UAE bans citizens from travelling to Thailand, Kuwait suspends flights

[webfact]

UAE bans citizens from travelling to Thailand, Kuwait suspends flights

 

FILE PHOTO: A man wears a mask to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus as he walks near the Grand Palace at Bangkok, Thailand February 2, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya 

 

The UAE has issued a travel ban to Thailand and Iran following the outbreak of coronavirus.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement on Monday banning its citizens from travelling to Thailand and Iran due to concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak in both countries.

 

The statement reads: “In light of the UAE’s efforts to monitor and contain the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, and in the interest of general public safety and health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a travel ban, calling on all UAE citizens not to travel to Iran and Thailand at present and up until further notice.

 

“UAE citizens currently in these countries are requested to contact the UAE Embassy or the Ministry's call centre on 800 44444, and register on the ministry's 'Tawajudi' service”.

 

The news comes after Kuwait’s civil aviation authority also on Monday announced it was suspending all flights to and from Thailand.

 

The move was in accordance with guidelines from the Kuwaiti Health Ministry, officials said. 

 

Kuwait also suspended flights between Iraq, Italy and South Korea.

 

The ban comes despite Thailand reporting no new cases of coronavirus in more than one week.

 

At the time of publishing, Thailand has reported 35 cases of coronavirus, with 21 patients having already been discharged after making a full recovery. 14 patients remain in hospital in Thailand. There have been no deaths from coronavirus in Thailand so far. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-02-25

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[BestB]

Some east European countries also issued a ban. Let’s see what big mouth Anutin has to say and can only hope and prey the rest do not follow to issue bans 

[Vacuum]

Meanwhile; Thai officials let all Chinese tourist enter Thailand with open arms...

[Canuck1966]

Going to be lots of overstay issues kicking in soon, if these bans continue!

[Canuck1966]

Wonder if we will have TIT for TAT.

Sounds like a good slogan for the tourist board to me????

[Maverell]

So what do these countries know, that we don't, if they are banning travel to Thailand?

[Somtamnication]

Getting from bad to worse, this tourism issue. What is the govt hiding?

[carabaothai]

Strange..

Only 34 people here but banning Thailand like Korea (833, 7 dead), Italy (230, 6 dead)...

Strange... 

Edited February 25, 2020 by carabaothai

[geriatrickid]

Countries who have new infections have done their mapping and my understanding is that enough link back to Thailand, such that there is  legitimate concern.  Keep in mind that Thailand is a transit hub and people need not have stayed in Thailand  The other issue is that  Covid 19 is very infectious, more infectious than influenza, or the common cold.  The 3% mortality rate must be taken within the context that far more people will be infected so it is  indeed a killer because the disease burden is so heavy.

 

1 hour ago, UbonThani said:

Just typical panic mode by humans.

Cars would be banned if deaths were used as a measure of safety.

The panic is understandable because too many governments were not truthful. The lack of honesty was due to the fact that there are no effective treatments and no vaccine. A population that has no hope  becomes fearful and where there is fear, there is stupidity. That's why some governments  were hesitant to  be honest.

 

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

I read that they estimate that maybe 30% of the world population will get this virus but most folks wont even notice it besides just some ordinary flue symptoms.. But other ones will get severely ill or worse.. Now its in Italy..

It's the people who will have severe complications that  will bring the  health care systems to  the brink of collapse. If the infections spread we will see the rationing of health care. We may very well see  the elderly or those with immune suppressed systems allowed to die because they are refused  treatment. To be blunt, if it gets bad, folks with diabetes, or cancer may be neglected or denied  care as it would ne needed for otherwise "healthy" people. TVF's heavy smokers should consider stopping smoking now as smokers will be one of the high risk population groups.

 

35 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Them Russians dont give a S#it so Im recommending UK to Moscow to Phuket

I wonder if Aeroflot will pay me commission?

The Russians do care. Keep in mind that they closed their border with China.

27 minutes ago, onekoolguy said:

I agree it seems suspicious that no new cases are being reported here. However I have friends in the health care field and they are not hearing about a lot of new cases? Flu tends to diminish as the weather warms up and Thailand has a hot climate. Maybe that has something to do with it?
Most of the outbreaks of significant size seem to be in countries with cold weather?

it's humidity that keeps the virus alive.  Don't get confident because places like the  humid and warm BKK airport  are an ideal place for a respiratory virus.

[peter14]

Thailand the world messier place... this is what you get when you put all your eggs in 1 basket. . Karma hit  Buddha wont help.... not sure chinese will want to come back when virus slow down

[Chivas]

If Kuwait have suspended only a matter of hours before Qatar Oman Etihad Gulf Emirates follow suit

This could be fun lol

[fforest1]

14 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

Going to be lots of overstay issues kicking in soon, if these bans continue!

Dont worry the new smart cars will be out getting those overstayers.....

[BobbyL]

16 minutes ago, Maverell said:

So what do these countries know, that we don't, if they are banning travel to Thailand?

It is all getting very bizarre. 

[stevenl]

20 minutes ago, Maverell said:

So what do these countries know, that we don't, if they are banning travel to Thailand?

Nothing, they're just panicking due to the number of Chinese visitors to Thjailand.

 

The panic and reactions by governments are simply due to overreaction by uninformed people on social media.

[christophe75]

Do you want to know why the WHO is doing everything it can... to not declare the "pandemic" ?

 

Pressure from investors...

 

Debts. Payouts.

 

Bonds are due... in july 2020 !

 

Those bonds were created by the World Bank.

 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-world-bank-has-an-insurance-policy-against-virus-outbreaks-heres-why-it-hasnt-paid-out-2020-02-21

 

[stevenl]

2 minutes ago, christophe75 said:

Do you want to know why the WHO is doing everything it can... to not declare the "pandemic" ?

 

Pressure from investors...

 

Debts. Payouts.

 

Bonds are due... in july 2020 !

 

Those bonds were created by the World Bank.

 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-world-bank-has-an-insurance-policy-against-virus-outbreaks-heres-why-it-hasnt-paid-out-2020-02-21

 

The conditions for pay-out have not been met yet, and secondly, if a pay-out incurs it does not harm the WHO whatsoever, only the investors.

 

So I class your post as not being informed.

[brewsterbudgen]

So does this mean the regular Emirates and Etihad flights between LHR and BKK, via UAE are suspended?

 

[poohy]

12 minutes ago, Chivas said:

If Kuwait have suspended only a matter of hours before Qatar Oman Etihad Gulf Emirates follow suit

This could be fun lol

There's a lot of connections to elsewhere through these countries going to be very interesting

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

So does this mean the regular Emirates and Etihad flights between LHR and BKK, via UAE are suspended?

 

No, at least not yet.

Edited February 25, 2020 by stevenl

[Ventenio]

North Korea:  ZERO reported deaths.

 

Paradise.  

[tjo o tjim]

26 minutes ago, carabaothai said:

Strange..

Only 34 people here but banning Thailand like Korea (833, 7 dead), Italy (230, 6 dead)...

Strange... 

Kind of says how much they trust Thailand’s official numbers.

[meechai]

Expats choosing to make Thailand their home should keep an eye on times like these.

 

Meaning watch how Thailand handles an emergency like this with possible far reaching consequences.

Ask yourself if it looks like it is being handled honestly & openly with the safety & the health of its population at risk.

Or is it being whitewashed with an eye towards tourism $$$ being more important?

 

This is not as big an emergency as possible in the world today. So watch how this smaller sized emergency is handled & decide "before" a

larger one hits

 

Given its nonchalant attitude towards clean air or water it is not too hard to imagine they may not have your best health in mind vs $$$

[BestB]

32 minutes ago, Maverell said:

So what do these countries know, that we don't, if they are banning travel to Thailand?

Remember Anutin interview? Where the big mouth instead of assuring and explaining what safety measures were out in place , told the world that the world is stupid and does not live in Thailand to know how thailand works?

 

i said it then, wait for the consequences of this idiots big mouth and here we are and only more to follow.

 

would he or any other idiot have enough brain to go back on TV and explain ? Highly unlikely , most likely will spin it into some racist rant how foreigner want to harm Thailand 

[Canuck1966]

8 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

So does this mean the regular Emirates and Etihad flights between LHR and BKK, via UAE are suspended?

 

Just checked google flights and you can still book on either.

I think they will cancel pretty quickly and will affect a LOT of people

[geisha]

Hi, what about the thousands of tourists already in Thailand and due to go home ? Should they call their airline , example Emirates, to confirm ? Thousands travel with Emirates every day from Europe. 

[WaveHunter]

19 minutes ago, christophe75 said:

Do you want to know why the WHO is doing everything it can... to not declare the "pandemic" ?

 

Pressure from investors...

 

Debts. Payouts.

 

Bonds are due... in july 2020 !

 

Those bonds were created by the World Bank.

 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-world-bank-has-an-insurance-policy-against-virus-outbreaks-heres-why-it-hasnt-paid-out-2020-02-21

 

FYI, the WHO finally came about as close to declaring a pandemic as they ever will.  Here's what they now have to say in a press conference yesterday 24 feb (still playing their word games instead of the truth IMO):

 

"Now is the time to prepare. We're in a phase of preparedness for a potential pandemic."

 

WHO Feb. 24 press conference on COVID-19 [video] - World Health Organization (WHO), February 24, 2020.

[Canuck1966]

3 minutes ago, geisha said:

Hi, what about the thousands of tourists already in Thailand and due to go home ? Should they call their airline , example Emirates, to confirm ? Thousands travel with Emirates every day from Europe. 

Especially if you are going to Manchester, or anywhere north of London really.

This is significant to say the least.

The fallout will be biblical

Edited February 25, 2020 by Canuck1966

[geisha]

I’ll be flying with Emirates BKK ,Dubai, Nice France. I think I’ll wait a day or two then call them.

[holy cow cm]

Something is surely up. Reminds me of the movie World War Z.

But if Thailand is suppressing info and lying to the world and all its people leaving the borders open for Chinese and all to come here, then I do hope Big P and his cronies will severely be held accountable and...… 

[ChipButty]

15 minutes ago, geisha said:

Hi, what about the thousands of tourists already in Thailand and due to go home ? Should they call their airline , example Emirates, to confirm ? Thousands travel with Emirates every day from Europe. 

It's already been happening we have had guest here wanting to stay longer because their flights were re arranged the longest we had was a 4 day delay