Do we think we will come out of the current lockdown, better, stronger, together?
It is possible many people are wondering whether we will come out of lockdown at all.
The current restrictions are supposed to end next week on Aug 2. But with new infections and fatalities continually climbing, hopes are dim that the curbs will be eased.
Public confidence is low that the government will be able to handle the outbreak effectively while trust is almost nil. Only scepticism, criticism and ridicule abound.
It's extraordinary to see how comments on almost every story about the government's Covid-19 views or measures seem to fall under the same theme that may be politely paraphrased as "please do us all a favour and leave".
It's true there is no open rebellion yet and most people are still complying with the government's restrictions despite complaints or disagreements. Yet, this acquiescence seems to stem from desperation rather than real consent.
With questions following the government's every move, sometimes lurking even before one is made apparently to preempt yet another "wrong decision'', it's no wonder we are still bogged down in a debate about whether it was a mistake not to join the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) programme when we should already be preparing for the procurement of second-generation jabs.
Without trust, people will keep questioning whether the Phuket Sandbox or Samui Plus model of partially reopening the country for tourism is a good idea.
They will question whether the 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccines donated by the United States will be fairly distributed to priority groups without VIPs taking some for their friends and families.
Without trust, people will keep looking back to try to see where things went wrong. Without trust, it will be impossible to look ahead and plan for the future together.
The outbreak of suspicion, which seems to have spread rapidly, is a major cause for concern. Unless the government can address the issue, the country's Covid-19 fight will be bogged down in the same mistakes of the past.
To solve the problem, the government must first and foremost make sure that its health services work.
The Covid-19 hotlines offer a good example.
Remember what happened on April 23?
On that day, the country was shocked by the death of a former e-sport player who died of Covid-19 after spending five days in self-quarantine.
During those five days, Kunlasup Wattanaphon, who was at high risk because he had been in contact with a confirmed case, tried unsuccessfully to receive treatment from hospitals.
He called several medical hotlines to seek help only to be told to contact other agencies.
In a video clip which was widely circulated after his death, Kunlasup said he had breathing difficulties but could not find any hospitals to diagnose him so that he could be admitted.
He could not drive and could not find an ambulance to take him to a hospital either.
Two days after being admitted to a hospital, Kunlasup died.
It has been more than three months since his death. The outbreaks have gone from the second wave to the third, or fourth one now. Daily new infections and fatalities have risen probably tenfold. But guess what has remained the same? The medical hotlines remain busy.
The same is true for bottlenecks in patient admissions, transfers and transportation as well as a lack of testing capacity.
The only difference is that the situation has worsened considerably now because the public health system has been stretched beyond capacity, to the point doctors where have had to come up with criteria regarding which patients will get to use the limited number of high-flow oxygen machines.
Another difference is that deaths can be seen live on the street now, not just in video clips. And yes, the authorities have just realised that the hotline numbers should be free.
Unless the authorities can show an improvement, it will be impossible for them to win back the public's trust.
Does everybody believe that nobody will be seen dead on the street again after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha gave an order that this mustn't happen last week? Or was he just thinking out loud? Is there still hope that the government will be able to inoculate 50 million people this year? How about the plan to reopen the country in "120 days"?
With so much doubt and no trust nor any real plan, it's not a Covid-19 situation administration. It's each to his or her own devices, which is very much what we have experienced so far.
Atiya Achakulwisut is a Bangkok Post columnist.