Pandemonium in Thailand

A few weeks ago Thailand was in the grip of Panda Pandemonium. Now it is in the grip of pandemic pandemonium. The fear of swine flu has run rampant in the country. 25 people have died if the flu and there have been 4469 confirmed cases in the country. The death rate is actually pretty low, but people are absolutely panicked by this flu. About 20 percent of the people on the streets are wearing face masks, and the government is encouraging the wearing of masks. The city of Bangkok has closed all of its 435 schools, 200 nurseries and 13 occupational training centers for a week to stop the spread of the flu. That might work if all those people went home and stayed there. But the first thing most of them will do is head to the mall, or a park with friends. A lot of people will also make a quick trip out to the provinces to visit family. This will just spread the virus even more.

The government doesn't have a clue what to do and in typical fashion are just issuing random and contradictory orders. Last week they ordered all of the cram schools (in Bangkok) closed for two weeks, as well as all internet gaming shops. A committee of health professionals at Chulalongkorn University advised the government to shut the borders of the country to protect the people. The Prime Minister has ruled that out for now, but left it as a future possibility. It would be impossible to truly shut the borders with thousands of miles of unpatrolled river, forest, and sea border. Plus it would strand tens of thousands of people trying to fly into and out of the country.

My school hasn't been closed, but it could be in the future. I don't need an unscheduled holiday right now. But we will see what happens. Attendance has been down in my classes, I guess some people are staying away. The real worry is next term. We have enrollment coming up next week and we are quite worried that enrollment will be low, as people simply choose not to study at this time. That will mean fewer classes, maybe layoffs of teachers, fewer hours for everybody. I won't get layed off, I have three years of seniority, but I might have my hours cut. I hope that doesn't happen.