JCP108

2 hours ago, thai006 said:

Who believe this numbers ? TAT ?? 
Really who want to come to Thailand with all the restrictions ??

They didn't clarify that it's 500 actual tourists and 6,500 expats returning to their Thai homes.

47 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Where did you read that?

 

It is still a requirement as of 12 hours ago:

 

"For those who travel from 45 countries/1 territory with an exemption of quarantine, they are still required to undergo ATK test when having risk symptoms or on day 6-7 of their stays as well"

 

https://www.facebook.com/thailandprd/photos/a.251619424861479/4761139233909453/

Right. And, you show the results of the test on day 6 to the staff at your accommodation (in my case at that point will be my wife). 

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

I have a friend wanting to return.  He booked an AQ on Agoda confirming they will transport and test at his hotel.

He then got an email and they requested a mini COE:

Photo of passport

Photo of vaccines

Photo of insurance confirmation

Photo of flight information

 

He was then told it would take them 48 hours to send him a hotel confirmation certificate that he could use on Thailand pass app.

 

 

 

Hotel wouldn't complete the booking before receiving flight information? Good thing the airline didn't refused to complete their booking before receiving hotel confirmation! Some of you will think I'm crazy for saying that. Those of you who have lived in Thailand for some time know I'm not.

I wonder if you arrive in BKK under the "no quarantine" plan and go to your quarantine hotel on your first day...if you don't get your test results back by checkout time, do they charge you their regular rate for the second day? Or, will they charge you another $6k same as the first day?

1 hour ago, 2long said:

But who is able to define what a 'manner that could spread the virus' looks like?

"But on Friday, an announcement was published on the Royal Gazette banning any public gathering "in a manner that could spread the virus".

Playing Spin-the-Bottle at such a party is strictly prohibited.

4 minutes ago, mancub said:

"This quarantine-free category is applicable for travelers who have stayed in the 46 low-risk jurisdictions for 21 consecutive days prior to departure"

How would that apply if returning to Thailand after a 14 day holiday ? 

I would assume that since 14 is less than 21, you would be considered coming from a high-risk country (Thailand) and would follow those rules.

18 minutes ago, WinterGael said:

There is one hot potato to all these desperate for tourists reports.  Most Thais in three consecutive polls are not happy that tourists are coming back, nor are doctors and some sectors of the tourism industry.  That said, I'm sure those who can't see beyond tourism will be happy to see them back.  But going by personal experience and in conversation with a few others I know here who returned last December, this is not the same welcoming country.

 

My wife warned me not to come, that our neighbours would not welcome me. But I had no choice as my money in my home country ran out and I have bills and responsibilities here, so I came home. And she was right.  I've been back almost a year now, and only now are neighbours starting to be friendly again. And still, only one family invites US over for dinner and drinks.  Everyone else welcomes wife but not me.  And as for the markets where people know me and have always talked and joked with me, it's all business now.  Other than อยากมี...ครับ and เท่าไร, very little said.  And as I said, I'm not the only one noticing this... so tourists may be in for a bit of a shock.

I think those of us who live long-term in Thailand who are not typical tourists are more affected by some of the anti-farang attitudes. Tourists will always be treated as "the other" but the arrangement is more cut-and-dried and everyone accepts it as part of travel. Those of us outside that tourist scene face other issues with this treatment. For example, I was in Thailand before the pandemic started. I am the only farang in our part of Lad Prao. Shortly into it (and after so many news stories painting farangs as scary), the neighbors (the ones with more power in the local community) communicated to my wife that they wanted me to do a 14-day self-quarantine in our apartment. 

It was a misunderstanding.

12 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Depending on what you arrive the result may arrive same day. 

You are more optimistic than I am. I'm wondering if the labs can handle all these extra tests as efficiently as they have been processing the handful of samples they've been doing so far. Also wondering when the swabbing team will get to each traveler after they check in. I'm guessing they don't work 24/7 but probably 10-5 with the same type of work flow efficiency we see everywhere in Thailand. If they get to you later and the result takes 12 hours to come back, seems like many will get past check-out time of their first booked day and have to book another.

1 minute ago, Kadilo said:

And for many of may not even be one.

How so?

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

Is the Thai government not aware...

So many ways to finish that question.

4 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

By the time you reach your hotel and unpack the results should be there. That's hardly quarantine.

Nope. The testing is not done at the airport but at the hotel after you check in and after the medical staff arrive (probably not working 24/7). Then, you start waiting for the results. For many it will be a two-day quarantine. 

4 hours ago, marin said:

A "pinto" in Thai. But not used to take to the market in Asia. It would be packed at home.. Rice in the big pot, then veg, soup, and curries individually in the others. A unique style I must say.  One of a kind.  

Yeah. I know it's a lunch pail. And, maybe that's why some people look at me funny (okay with me). But, it's stainless and very convenient for taking food out of the market without it being in a plastic bag. 

17 minutes ago, ed strong said:

 

 

However the countries that now have the highest vaccination rates also now have the highest hospitlization rates! Explain that one!?

 

 

 

 

They have the highest testing rates and also less barriers to going to the hospital.

7 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

So I arrive at night and they give me a test and I stay at the same hotel I would have and I get up and find I am still covid free and off I go. I just hope hotel prices stay low for February..

Prob not that easy if you arrive at night. It's likely the staff who will swab you don't work 24/7. So, you have to wait for them to come to work and get to you. Then, they send that sample to the lab and you wait. Could be two nights if you arrive at night.

55 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

And there it is. Yes it is a quarantine, and not quarantine FREE.....

I noticed that, too. Finally being honest about it.

26 minutes ago, johng said:

Why do Thai nationals  still not have to  provide a negative test before boarding the plane ?

doesn't that "endanger" the whole plane load of tested passengers who may then on arrival test positive and have to be "incarcerated" for 10 days of their "holiday"

I think it's 14 days, not 10.

5 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Makes sense to me.  Seems some are not keeping track of what has been going on over the past 18 months.  People have come after testing negative prior to boarding, then testing positive on arrival.  72 hour window and a flight is a long time you can get infected.   A good policy to test on arrival.

The general false positive rate for the PCR tests for Covid is 0.6%. The reports positive rate for people entering the Phuket sandbox scheme is surprisingly 0.17%! Someone could interpret that to mean that most, or all, of those positive results were false. If that were true, then the testing before flight was effective at screening out infected people.

8 hours ago, SunsetT said:

I cant be a r s e d to check now as it does not affect me, but, until demand for flights increases, maybe the Thai authorities will only allow inbound flights to arrive before a certain time to suit their testing/one night AQ plan. That seems to be what they did for the Phuket litterbox.

 

They aren't limiting flights that way. I just booked a flight that arrives in Bangkok at 00:05. I expect that that will likely mean I have to book the "not" quarantine hotel for two days instead of one. 

1 hour ago, Paradise Pete said:

It takes days for an infection to progress to the point of being detectable by the test.

 

It's a trade-off between how much testing to require and the inconvenience/cost. To maximize safety they could require another test several days after arrival, which would detect an infection that occurred during travel.. To maximize convenience they could require no testing at all. There's no "correct" answer and this is what they've settled on.

 

 

They could vaccinate the people in Thailand thus reducing the need for such strict testing of fully-vaccinated arrivals.

I have been taking my reusable bag to the markets for years and I also take a metal tiffin (see photo) to the night market to buy my curries. Every single time, they look at me like I'm completely crazy. The bag is better now that the concept of such at the super markets is understood (though not practiced much). One of my biggest annoyances is when they put something in a plastic bag....then, put that into another plastic bag. 

7 hours ago, ratus said:

Maybe you already know :

it's possible to upgrade for an express PCR test (results in 2 hours)????

for 2000 BHT more you get your free 1rst day it sounds good for me 

Where did you see that?