Who committed the first murder in the bible?

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EDITORIAL

The responsible ones I t’s been a busy week as the island has been shut down bit by bit, and yet to culminate with the shutdown of the airport come April 10, a move many people say is already too late. But by that time, what happens in Phuket, stays in Phuket – literally.

The moves to shut down businesses and venues that naturally create people traffic flow has been well supported, yet several other moves have been branded as overkill, such as the closing of pub- lic recreation areas and the beaches. This has not yet had any consequences, but leaving a house-bound population no- where to go for mental reprieve other than a likely high-risk 24-hour convenience store can within weeks can turn people stir crazy. Other countries, the UK and Sweden for example, have recognised this and allow people to go to parks and other public areas, as long as they are not in groups.

Yet that common-sense ap- proach will not work when the very people you are trying to protect could not be bothered to even protect themselves – and what makes the crowd on Patong Beach last week so despicable.

It’s not that the single mass congregation was most likely responsible for inspiring the move to close our beaches at the expense of any other common-sense folk, it was the sheer lack of responsibility for the care of others. If people want to risk themselves, that is their concern, but those people on Patong Beach last week had no regard for whoever the disease might reach.

A couple of young friends might become infected, fall ill for a few weeks and then recover, leading them to think, “So what?” But down the line they have no idea whose mother or grandmother might die from exposure to the same disease. That’s how simple this is.

As anyone who has com- pleted basic food hygiene training knows, fully prevent- ing any form of cross-contam- ination in general conditions is nigh impossible. The best you can do is reduce your chances, and that is what this is all about. Yes, you can go outside; yes, you can go to the shop or your favourite cafe or restaurant and pick up a takeaway – it’s the handling of any transmission that falls as a personal responsibility for yourself and others.

So as the island enters a shut down for the coming weeks, if you want to know exactly who should be held most responsible for trying to prevent the spread of the disease, just look in the mirror.

HAVE YOUR SAY

TOP 10 STORIES ON thephuketnews.com 1 2 All Phuket beaches closed Phuket Governor ’asks’ tourists to self curfew from 5pm to midnight

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Confirmed! Phuket Airport to close

10 4 5 6 7 8 9 Russian arrested in Phuket for overstay, working as illegal taxi driver 52 hotels in Phuket an- nounce plans to close: THA President State of emergency starts tomorrow PHUKET XTRA: 100 people denied entry to Thailand? Phuket coronavirus cases reach 29 Thai Airways prepares to ground fleet No drinking on Phuket beaches, order officials Phuket bridges and ports closed

Visit thephuketnews.com for all the latest news

Virally yours Re: Phuket Opinion: The Last Stand

The official statistics tell us that more than 70 people die on Thailand’s roads every day yet no one bats an eyelid over that. In three months of ‘infection’ 5 people have died from the virus. I’m sorry, where’s the logic here? And if everyone is ignoring the stay-in-place guidelines anyway then why wreak so much havoc clos- ing borders and destroying so many peoples businesses and lives? CaptainJack69

Re: Five more COVID-19 cases in Phuket, including police officer: official total hits 34

Surgical masks do not protect the wearer against any viruses. They will pro- tect others if being worn by someone with a virus. As with the common cold, very few under 55 die from COVID-19. They get sick. They get better. Without an underlying health problem, if you’re under 55, there’s little chance of death. Foot

“We should control ourselves instead of being forced to by the state,” he said. Alas, humanity… 10,000 will be 100, 000 in less than a week, then it's exponentially un- controllable. Lock It Down Now, Please. Christy Sweet

Re: Phuket Opinion: The Last Stand

Safest place in Asia? We have seen lying, prevaricating and the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Taking ‘action’ this week is far too late – profit has conquered sense yet again. There should have been real action taken at the end of January instead of encouraging Chinese visitors. As ye sow so shall ye reap and does anyone really believe the Gov't figures? Fascinated

I think that closing the beaches would be a big mis- take as the hot sun, dry sand and salty water would make it very hard for any virus to survive, so likelihood of trans- mission is low. To maintain their health and wellbeing people need to a place to go out and get some air and some exercise (In UK parks are still allowed). People just need to be sensible and not gather in big groups. jamstock

This from a controlled study… “High relative humid- ity (>95%) at comparatively low temperature (28°C and 33°C) did not affect the virus infectivity significantly”, so currently Thailand's weather has little affect. What is keep- ing it down is “rubbery” fig- ures, and an increase in “viral” pneumonia. Rorri_2

Running dry Re: Private lakes boost Phuket water supply as Bang Wad falls to 8.3% capacity

Hang on a minute… What about the B227.3 million paid out to suppliers of "private water sources"? One guy alone was paid B109mn. Those were supposed to be five-year contracts. Oh don't tell me that water ran out already…

Maybe it's time to ask Laguna to give back a little to the island. All their lakes are completely full. Fat chance of that happening. Timothy

Red-handed Re: Phuket Town vendor charged for price-gouging on hand sanitiser

I would fine him the difference in price for each bottle in his possession, this is a time to help each other not screw each other. I hope the law comes down heavily on him. Jimmy Pop

Flag fall Re: Russian arrested in Phuket for overstay, working as illegal taxi driver

Good news and now close down the whole company. DeKaaskopp

Why is their www. still open? Mj

Return to sender Re: Four Chinese tourists neglect PPHO rules, detained by police

I would fine them heavily and get them on the next flight to China. They are high risk. You try doing the same in China and you are locked up for a long time then deported never to return. Jimmy Pop