We had been doing so very well, but unfortunately the good times can't last forever. After a run of nearly six months without a single case of COVID-19, Thailand is starting to experience its second wave. Just a few days before Christmas, some workers at a very popular seafood market snuck across the border from Myanmar, avoiding government-mandated quarantine and bringing the virus back into what had been a COVID-free country. The workers spread the virus to the drivers, who traveled across Thailand delivering seafood to nearly every province. Within days the country was up to over one-thousand new infections, and we have had our first three deaths in many months.
https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2020/12/651497/alarm-thai-seafood-market-covid-cases-top-1000
I really thought I was done writing these updates. Sadly, I'm not. The Thai government, who responded so well during our first outbreak months ago, has already sprung into action. As of January 2nd, the country is entering a sort of semi-lockdown. Restaurants, bars, public places, and gyms are closing down. So far, shops are still open, alcohol is still able to be bought and sold at stores, and there is no mandatory stay-at-home order or curfew (though all that could likely change in the next few days). Hopefully the government has acted quickly enough this time that we can get the numbers back down to zero. The past few months have been great, but maybe we got a bit complacent.
But I have total faith in the Thai government and the people of Thailand! We beat this virus once, and we can do it again!
As of today, we've entered a partial lockdown. There are rumors of a full lockdown coming in the next day or two, and when the government leaks "rumors", they are almost certainly true. I'm so annoyed that I had just paid for 4 months of a gym membership the day before the gyms were closed! Oh well, at least I've got my walks to go on.
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