skatewash

The interval between jabs of Pfizer should be 21 days. The Pfizer vaccination you received at MedPark didn't come with an appointment for the second dose? Generally, when you get your first jab in Thailand you will be given an appointment for the second jab. Didn't that happen for you at MedPark? If you've been given an appointment for a second jab at MedPark then you should cancel the Kanchanaburi Hospital appointment. Actually, you should cancel the appointment on Monday because it is too soon (not 21 days) after your first jab. All the different sites for vaccine registration makes this situation understandable. I doubt you would actually be given the second jab on Monday but I wouldn't want to find out. ????

Not an entirely correct comment. First being vaccinated doesn't get you anything with regard to entry into the USA. Second, if talking about the AstraZeneca manufactured in Thailand it is accepted in Germany and France. It is not currently accepted by the EU Medicines Agency, however EU member states make their own decisions on whether to recognize the vaccination (see Germany and France).

and American taxpayers. I believe any Pfizer currently in Thailand was part of the donation from the US.

To the people on Phuket who make their living in the tourist industry which is the vast majority of people living in Phuket I'm guessing that the Phuket Sandbox doesn't sound like a joke. The people on Phuket who feed their families with money earned in the tourism industry are exactly the people who were losing their livelihoods and are only now seeing a small light at the end of the tunnel.

There are two or maybe even three issues here: 1) What does the US require? Here it is pretty clear, the US will accept rapid antigen test for entry (or alternatively, RT-PCR test). 2) What does your airline require? Not so clear here. The airline is going to require what is needed for entry to your destination at a miniumum. But the airline CAN require anything they want to require (specifically, something above and beyond what is required by the destination). So unless you are completely convinced that your airline(s) is/are going to be satisfied with a rapid antigen test then it is probably safer to get the more expensive RT-PCR test, even though the US would be quite happy with just a rapid antigen test. 3) If you have to get off of one airplane and board another airplane at an airport you need to be interested in what, if any, requirements that airport has regarding the type of covid test you need to show. The only thing I can say about this issue is that RT-PCR seems to be the gold standard for covid testing. Not sure I would want to get caught out in an airport that has it's own testing requirements with a rapid antigen test (which, yes is good enough for US entry) that may not meet their own specific requirements. I'm not even sure airports have their own testing requirements. All in all, it seems more prudent to get the RT-PCR test which I think everyone agrees will satisfy all three issues. Even if the abundance of caution standard seems too high for you it's at least good to have a heads up that it could be an issue. Do you own due diligence.

This is an example from a testing center in Phang Nga. However, it does say that it is only available for Phang Nga residents. I'm not sure what that means exactly. I think you might need to contact the testing center and ask if you can book an appointment even if you are not a Phang Nga resident (maybe at a higher cost?): https://www.traveloka.com/en-th/activities/thailand/product/phang-nga-clinic-lab-phang-nga-8782750153389 I have heard that people have been able to get a rapid antigen test done at Takuapa Hospital in Phang Nga for 620 baht: http://hospital.moph.go.th/takuapah/eng-info.html In either case I think you would want to contact them and ask if you can in fact get the rapid antigen test you want. It might be that you have to book the appointment ahead of time. Remember that there is a requirement to demonstrate that the person seeking to enter Phuket has regular work that must be done in Phuket. A letter from the employer for instance. I'm not sure your friend would qualify for that exemption and if not they would not be allowed to enter. In other words, generally people cannot enter Phuket domestically unless they can demonstrate that qualify for one of the limited exceptions for instance they are returning to where they live or work regularly. I don't know how strict they are about this, but it would be unfortunate to find out at the checkpoint that it was stricter than you thought after having travelled all the way to Phuket from Bangkok.

You can do ALQ in Pattaya. ALQ Hotels in Pattaya: https://asq.in.th/aslq-pattaya-chonburi-thailand-hotels The only thing that could put a crimp in your plans is if you test positive for covid during your quarantine. If you do you will be taken to the hospital associated with your ALQ hotel. If you never test positive then I don't see any problem with your plans. Alternatively, you could do ASQ in Bangkok and after you graduate after 14 days you could travel to Pattaya and stay at the condo you booked. ASQ Hotels in Bangkok: https://asq.in.th/

I feel like you're getting the Phuket Sandbox information in dribs and drabs in a piecemeal fashion My suggestion is to read this as I believe it will answer some of your questions and give you an understanding of what the Phuket Sandbox is and how it works. https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/travel/guide-to-phuket-sandbox The biggest difference between Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) and the Phuket Sandbox is simply this: ASQ you are confined in a hotel room for 14 days. You only leave the room to be tested. Your food is brought to you so you can eat in your room. You are basically in your hotel room for 14 days. Phuket Sandbox you are in a hotel room until your RT-PCR test taken at the Phuket Airport comes back with a negative result (6-12 hours). After your test comes back you can go anywhere in Phuket but must return to your SHA Plus hotel room to sleep. You get food from wherever you want in Phuket (restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, convenience stores, street cart vendors, markets, etc.). During those 14 days you take 2 more RT-PCR tests. Other than that you can do whatever you want. After 14 days in Phuket Sandbox you can leave to go anywhere else in Thailand.

Right, but in any case you CANNOT get the covid test that lets you enter Phuket in Phuket. You have to get it before you get to Phuket, up to 72 hours before you attempt to enter Phuket. Covid tests haven't been offered at the Tha Chatchai checkpoint in Phuket for some time now.

I don't know but I think it's safe to say that they come back much faster than RT-PCR. Here's something about that: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/if-youve-been-exposed-to-the-coronavirus

I wasn't aware that the general public was getting booster shots (only front-line medical personnel. I'm a bit confused that you don't know what your first dose was. Didn't you get a receipt or any documentation? Didn't you receive an appointment at the time of the first jab for the second jab? Is the entity that offered you the Pfizer dose aware that you have already received one jab of something? My understanding is that the Pfizer is generally only available to people who have not received any vaccination to date (medical personnel exception noted above). Is it possible that you have been offered the Pfizer by some entity that is unaware that you have previously received a jab of covid vaccine? Something doesn't sound right here.

At the moment you really need to be able to prove strong ties to Phuket. For example, you are a returning resident (and a foreigner) you need to show a yellow house registration book (tabian bahn). Or if you regularly work in Phuket a letter from your employer stating that. I don't think your friend would be able to prove either of those things. The kids if under 18 would be allowed in without a vaccination but would need a negative covid test within 72 hours (can be the cheaper rapid antigen test). I believe rapid antigen tests can be obtained in Phang Nga (province with which Phuket shares a bridge) for less than 800 baht. But you must obtain the test from outside of Phuket, there is no facility for having a test done at the Phuket check point.

I'm hearing it's not really a problem traveling to most provinces. The problem comes when you reach your destination. Some places especially in smaller places in the countryside are insisting that visitors self-quarantine. Local restrictions are very local. If you are ultimately going somewhere to visit family make sure you find out about what the local policies are at your destination. It may not be hard to get to your destination but you may need to undergo a local quarantine at that destination.

Traveling to Thailand isn't an easy process these days. Might not be a bad idea to have a stress test before making the attempt. ????

responses in bold

It is complicated and it does change. I also think the English-language media doesn't seem to think it's important to be accurate and precise. They seem to think close enough is good enough. But the details are important. ???? I'll give you my understanding of some of your questions: Your Thai friends who live in Phuket but left to visit CM and now can't get back into Phuket. There was a period of time recently when that was actually true. However, recently they have relaxed those restrictions and IF your Thai friends can demonstrate that they reside in Phuket they will be allowed back in. They could demonstrate that by a Blue House Registration Book (tabian bahn) that shows they live in Phuket. Or if they work in Phuket their employer could write them a letter and that could be used to get back into Phuket. They will also need a negative covid test (rapid antigen is sufficient which can be had in Phang Nga for about 700 baht) in order to re-enter Phuket. You can absolutely enter the Phuket Sandbox yourself (if at least 14 days after receiving your final vaccination) and after graduating from the Sandbox (staying 14 nights in a SHA Plus hotel, many of which are offering very reasonable pricing AND paying 8,000 baht/person for 3 RT-PCR tests while in Phuket) you could go to CM. The situation is in flux but you could at least rent a car and drive yourself (you would show your graduation papers from Phuket Sandbox to be able to cross out of Phuket) to CM. Or hire a car/van and driver to do so. Or even possibly fly to U-Tapao from Phuket, stay overnight, then fly from U-Tapao to CM (the overnight stay is because the flights which are limited don't synch up correctly to be able to do in one day). So don't mean to make it sound like it's a piece of cake, it's not, but it is possible. Phuket is not a red zone (at present and likely not for immediate future) so I don't think it's a problem for people to go from Phuket to CM (which is red). People have done it recently. The word I hear is that the main checkpoints are the one leaving Phuket, and entering Phang Nga and then there don't seem to be other checkpoints or if there are people just seem to get waived through. No guarantees, of course, just relaying what other people are reporting. What visa/re-entry permit you use to enter the Sandbox doesn't really matter. In other words, if you have a long term extension get a re-entry permit (1,000 baht) before you leave Thailand and use that to get back in via the Phuket Sandbox (assuming the permission to stay date allows you to do that with the trip you're planning. In other words, you would need to be back in Thailand before your re-entry permit expires, of course.). Or you could use a visa-exempt entry (45 + 30) or a tourist visa (60 + 30 days). Again, there's not much that's easy about Phuket Sandbox, but if there's a will there's a way, it is possible.

People are doing it. Due to minimal domestic flights and interprovincial bus travel restrictions most people doing this are either hiring a car/van and driver or renting a car and driving themselves. The choice of a few southern islands you seem to be referring to might be the 7+7 Sandbox in which people arrive in the Phuket Sandbox, stay for 7 nights on Phuket, then go to Samui and stay for 7 nights. After they graduate from the 7+7 Sandbox they are free to go anywhere in Thailand. If there's someplace they can't go I don't know where that is. There are some provinces that will make domestic travelers quarantine (maybe Buriram?) but generally they can go anywhere.

Thanks for the correction. The point I was trying to make is that Thailand can hardly have general restrictions on what the unvaccinated are allowed to do when only a very small percentage of the population is currently vaccinated. The fact that the percentage is only 7.9% (rather than 20% as I incorrectly stated) only makes the point stronger, that Thailand cannot have general restrictions on what the unvaccinated are allowed to do. For example, Thailand is unlikely to impose a rule stating that only vaccinated people can dine at a restaurant (as NYC has apparently proposed) when only a very small percentage of the population is vaccinated. The OP asked about how unvaccinated people are currently restricted in Thailand and I tried to convey that apart from entry into Thailand and entry in to a few provinces (e.g., Phuket) there are not currently restrictions imposed on unvaccinated people in Thailand. At least that I am aware of.

There are a few things wrong with your statements: 1) He can come to Thailand (for example, ASQ in Bangkok) 2) He can travel around Thailand as a tourist now (after graduating from ASQ) 3) He doesn't qualify for the Phuket Sandbox as he is not vaccinated (he would qualify for Phuket ASQ though). 4) Anyone who arrives in Thailand in Phuket can leave Phuket and travel to other places in Thailand after they graduate from the Phuket Sandbox or Phuket ASQ. People who graduate from the Phuket Sandbox can even return to Phuket, but people who graduate from Phuket ASQ cannot return to Phuket if they leave Phuket. 4) People who arrive in Thailand in Phuket can leave Phuket and travel elsewhere in Thailand if they graduate from either the Phuket Sandbox (OP would not qualify for this as he is not vaccinated) or Phuket ASQ (OP would qualify for this).

Yes, you can travel to Thailand (you will need a negative RT-PCR test) and when you graduate from ASQ after 14 days you will be allowed outside. You can travel to many places in Thailand, but there are a few exceptions. For instance, you would not be able to travel into Phuket as only vaccinated people can enter Phuket domestically now. If you really wished to visit Phuket you would either need to be vaccinated and participate in the Phuket Sandbox OR participate in Phuket ASQ in which case you would be in Phuket already when you graduated from your 14 days in quarantine. There are no current restrictions for those who are not vaccinated in Thailand that I am aware of. For example, you will be able to go into stores, malls, hotels, etc. regardless of your vaccination status. I think only something like 7.9% [originally said 20% before corrected] of the Thai population is fully vaccinated at this time.

In many cases the Passport Photo ID page and the page containing your current visa/extension are bound together in the same passport booklet. It might perhaps be a little easier to take one (1) picture of your Passport Photo ID page, take another picture (1) of your visa/extension page. Start the vaccination website application. Where it asks for your passport photo and visa/extension, press and hold the CTRL button then click on the file containing your passport photo ID, and then click on the file containing your visa/extension, release the CTRL button. Right click on the highlighted files just selected and select copy. Cursor over to the vaccination website and right-click on the field for the file upload and select paste. But if you're good with a needle and thread there might be other ways that it can be done. ????

I think you'll find that the rapid antigen test is well under 1,000 baht, something around 600-700 baht.

Yeah, that works, too.

No, you don't need a fit-to-fly certificate. Yes, you need a negative covid test result 3 days before your departure to the US. Note that it can be the cheaper rapid antigen test and does not need to be the more expensive RT-PCR test. Also, the 3 day specification is a lot easier to comply with than the 72 hours standard. All explained in detail at the following: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html Of course, the above are requirements for entry into the US, you must check any additional requirements imposed by your airline(s) or transit countries.

Basically, you want to grab two files, copy them, and paste them in the application. How to do that is explained here: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000771.htm#select-individual This is going to be so much easier on a pc than on a smart phone.