The following are two letters we got from readers at Pattayanewseditor@gmail.com over the past week with a similar theme.
We wanted to publish them here for our readers to see and debate, as this is not the first time our local residents have asked about this issue. What do you think? Tell us in the comments below or on our social media pages.
Standard disclaimer, the content of the letters below is those of the writer and may not represent that of TPN media.
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Hello TPN,
Unsure whether I’m the only one to notice the incessant sirens from ‘so-called’ emergency vehicles in and around Pattaya.
Upon casual glance, many of these so-called ‘ambulances’ are empty – some displaying signs with a Covid theme. BUT I am unaware why Covid patients (if that’s who they are) require emergency transport in a high-speed vehicle!
More significantly, and the real point of my email, is they drive like maniacs, ignoring red lights, overtaking dangerously, etc., etc., and are the potential cause of accidents.
If you are interested in following this up as a story I suggest that you stand a video gathering team at any traffic light junction on Sukhumvit Road e.g. Naklua and film these various Covid ‘ambulances’ – and then follow-up to show whether they are legitimate.
If you can get them to disconnect their sirens, all the better!
Over to you!
Basil
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To whom it may concern,
At all hours of the day here in Jomtien, I can hear and see ambulances rushing across the city, seemingly dealing with critically important issues and patients based on their haste and the blaring sirens.
In reality, having followed them out of curiosity and spoken to some rescue workers as I speak Thai, they are transporting Covid-19 patients between hospitels and quarantine centers across the city. Nearly every single one of the people being transported appears to be completely asymptomatic or mild at the best, at least according to what I see and what the rescue workers told me.
Why are we participating in what I would call “Covid Theater” of having workers in unneeded space suits transporting patients who are asymptomatic, and in some cases vaccinated, in an emergency vehicle with blaring sirens as if they have just suffered a major heart attack and are about to die?
In my opinion, it’s one of two things:
1. The ambulance drivers want an excuse to drive around fast and ignore traffic laws.
2. They have been told to keep the sirens running as part of the overall “theater” to consistently remind people we are still in a pandemic and people are being brought to hospitals (regardless if they are sick or not.)
Even more infuriating, the other day I saw a motorbike accident with someone who appeared to be critically injured in North Pattaya yet in this case the ambulance did NOT turn on sirens or appear to be in as much of a hurry. What gives?
Hopefully, this theater ends soon. It’s becoming quite annoying to constantly hear nonstop sirens when it is quite clearly not an emergency that should require them. I’ve even seen ambulances with blaring sirens regularly escorting trucks of migrant workers, likely being taken to quarantine, who are stuffed in like sardines (making situations worse) and who appears to be perfectly healthy, or at the least, not needing emergency sirens and ambulance escorts.
If someone is seriously ill and having an emergency from Covid and needs immediate attention, by all means, use the sirens. But using them for every single Covid-19 case being transported across the city is silly.
Hendrick R in Jomtien.
