Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the endemic nature of the current pandemic situation. I got to thinking about this when reading a recent article from ASEAN NOW, that is aseannow.com. Endemic Plan Approved, CCSA Endorsement Pending.

Quoting directly: "Bangkok (NNT) - Plans are underway to treat COVID-19 as an endemic disease, after the Ministry of Public Health held discussions with Government agencies and the industrial, tourism and commercial sectors. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the collaborative plan aims to set medical, economical, social and organizational standards that will allow the general public to live safely with the virus." My question on that is, do we really need medical, economical, social and organizational standards to just live? Because that is what we are talking about. It is not "live safely with the virus". I mean we have been living safely with viruses, especially endemic ones, since the dawn of time. So what are we talking about here? Quoting further: "However, authorities may not be able to officially declare COVID-19 an endemic disease without an official classification from the World Health Organization." Since when did the World Health Organization set policy in Thailand? I would like to know that. I understand that Public Health Ministry here in Thailand collaborate with WHO but WHO does not dictate policies to Thailand. Thailand is its own country. Thailand can decide what it wants to do with respect to these issues. It doesn't need to be told what to do by the WHO. I don't really understand where they are coming from with that.

So that being said, I think it is a good thing. Again I have said it before. Overall I have been rather positive about the way that the Government has handled things but I have made my opinion known out there when I have disagreed on something and this is kind of one of those times. I mean come on! "Allow the general public to live safely with the virus" and in order to do that we need to "set medical, economical, social and organizational standards"? When we ever done that? I am not saying there is not precedence for public health interventions but for something at the level that this thing has devolved too if you want to call it that or evolved to, No. We just don't need this stuff or do we need it? I don't see how we need it; at this point. Two years ago, totally different situation. Even a year ago I could understand the argument but now? And especially where we have seen the absolute detriment this has had on the economy and everything. I mean I really don't want to see anyone set economical standards because if they are anything like the standards we have had in the last two years the economy would be in the dirt for the next decade. At this point can we just put this behind us?