Caldera

I think China still quarantines Chinese who come back from a trip abroad. Unless that changes as well, it's unlikely that many Chinese will come to Thailand.

Excellent news, I might just park myself there if I have to leave Thailand and cannot return anytime soon.

I've always had several giks when in Thailand. I think that's pretty much the main draw, otherwise I would spend more time elsewhere.

My favorite 7/11 is whichever one is the nearest when I need one, for precisely that reason.

Can't wait to watch a movie at a real cinema again after months of Netflix at home!

For as long as it will be possible, I will use the old browser based system. I'm neither too demented to check out when leaving nor prone to falling prey to phishing attempts, but I can do without the additional risks that installing an app would subject me to.

17 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

And I cannot buy alcohol in Buriram to drink at home.

 

OK, edit, I cannot legally buy alcohol in Buriram to drink at home.

Seriously, is that still in effect? Insanity, you have my sympathy!

Pretty much all of Europe is opening up (at least for travel WITHIN Europe) in June/July, which is an interesting experiment. I could imagine that whatever will happen there will have an impact on what Thailand will do - after watching from a safe distance.

I'll leave the worrying to the worried noodles and get on with my life - that has served me well and I have no reason to believe it will change!

I got a pretty cryptic SMS from them a few weeks ago and didn't think much about it at the time. Now their denial does have me worried!

Tourism crashed by 95% or so. Even a 50% increase is hardly a drop in the bucket!

Sounds like a pipe dream to me. If Thailand plans to lock down those tourists in a "safe area", most will either go elsewhere or stay at home.

What's the situation with regards to hotels in Pattaya? Any open and allowing new arrivals to check in?

I remember a story about Hua Hin's hotels being allowed to reopen, but don't recall something similar for Pattaya.

I think it's a good idea to check in and out at businesses where you spend some time, such as restaurants and shopping malls. Checking in and out for a one minute visit to 7/11, on the other hand, is a hassle. Sure, someone could sneeze at you within that very minute, but on the other hand, users of the BTS don't check in and out at all.

He clearly has issues that need to be dealt with - at home. Hopefully the US Embassy will arrange for his repatriation. It could be argued they should have already done that after the bomb scare.

My condo's gym and swimming pool have been open again since Monday. Here, you need to book a 1-hour slot with the office in advance and they don't allow more than 4 people in per slot. I'm in Bangkok as well.

Vietnam and Cambodia for a short trip from Thailand if they are open "enough" (no quarantine). Otherwise Greece for an extended stay.

Too early to tell. Thailand might introduce their own compulsory COVID-19 insurance for travelers (plans for this were a recent news item), or they might require a private one, specifics unknown as of now in any case.

I just lower the mask to the chin before starting to eat or drink, and move it back up once done.

The primary function of an ordinary mask is to prevent spreading the virus if you are unknowingly infected, by stopping droplets when you breathe out, speak, cough or sneeze. I'm not under any illusion that the mask I wear will protect myself - that's what other people's masks are for!

There's no point in overthinking it. If you're worried, simply don't eat out. No matter how you handle your own mask, eating out is one of the more dangerous activities because you put things in your mouth that you have little control over.

It doesn't take an expert to know that they cannot just do something else. Almost nobody can.

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

A non-ed visa and extensions for attending a school are still available. 

Some school have canceled classes due to the lockdowns and etc.

Do you happen to know if a visa exempt stay that has been prolonged by the automatic COVID-19 "amnesty" can be converted to a non immigrant visa entry for university studies? I mean at the local immigration office, without having to leave the country.

The books are only for those who are unwilling or unable to scan their Thai Chana QR codes. Whenever they approach me, I just show them my check-in screen on my phone and that's it.

So they make a great effort to stockpile a drug that is somewhat effective at best and completely useless at worst. Why not invest in improving contact tracing and testing? Cheaper and more effective!