis

[darksidedog]

I'm stuck a little between the proverbial rock and the hard place. I look after a bunch of fellas in the 5 star (LOL) Thai prisons who rely on me for their monthly monies and groceries, so leaving would be a tough call. In today's electronic world I could deal with that to a certain degree, though it would be costly.

I was going to dodge Songkran and go to Phnom Penh for my mates birthday, but that is looking increasingly likely to be either impossible or seriously impractical, and a waste of "dodging" as apparently Songkran has gone this year. Never thought I would thank a virus that could kill me for that one.

Going home, where I haven't lived for 25 years would probably limit my social gatherings as I don't know anyone there anymore, so could only either go and stay with and catch or give the virus to or from my brother and sister. And there is the obvious potential 14 day quarantine each way to consider, as I would assume I am coming back to where I live, unless things get really nuts.

My dogs would be pretty miserable, as they always are when i am away.

What it comes down to though is the big question, Am I more likely to catch it, but survive here or at home. Home has a bigger problem than here does, which also weighs in favour of staying put.

Us moderators are a miserable lot, as I have no doubt many of you appreciate, so I am not frequently found in crowds, which has the benefit of reducing infection options, but a delay in acquiring herd immunity.

Whilst not a spring chicken, and in possession of more than a few aching joints in the morning, I am not close to the most vulnerable age bracket, and have no underlying conditions I am aware of, so, I am staying put.

I will be adapting my lifestyle to reduce unnecessary interactions, but will otherwise continue as much like normal as is possible. 

It seems like the most sensible thing to do.

EDIT: Abbreviated quotes of the second phrase of the 7th paragraph can not be used in evidence against me.

[Don Chance]

I think it will be worse in the UK, USA and Canada if you are in an urban area.

Because 1) Older population will get more sick

2) Over crowded hospitals.

 

I think Thailand has lots of private hospitals so if you are sick you will be able to buy a bed at least. Also Thai government will enact strong policy to stop the spread.

I am suppose to fly next week back to Thailand. I just don't know, maybe the flights will be blocked?

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Everywhere else that one looks around, in terms of this virus looks a lot less attractive than rural Issan does right now. Plenty of food all around us and little social mixing outside our own community. So I reckon the risk of encountering this virus quite low.

 

Like @ivor bigun above, I'm here with my wife and her family, so moving isn't really an option anyway. But even if I did have that choice, I'd stick it out right here.

 

I'm sticking to my belief that Thailand, especially the rural areas are not in any great danger anyway.

 

until  all those issan workers  who work in BKK come back as their  co. has  closed bringing with them their increased chance of having the virus  picked up more easily  in a major  city

[Chazar]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

Home has a bigger problem than here does

I  wouldnt be too  sure  about that one,I suspect Thailand has not been testing  much whereas the Uk  has so would  find more infections making it  appear to be worse.

[Scott]

Unless a person has a pressing need to return to their home country, it is a matter of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.   Most of the Western countries are now directly in the firing line of the virus.  

 

[Don Chance]

3 hours ago, Chazar said:

I  wouldnt be too  sure  about that one,I suspect Thailand has not been testing  much whereas the Uk  has so would  find more infections making it  appear to be worse.

The Uk is not doing anything. They are taking a different approach. Just letting the virus run it's course.

[scubascuba3]

Looking at the stats for new cases around the world, many people seem to be returning from other countries, possibly the journey is a risky thing to do

[Moonlover]

9 hours ago, Chazar said:

until  all those issan workers  who work in BKK come back as their  co. has  closed bringing with them their increased chance of having the virus  picked up more easily  in a major  city

Let them come if they wish. I'll be in 'social isolation' by then.

 

But actually I doubt if that will happen anyway. They'll want to be ready at the doors when facilities open up again. They know there are zero opportunities for them up here. Better to stay close to the watering hole and hope for rain.

[Number 6]

19 hours ago, johnray said:

The schools seem to be closing for only a few weeks.

The MoE has it's hands full. May is a long ways away. I expect the announcement 2-4 weeks from now.

[Isaanbiker]

13 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

The MoE has it's hands full. May is a long ways away. I expect the announcement 2-4 weeks from now.

  Even if the MoE has its hands full, nobody know can foresee what will be in the middle of May, when most government schools are usually starting their new academic year.

 

  It's a strange time, and I genuinely hope that this virus goes back where it came from in no time.

 

This virus will change too many things and destroy not only lives.

 

I'm certain that many businesses will have to shut down forever if the virus continues to take its toll. 

 

Too many shops here in Isaan are going normal, but for how long?

 

Thank China and its people for their bat and other scurrile animals eating habit.

 

 

 

  

 

   

Edited March 18, 2020 by Isaanbiker

[emptypockets]

19 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Everywhere else that one looks around, in terms of this virus looks a lot less attractive than rural Issan does right now. Plenty of food all around us and little social mixing outside our own community. So I reckon the risk of encountering this virus quite low.

 

Like @ivor bigun above, I'm here with my wife and her family, so moving isn't really an option anyway. But even if I did have that choice, I'd stick it out right here.

 

I'm sticking to my belief that Thailand, especially the rural areas are not in any great danger anyway.

 

We too are in Isaan and both of us are heading to Australia next week. No kids - all grown adults now. I certainly hope the rural areas aren't in any great danger or there will be a virtual apocalypse of older people going belly up. The village we are in has a fair few schoolkids, not many young adults or middle aged people, but a lot of quite to very old people. Typical setup where the grandparents look after the kids while their parents work elsewhere. The big risk as I see it is when industry shuts down, and it will (not just bars etc)  and people return to the village in substantial numbers.

We decided to leave pretty well based on the fact that right now we can. In a few weeks that might not be possible. I don't have a lot of faith in the rural Thai medical system apart from the basic diagnosis stuff. Don't get me wrong, there are some excellent specialists around but I've got my doubts about whether the system can handle the numbers of ICU patients that will need treatment. It hasn't happened yet but I think it will. We can always come back, we haven't turned our back on Thailand forever.

 

To add some clarity I should say I am still working, not retired, and my job continues in Australia regardless after the 14 days isolation, assuming I am not infected.

Edited March 18, 2020 by emptypockets

[Chazar]

13 hours ago, Don Chance said:

The Uk is not doing anything. They are taking a different approach. Just letting the virus run it's course.

if  you  think you  have  it  you can go and get tested  FREE, friend  did  it  after coming back from a cruise 3  weeks  ago,whilst  waiting for the result they self  isolated at  home, after the all clear back to work, all done in 7  days

Edited March 18, 2020 by Chazar

[Chazar]

13 hours ago, Don Chance said:

The Uk is not doing anything. They are taking a different approach. Just letting the virus run it's course.

They are heres just one example https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-test-drive-thru-wolverhampton-station-car-park-a9394731.html

Friend did exactly this,  called  the NHS 111  number  said she felt  not so good, was  told go to the test place, there are quite a few of  them

Edited March 18, 2020 by Chazar

[ThaiBrian]

I will apply for refugee status

[Chazar]

18 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Us moderators are a miserable lot, as I have no doubt many of you appreciate

unable to comment???? but  your my favourite along  with Crossy..............oh  bugga  Ive crossed the line  now

[Ventenio]

work permit ends april 30th.  there is a chance i can extend with the same school, but let's say that's not going to happen.

 

i guess i could hope to do a border hop, plus extension, if all is not closed down in May.  That puts me to July 1st.  Then perhaps a tourist visa, if Laos is open.  Extend that visa, now I'm in November.

 

I'm a strange person.....lol...I don't like to be forced to do something.  I love my home country, but I want to go back WHEN I want to go back.  I'm not ready now, but maybe if all the schools stay closed and all my visa options run out....well, then that's that.  

 

Thoughts on the future?