It was supposed to be Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's chance to announce the end of quarantine and the opening of the country's nightlife and serving of alcohol.
Instead it has just created more confusion if the online reaction is anything to go by.
Posters on ASEAN NOW seemed more confused than ever and criticized the lack of clarity as par for the course of a government that has chopped and changed at every turn throughout the pandemic but especially over the last six months.
Many felt the proposed relaxation had not gone far enough and that nothing should have been announced before the decisions were set in stone.
Many posters said this kind of "might" and "mull" philosophy was hopeless for foreign tourists who have to plan for a visit well in advance.
Prayuth's Monday televised address was also just a precursor - a spoiler if you like - for the actual decision that will be made by the CCSA on Thursday.
Will they tweak the proposals or reverse them? Tourists both foreign and domestic, expats, and operators in the industry are all desperate to know the score.
Desperate for an ounce of clarity.
As it stands Thai Rath reported what has been announced internationally.
That tourists from ten countries including Singapore, Germany, the US and the UK will not need to quarantine but will need to have been double vaxxed and have tests before and after arriving.
But what other documents they will need and what other countries are on the list remained unclear.
China was also on Prayuth's lips - but there has been no announcement from the Asian giant that they are allowing their citizens to travel. So that is effectively a moot point.
When it comes to alcohol the situation is still utterly unclear.
About as cloudy as a Pernod and water.
The Thai media interpreted the PM's announcement that alcohol would be allowed in restaurants from December 1st.
But that pubs, bars and nightclubs would only be allowed to reopen.
It wasn't stated that the blanket alcohol ban would be lifted for all establishments.
Prayuth has stated that the tourism industry cannot stand another decimated high season. He has avowed that the risks of reopening outweigh the continuing calamity caused to the economy by the pandemic, especially its tourism sector.
But his comments about the possibility of reversing these "decisions" remains if cases spike, as they are expected to even by the PM's own admission.
Others like the Rural Doctors group have stated in the last 24 hours that Thailand's infection rate is not dropping as official stats state.
Yet another example of "you pay your money and take your choice" when it comes to believing police and stats coming out of Thailand.
Thursday's Center for Covid Situation Administration meeting may provide a little more clarity.
Source - ASIAN NOW
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