Thailand closes borders to foreigners

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thailand closes borders to foreigners

 

 

Thailand has closed all of its borders - land, sea and air - to foreigners trying to enter the country.

 

However, borders will remain open to Thais returning from overseas and to foreigners who are in possession of a valid work permit. Diplomats will also be able to still enter the country. 

 

The partial closure of borders was one of a number of measures confirmed by the Thai government on Wednesday as part of its recently announced emergency decree.

 

Borders will be closed from 26 March 2020.

 

Business such as factories, hospitals, banks, government agencies, transportation and security can remain open. 

 

The elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions and children aged under 5 years old have been advised to stay home. 

 

Only essential travel between provinces is advised. 

 

No curfew is yet in place.

 

This is a developing story, this post will be updated without warning. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-25

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Jonathan Fairfield]

No curfew yet, but partial lockdown is here — Wissanu

 

 

The government has no plans for the time being to impose a curfew to stem the spread of the coronavirus but will stringently enforce restrictions on travel and gatherings as the state of emergency starts taking effect after midnight of Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm said this afternoon.

 

But he did not rule out the possibility of a curfew being declared if the ongoing efforts to fight the deadly virus failed.

 

Wissanu said initial restrictions issued under the state of emergency decree imposed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha include a ban on non-Thais travelling into the country.

 

There are few exceptions for Bangkok-based diplomats who need to return to Thailand from overseas trips and pilots and flight attendants of airlines that still operate. But they all need to have fit-to-fly certificates. The same requirement also applies to Thai citizens wanting to return to Thailand.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/no-curfew-yet-but-partial-lockdown-is-here-wissanu/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-03-25

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Ireland32]

How about laborers packed in pick up trucks no masks sitting in traffic , Ridiculous almighty baht

Edited March 25, 2020 by Ireland32

[peter14]

Pink card can enter?

[Chazar]

1 minute ago, Ireland32 said:

no masks sitting in traffic

yeah sucking in all those diesel fumes, shocking

[dcsw53]

A gesture, but misplaced, what are they hoping to achieve, other than accelerating the collapse of the economy ?
In the meantime Immigration offices are a complete joke as they are swamped with people being forced there for visa reasons.

[twocatsmac]

The Chinese will be the first tourists welcomed back when the virus subsides. 

[EricTh]

What about those with Non-O visa retirement or marriage?

[Crossy]

4 minutes ago, EricTh said:

What about those with Non-O visa retirement or marriage?

 

I read it as "no".

 

WP and diplomats only.

 

And a post discussing moderation has been removed.

[Lowryderen]

10 minutes ago, peter14 said:

Pink card can enter?

Why would a pink ID card make a difference? That doesn't grant you citizenship. You are still a foreigner.

[NCC1701A]

Everything OK Thailand. Sure.

 

And god help us all in the coming days.

[Assurancetourix]

Eldery people must stay home ..

okay, okay...

But at which age are we old ?

 

I'm 71 old and when I cycle with my MTBike, a lot of young 40 year olds find it hard to follow me ..

[Tayaout]

1 minute ago, Assurancetourix said:

Eldery people must stay home ..

okay, okay...

But at which age are we old ?

 

I'm 71 old and when I cycle with my MTBike, a lot of young 40 year olds find it hard to follow me ..

In some article I read they say less than 5 years and over 70 must stay home. 

 

Som Nam na

[domgaf]

Has there been any mention of rules about leaving the country?

[steve2112]

 

23 minutes ago, EricTh said:

What about those with Non-O visa retirement or marriage?

since the health check requirement it was already defacto closed wasn't it?

[brucegoniners]

How about people with valid visas like myself?

 

Thank goodness we got back from the USA on Saturday night just before midnight!

[Tayaout]

1 minute ago, brucegoniners said:

How about people with valid visas like myself?

 

Thank goodness we got back from the USA on Saturday night just before midnight!

It's closed to foreigners unless you are a diplomat or you fly the plane. 

Edited March 25, 2020 by Tayaout

[rudi49jr]

17 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Everything OK Thailand. Sure.

 

And god help us all in the coming days.

You mean weeks. Or maybe (probably?) even months.

[stuandjulie]

10 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

Eldery people must stay home ..

okay, okay...

But at which age are we old ?

 

I'm 71 old and when I cycle with my MTBike, a lot of young 40 year olds find it hard to follow me ..

Not a matter of how well you can cycle, your immune system is not as strong

 

[AlexRich]

10 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

Eldery people must stay home ..

okay, okay...

But at which age are we old ?

 

I'm 71 old and when I cycle with my MTBike, a lot of young 40 year olds find it hard to follow me ..

I wouldn’t risk it. They are taking 60 year olds off ventilators in Spain in order to save younger people who need them. 

[BestB]

It’s easy for us armchair experts to pass judgement of what should be or could be . Truth is no one was prepared for this or has ever experienced this . Maybe more could have been done , maybe not but it appears thai government is doing more than some of the western world countries 

[kingstonkid]

This fits in with what the US is doing.  If I did not miss my guess they are trying to follow TRUMP and the doctors in the US as there is no medical staff here that fully understand.

 

The closure of the borders is a good thing.  However, what they should do is close all airports  other than Don Muang .  The reason I say DMG should be open is they can then herd anyone coming in to the air base and quarantine them there.  

Every country is running into the same problem that people are to stupid to self quarantine.

 

The pan is sound but just like a lot of big cities and countries the process was lacking.  Before shutting down businesses they c\should have closed the cities and ensured that no one left.

 

OH well Trump seems to think they can get the country back on it's feet again by Easter.  If that is the case Thailand should not be too far behind.

 

As to the economy I am not worried it will bounce back.  There may not be the same players and some shops may close but there will always be someone opening a bar, restaurant or such.  Factories will open and things will get back to normal.

 

[Misterwhisper]

38 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

borders will remain open to Thais returning from overseas and to foreigners who are in possession of a valid work permit.

The implications are painfully clear here. Foreigners who have been biding their time in Thailand living on visa runs every 3 months and who never got themselves a proper work permit will be able to leave the country next time their visa is up,  but not be able to return. And since the borders are now closed, I assume that Thai embassies and consulates anywhere also will no longer issue new visas if an applicant cannot present convincing documentation why their travel to Thailand is necessary.

 

The next few weeks will see a sharp decline in foreign resident numbers, primarily people who have abused the system, often enough for years on end. 

[Puchaiyank]

7 minutes ago, brucegoniners said:

How about people with valid visas like myself?

 

Thank goodness we got back from the USA on Saturday night just before midnight!

Self quarantine...you do not want to be hospitalized...as the cost may be more painful than the virus.

[kingstonkid]

Just now, BestB said:

It’s easy for us armchair experts to pass judgement of what should be or could be . Truth is no one was prepared for this or has ever experienced this . Maybe more could have been done , maybe not but it appears thai government is doing more than some of the western world countries 

The problem in this country is that there are not the medical experts that other countries have nor is there the brain trust of let's say a USA or even China.  Yeah they are doing their best they have made some mistakes but so far we are doing pretty good.  I would put them way ahead of NYC and the Mayor.

The other problem that people seem to have and it is not just here is that there seems to be a can't happen to me and a why worry or lack of knowledge or trust in what the government is teling them.

 

[kingstonkid]

4 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

The implications are painfully clear here. Foreigners who have been biding their time in Thailand living on visa runs every 3 months and who never got themselves a proper work permit will be able to leave the country next time their visa is up,  but not be able to return. And since the borders are now closed, I assume that Thai embassies and consulates anywhere also will no longer issue new visas if an applicant cannot present convincing documentation why their travel to Thailand is necessary.

 

The next few weeks will see a sharp decline in foreign resident numbers, primarily people who have abused the system, often enough for years on end. 

I don't think it will be a decline now but it may happen after the virus panic is over and people go to renew their visas.  With the borders closed they are definitely going to have an issue if they need to do a border run.

It is going to be interesting to see what the government is going to do for those that re overstay not because they wanted to but because they could not leave.

[Matzzon]

12 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

It's closed to foreigners unless you are a diplomat or you fly the plane. 

or a work permit

[Matzzon]

YooHooo! That´s about time Guys! It took you over 2 month to finally find the key, or?

[Assurancetourix]

3 minutes ago, stuandjulie said:

Not a matter of how well you can cycle, your immune system is not as strong

 

what you believe!
I don't smoke and I don't drink alcohol.
I live in the countryside in the middle of rice fields and heveas plantations.
My lung and heart capacities are in excellent condition, according to the last encephalogram and the radio of my lungs made a fortnight ago at the public hospital in Udon Thani.
I am not diabetic or fat, which my bike appreciates, moreover
When I climb Phupalek, 4.8 km at 10% average, I arrive at the top with pulsations at 115/120, so very below my maximum allowed which is, I remind you: 220 minus my age (71 ) = 149

[holy cow cm]

That will certainly be an ouch owie for the 90 day in and out visa holders.