Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing an issue which seems to have come to the forefront here in recent weeks, the issue of testing and the overall pandemic situation here in Thailand. 

For those who are unaware, there have been a number of restrictions, I mean basically we are in full lockdown here in Thailand as a result of the Emergency Decree of March 2020 and part of this, according to the CCSA at least, is predicated upon ongoing case count. I can get into my thinking it, the well I have gotten into my thinking on this overall lockdown situation in other videos but the interesting thing to me is this ongoing issue with respect to cases and there being possibly a correlation between testing and cases which came to my attention via an article in the Bangkok Post, that is bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Curbs "Needed" To Flatten Curve. I am going to quote a direct quote: “Dr. Taweesilp and that is the Head of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration here in Thailand. "Dr. Taweesilp said that the new record of infections in Bangkok was the result of proactive mass testing and rapid testing in communities." I want to quote that again: "Dr. Taweesilp said that the new record of infections in Bangkok was the result of proactive mass testing and rapid testing in communities." So, that was an interesting piece of insight. 

Then there was another article, more recent. It was interesting to me this came up in a more politicized context and not to get into politics of that but I thought this was rather interesting. Again from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Opposition Targets 5 Ministers, P.M. in no-confidence motion. The thrust of this article was entirely different from this particular excerpt but I thought this was interesting. Quoting directly: "The opposition will also take aim at Mr. Anutin over irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, despite promises about widespread availability and the ATKs". The ATKs are Antibody Test Kits, that is the acronym. Quoting further: "The Sars-Cov-2 and Leccurate Antibody Test, produced by Lepu Medical Technology, were recalled in the United States on May 28th due to "a high risk of false results" according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)." So apparently there were issues associated with testing and the opposition to the current government is bringing this up with respect to apparently a number of these tests are being procured or attempting to be procured and the opposition is bringing up these test issues. I just find it interesting again quoting directly from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Curbs Needed to Flatten Curve. Quoting directly: "Dr. Taweesilp said that the new record of infections in Bangkok was the result of proactive mass testing and rapid testing in communities." 

There seems to me, again a lay person's observation here, that there is an element of what I would almost describe as the Groundhog Day phenomenon. For those who don't know what Groundhog Day is, in the United States there is this kind of minor holiday. There is a movie called Groundhog Day with Bill Murray; it is a fabulous movie but it is based on an actual holiday where a groundhog comes up out of the ground and the saying goes that if he sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter; if he doesn't see his shadow, it would be an early spring is basically how it goes. The thinking behind it is that the groundhog gets scared of its own shadow and there is a superstition that that means there is six more weeks of winter. I think it is reasonable to ask whether or not especially where how Taweesilp quote: "Dr. Taweesilp said that the new record of infections in Bangkok was the result of proactive mass testing and rapid testing in communities." You know it begs the question "Is there a groundhog moment occurring where in a sense, society is seeing its own shadow." A year ago, when these tests were not so prolific, there was no proliferation of these tests, perhaps was the issue not actually there and we just were unaware of it? I don't know. I actually don't know because things have changed between now and then.

I am not drawing any conclusions but I think it is reasonable to ask in light of the fact that the Post noted issues with some of these test kits which I don't know if those are the ones being used right now or whatever and then on top of it, the Head of the CCSA saying testing is driving, I don't want to put words in his mouth, but to paraphrase what I took away from that is 'testing is to a certain degree or at least seems to be driving the numbers'. Now if that is the case again, I don't know but I think reasonable people can pose that question. It will be interesting to see if there will be any further elucidation on that point moving forward. Again, we will keep folks updated on the overall situation on this channel as the situation evolves.