Foreigners married to Thais set to be allowed to return to Thailand

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, Berti said:

22 minutes ago, bkk_mike said:

No they didn't - because other than the few people who were repatriated from Wuhan or who came back from the Diamond Princess, nobody in the UK got properly quarantined.

You had "self-isolation" where you're supposed to stay at home and not go out. But if your self-isolation is in a house with other people who didn't travel with you, they can still go in and out unless you come down with symptoms. And it's not been policed. How many people on self-isolation without symptoms popped out to the corner shop for milk or a loaf? But it's the asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people spreading the virus that are why this virus has spread as much as it has in such a short time. (If you only had to steer clear of people coughing, it would be relatively easy - that's why the first SARS didn't spread all that well).

 

There is a reason why the UK's death toll has passed 40,000 when Thailand's death toll is 58 - when Thailand got the virus first, and the two countries have a similar population.

 

Part of it is the wai rather than shaking hands.

Part of it is that there's a lot less public transport over the country as a whole.

Part of it is that everyone in Thailand is wearing a mask.

Part of it is that they spray your hands with alcohol gel when you enter 7-11.

But the biggest thing is that they controlled arrivals. They started scanning people arriving from China in January, and eventually stopped most flights, and only allowed in Thai nationals (and even they get quarantined for two weeks before they can move around).

 

Thailand has had one person die from Covid-19 in the first half of this month. I would definitely take that over what's happening in my home country.

Maybe you are right with the arrivals, but I am not so sure.

Of course a country should block entries from other countries with very high current infection numbers. But most European countries did quite well with self-isolation. I think Germany repatriated about 250,000 people in a short time and they had only self quarantine. It worked.

 

Mask wearing seems to be critical:

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2020.0376

 

Mask wearing alone can lower the R-rate below 1 and the virus disappears over time.

 

 

In late 2019 early 2020 there were reports of increased cases of Viral Pneumonia in Thailand - those reports were controlled.

 

If someone in Thailand dies of cancer, septicemia, a stroke etc are they checked for Covid-19 ??????

 

I believe this to be one of the key differences in the huge disparity between nations.

 

It seems many Western nations are over reporting the death toll including those who died 'with Covid-19' (not because of).

It also seems many Eastern Countries may be under-reporting the death toll, whereby if someone dies of complications directly as a result of Covid-19 that death is not reported as a Covid-19 death unless tested, and it seems there is a significant lack of testing Thailand.

 

Combine the above with the primary potential facet impacting the virulence of this virus, climate, and the differences and we can start to identify why there is such a difference.

 

When also combined with other cultural factors such as less public transport, the Wai, wearing face-mask earlier etc, these factors could also have come in to play.

 

 

Thailand and many countries of a far hotter climate with far greater sunshine were just lucky IMO - but I also don't believe the almost impossibly low numbers Thailand and other 'nearby' countries are pedaling.

 

It would appear that those countries with a more 'controlling' government seem to have done better even in the ares of hotter climate. This is either because the numbers are easier to massage in these countries, or, the control measures could be more efficiently put in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Davo369]

1 minute ago, GAZZPA said:

bet someone will insure, but you are going to pay through the nose for it......

If the Government says we advise you not to travel... that means you are not gonna get insured.. 

[Don Mega]

35 minutes ago, GAZZPA said:

blimey you've changed your tune,, you were basically saying tough luck earlier and serves them right for not becoming Thai citizens,,, anyway, I agree, Thailand should make it easier for people that do have family here, lets hope they do....

What,,,, why should Thailand make it easier... these people made their beds.

 

The options has always been there

[GAZZPA]

5 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

What,,,, why should Thailand make it easier... these people made their beds.

 

The options has always been there

what? I thought you were just saying that you hope Thailand makes it easier for people who want to be in Thailand to be with their families? For those who want to "worship Thailand" i think were your words.. ????

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

What,,,, why should Thailand make it easier... these people made their beds.

 

The options has always been there

That's an extremely harsh view point and one which fails to recognise the variety of reasons people were outside of Thailand and away from their families. Many of whom left for work (or other reasons) before this became an international disaster.

 

To suggest 'these people made their beds' not only lacks compassion but an absence of understanding of any other foreigner in Thailand other than retirees.

 

 

My Bed (as you put it) was made decades ago when I first worked in Thailand, then started working internationally on rotation, then married in Thailand. All the time, travel in and out of Thailand was simple. That bed (as you put it) was made years ago, it was comfortable. Covid-19 came along and not only ripped off the sheets, but pi$$ed all over the mattress and flipped it upside down - that is not the bed I made !!!

 

This is not a bed anyone stuck outside of Thailand has made. This is an issue that has side-swiped us without any predictability. How many people really would imagine a Global Lock-down, even as late as mid-march?

 

To suggest 'that is the bed you made' would be the same as someone suggesting 'that is the bed you made' if you were to be severely injured by a motorcycle riding down a sidewalk...  I'm drawing an out of place analogy as this is how unpredictable this event was.

 

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Davo369 said:

The reason why i made that comment is because don mega was rude to me on another post about me visiting my wife.

 

Fair enough...   I'm sure I was equally angered by that post and many others of his.

 

 

 

[GAZZPA]

2 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

New hoops certifiably show the men from the boys aye !!

I have got no idea what you just said. try English,, or is English not your first language?

[utalkin2me]

But what about the covid? Wont this result in the end of the world? No? Well, what did we do all this for then? One person started all of this. 

[HashBrownHarry]

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

A possibility?

Sadly not currently available.

20 minute test on the spot. Doubt it.

 

Had a 20 minute test on the 7th before a charter flight, the test kits are available whether in Thailand tho not sure.

 

This 'quick test' however will show positive for anti bodies as well, if that occurs you'll need to go to a clinic ( same day results £300 in London ), with this test you can fly with the anti bodies and it proves you're not 'carrying'.

[HashBrownHarry]

57 minutes ago, Davo369 said:

If the Government says we advise you not to travel... that means you are not gonna get insured.. 

Wrong.

[HashBrownHarry]

52 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Indeed.. Don Mega has already 'won' that round after Davo failed to meet the argumentative challenge and resorted commenting on the the cranial distortion of Don's head and that he has few friends, which is an automatic failure on any intellectual level. Then to resort to the 'have a nice chat. if you know what I mean'  and implying violence simply outs the author as being quite the tool !! Significant failures in one post !

 

are you the referee?

[HashBrownHarry]

4 hours ago, Don Mega said:

They should have become citizens then.

 

Can't have the cake and it it too !!

 

becoming citizen is not a realistic option for most farangs.

[Jumbo1968]

16 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Wrong.

Direct me to an insurance company please who would provide insurance when are you are advised not to travel there ?

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Jumbo1968 said:

19 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Wrong.

Direct me to an insurance company please who would provide insurance when are you are advised not to travel there ?

There are a number of heath insurance companies who would cover you for any respiratory illness including Covid-19 and during an epidemic / pandemic. 

 

The companies I wrote to which confirmed cover for Covid-19 were: 

 

April MyHealth Insurance (through whom I have my Wife and Son covered)

LUMA, Pacific Cross, Thai Vivat Star, AXA Optimum Thailand, Aetna Thailand, Cigna Close Care.

 

 

Note: Health Insurance and Travel Insurance are different, Travel Insurance commonly includes an ‘epidemic clause’ whereas the exclusion with Health / Medical Insurance is less common (some may include a 30 day moratorium, thus you may not be covered for illness for 30 days, obviously its different for accidents etc).

 

A broker such as Pacific Prime should be able to answer all your question. 

 

[HashBrownHarry]

13 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Direct me to an insurance company please who would provide insurance when are you are advised not to travel there ?

Regency.

 

 

[chaihot]

I haven't been in Thailand since January and consequently, haven't seen my wife or dogs since then.

 

But is anyone else not in a hurry to return?  I'm still in the USA with full freedoms; eating in restaurants; not having restrictions and checkpoints.  

 

Work has separated us for long periods before, and this is another one of those circumstances beyond our control.  I have NO interest in going to Thailand so that I can pay 50,000 for quarantine -- AND not be able to go "out".

 

You??

[Don Mega]

16 minutes ago, chaihot said:

 I have NO interest in going to Thailand so that I can pay 50,000 for quarantine -- AND not be able to go "out".

 

You??

Yeah not able to go out, thats pretty much how quarantine works and its only 14 days.

50k is not that bad, s that an official qoute or  just a number from google ?

[unheard]

19 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

50k is not that bad, s that an official qoute or  just a number from google ?

Check out the flyers:

 

[scorecard]

18 hours ago, scorecard said:

QUOTE FROM ABOVE:

 

"...You also have to consider that the majority of hi-so Thais were educated in the United States or Europe. Many of whom were teased by Americans and rejected by Western women ( often called FOB aka Fresh Off the Boat ). These folks come back to Thailand with a huge chip on their shoulders towards Westerners. Do you blame them though? Americans are brutal to overseas Asians students. And the Europeans are even worse than the Americans."

 

I don't buy your comments.

 

Locals are at times brutal to other locals and foreigners in any country. Reality of life.

 

Before Thailand I lived in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia and had daily contact with students from: Thailand, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and more.

 

Most of the time, most of the students (M and F) were quite contented and had good productive relationships / friendships with Australian students, the Australian community etc.

 

In my 30+ years of work in Thailand I worked with several hundred Thais in big organizational projects, 90+% spoke excellent/perfect English, and were educated abroad, professional, pleasant and productive, no hesitation to work together with the foreigners on my staff. 

 

Yes we had 1 or 2 incidents over many years, half of which was reaction to western arrogance and superiority. 

Quote from OP:

 

"...The Thai government is not doing anything different that United States which is where Thailand gets the majority of its legal protocol. They always copy whatever the US does, as do most countries."

 

Fake news, Thai law is based on British and German Law and some of the Thai Labour law is strongly influenced by Australian Labour law.

 

The whole world wants to copy most things from the US? What rubbish. 

 

[KC 71]

17 hours ago, possum1931 said:

These people have more money than sense.   

By all accounts they have been given an added 6 months on their visa

how about yours 

[KhaoYai]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

While Thailand is destroying its economy to prevent an increase in Covid-19 numbers, once any sense of normalcy is kick-started I doubt anything will be done to limit the 26000 road deaths per year.

A very valid point.

[KhaoYai]

5 hours ago, Davo369 said:

If the Government says we advise you not to travel... that means you are not gonna get insured.

Not quite. It means that a UK Insurer is unlikely to offer a policy. There are others that will.

[KhaoYai]

22 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Fake news, Thai law is based on British and German Law and some of the Thai Labour law is strongly influenced by Australian Labour law.

Not according to my lawyer. He tells me that the basis of Thai law is French with, as he says, 'bits from all over the place'.

[scorecard]

31 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Not according to my lawyer. He tells me that the basis of Thai law is French with, as he says, 'bits from all over the place'.

Correct, I should have listed French in my original post, my apologies for that error.

[GAZZPA]

2 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Not according to my lawyer. He tells me that the basis of Thai law is French with, as he says, 'bits from all over the place'.

Actually Thai law is based on continental European civil law with some English common law.. At least thats what Wikipedia says, there is also some Hindu law somewhere,,,,

[Don Mega]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Quote from OP:

 

"...The Thai government is not doing anything different that United States which is where Thailand gets the majority of its legal protocol. They always copy whatever the US does, as do most countries."

 

Fake news, Thai law is based on British and German Law and some of the Thai Labour law is strongly influenced by Australian Labour law.

 

The whole world wants to copy most things from the US? What rubbish. 

 

Which Thai labour is strongly influenced  by Australian labour law ?

[robblok]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The 14 day quarantine is a sticking point. Understandingly a necessary one without a viable alternative.

 

In the UK I have taken a Covid-19 test (48 hr result). If these tests were available for arrivals I'm sure people would be happy to pay for them instead of having to do a 14 day quarantine.

 

If arrivals were to take a Covid-19 test on arrival followed by a 2-3 day quarantine while awaiting results the arrivals 'back-log' would be streamlined.

If the testing efficiency could be improved the arrivals 'back-log' would be limited to the airport.

 

Remember - This is not about eradicating Covid-19 but keeping the spread rate down such that the spread rate is limited while the economy can continue.

 

I know its harsh.. just like your remark about the elite visa. 

 

These test are not available here so you will just have to accept it the way it is just like elite visa holders will have to accept their facts. You make a big problem about those test but we know how things go in Thailand. The government does not go for the best but goes for the solution with the most kickbacks. So you either accept the 14 day and be happy you can come back or not. 

 

Remember your a guest you don't get to dictate the rules.

[Mulambana]

On 6/15/2020 at 4:41 AM, DrJack54 said:

Thai nationals repatriating to Thailand have 14 day quarantine. That will continue and any foreigners would likewise face quarantine in Bangkok.

Except people who would  be travelling with "travel bubble" around them in Thailand for specific purpose. But there is also a strong opposiion to the idea. Why people with travel "bubble around" them don't require qurantine but Thai nationals do?

Edited June 17, 2020 by Mulambana

[andre47]

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

While Thailand is destroying its economy to prevent an increase in Covid-19 numbers, once any sense of normalcy is kick-started I doubt anything will be done to limit the 26000 road deaths per year.

Nonsense

[andre47]

4 hours ago, chaihot said:

I haven't been in Thailand since January and consequently, haven't seen my wife or dogs since then.

 

But is anyone else not in a hurry to return?  I'm still in the USA with full freedoms; eating in restaurants; not having restrictions and checkpoints.  

 

Work has separated us for long periods before, and this is another one of those circumstances beyond our control.  I have NO interest in going to Thailand so that I can pay 50,000 for quarantine -- AND not be able to go "out".

not having restrictions and checkpoints.  ... and you want tell us that this is good??

you are really not very smart...

You have the full freedom to get infected. I hope you will enjoy.