Flip flop: Health Ministry now says no compulsory quarantine for visitors to Thailand

[snoop1130]

Flip flop: Health Ministry now says no compulsory quarantine for visitors to Thailand

 

 

The Health Ministry on Friday said there will be no compulsory quarantine for people visiting Thailand from countries worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Friday’s announcement, made by Permanent Secretary Sukhum Kanchanapimai came less than 24 hours after the Health Ministry said a compulsory quarantine order was in place for anyone arriving from South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran.

 

Thursday’s announcement was published in the Government Gazette and listed the aforementioned countries and regions as "dangerous communicable disease areas".

 

However, by Friday afternoon, the official policy regarding compulsory quarantine appeared to have changed once more, with officials saying no compulsory quarantine order was in place. 

 

Instead, officials recommend anyone arriving in Thailand from South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran to self quarantine.

 

"We recommend home quarantine," Sukhum Kanchanapimai told AFP.

 

However, those in self quarantine have to report their health status each day, Bloomberg reported, and officials still have the power to order people into quarantine if deemed necessary.

 

The latest announcement regarding quarantine (hopefully) puts an end to what has been a barrage of conflicting information from health officials in Thailand, which has caused widespread confusion amongst people both in the country, as well as people overseas who planned to visit. 

 

The first of the confusion arose after Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday posted on one of his Facebook pages that Japan, Germany, South Korea, China, including Macau and Hong Kong, Taiwan, French, Singapore, Italy and Iran were to be regarded as high risk countries.

 

The post was then deleted as was the Facebook page, without explanation.

 

On Thursday, a new revised official list of countries deemed ‘high risk’ was released, which included South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran. 

 

On Thursday evening, official announcements went from there being no compulsory quarantine to there being compulsory quarantine for those countries on the list. 

 

By Friday afternoon the requirements had changed once more and the information at the time of publishing is that there is no compulsory quarantine for anyone, but those arriving from South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran are recommended to self quarantine.

 

Also on Friday, health officials reported a British man as being the 48th case of coronavirus in Thailand. 

 

The news comes as the number of coronavirus infections in Thailand has remained relatively low, at a time when the number of infections reported by other countries have surged.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-06

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[christophe75]

"Flip flop" is an understatement !

 

It was a roller coaster ! An absolute PR disaster ! An epic comedy !

 

Tourists are sxxx scared.

 

A beautiful operation, really.

 

As for the pseudo "minister".... the virus will kill him. Soon.

 

Figuratively of course...

 

The guy is just scortched-dead-brain.

 

Even mister P must be appalled.

[kotsak]

 

Not even 24 hours..

[Jonathan Fairfield]

You couldn't make it up!

[xtof2]

Ok 2 options here:

They are on yaba and I can understand.

They're not ...and I am more worried.

[DrTuner]

It depends on how much cash you are carrying if you end up at a government slaught.. ermh hospital upon arrival or not. One comes to Thailand and one takes his chances. 

[rvaviator]

Report to WHO ?

[Davo369]

Make your mind up...... 

He's definitely in the wrong game.

[YetAnother]

12 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Flip flop: Health Ministry now says no compulsory quarantine for visitors to Thailand

they really have zero clue; led by the most clueless person in recent memory

[billd766]

1 minute ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

You couldn't make it up!

They could and they do on a daily basis. Sometimes 3 or 4 times a day by different departments.

 

Not to worry though as Prayuth has it all under control.

[Titan1962]

Who in their right mind would come here for a holiday,only to be told you had to stay in your hotel room for your whole trip.

This reminds me of myself when I used to get <deleted> off with the ex. Just couldn’t  stop myself from talking <deleted>,the first thing I thought of just came straight out of my mouth. I suppose that’s why I am divorced now LOL.

[Bkk Brian]

Unbelievable incompetence from the Thai government on this!! People have plans to travel on business or holiday from these countries and have no clue what to do now. 

 

Just published on the WHO Thailand website it states:

 

The MoPH announced today that asymptomatic travelers arriving from at-risk countries and areas of France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taipei and environs, or USA are strongly recommended to “self-quarantine” at home or residence for 14 days. Persons arriving from China (including Hong Kong and Macao), Iran, Italy, or Republic of Korea will face legal implications under the communicable diseases act if they do not “self-quarantine.” These persons are also asked to report their health status daily.

 

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/thailand/20200306-tha-sitrep-15-covid-19-final.pdf?sfvrsn=660fff98_0

 

 

[Antonymous]

Deeply embarrassing. Shambolic.

[ChipButty]

15 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

You couldn't make it up!

But they did

[FarFlungFalang]

Often off and on and off again.They're 100% sure that they're clueless I think.

[MikeyScars]

These ministers are trying to play NFL football wearing a leather helmet!!

 

[madmitch]

Unbelievable incompetence, even by Thai standards. I bet even steven100 is holding his head in despair at his beloved junta's cock-ups!

[Somtamnication]

Benny Hill govt has spoken again!

[Nakmuay887]

This is actually embarrassing at this point. 

 

????????

[tomacht8]

The Thai leadership is obviously overwhelmed with the virus situation. Clear and thoughtful decisions are not in sight. Terrible when amateurs have power. Unfortunately, this applies for the entire government.

[NCC1701A]

 

[ChouDoufu]

explain please.

 

if'n you arrive from a country on the danger zone list, it is recommended that you self-quarantine.  if you yourself decide to self-quarantine, you must report daily.

 

if, however, you decide not to self-quarantine, you are not required to report daily, and may freely go about your business.

 

 

 

 

[JCP108]

54 minutes ago, rvaviator said:

Report to WHO ?

Right. So it doesn't put it to an end. They have yet to explain the paradox of "quarantine" but "have to report every day." Those two things can't exist in the same universe at the same time. 

[JCP108]

So, if we all just decide to not self-quarantine, does that mean none of us are at risk of the 20,000 B fine?

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, christophe75 said:

"Flip flop" is an understatement !

 

It was a roller coaster ! An absolute PR disaster ! An epic comedy !

 

Tourists are sxxx scared.

 

A beautiful operation, really.

 

As for the pseudo "minister".... the virus will kill him. Soon.

 

Figuratively of course...

 

The guy is just scortched-dead-brain.

 

Even mister P must be appalled.

More PR from Comical Ali Anutin.

[EricTh]

Sooner or later, the list of high risk countries will be expanded. 

 

What constitute a high risk country? More than 1000 cases?

Edited March 6, 2020 by EricTh

[Ventenio]

I expect Thailand to peak at about 47 cases, then 46 cases deemed to be misdiagnosed for an end result:  1, who will be a farang.

 

I also expect China to reach 400 million.

 

Have you see the SET Index?  OMG...  

 

quarantine is bad for tourism..... forget that idea.  

[Gerrusjew]

What about people, traveling from lets say Germany through f.ex. Russia, who are russians?

I have a friend on discord, who is a russian, living in Germany. If he descides to travel from Germany with a stop in russia, will the thai border control check it? I mean there are a lot of holes, no? 

[ThailandRyan]

"However, those in self quarantine have to report their health status each day, Bloomberg reported, and officials still have the power to order people into quarantine if deemed necessary."

 

So I don't self quarantine, then I don't have to report, only have to watch out for the locals with pitchforks....

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The latest announcement regarding quarantine (hopefully) puts an end to what has been a barrage of conflicting information from health officials in Thailand, which has caused widespread confusion amongst people both in the country, as well as people overseas who planned to visit. 

 

Man O Man!  What a total cock up by these guys over the past two days. Rarely have I seen so many different and conflicting statements by any govt officials anywhere on a pretty straightforward issue in such a short period of time.