If you have Covid you will be denied entry

[jackdd]

According to the latest Cabinet meeting summary from today, persons who have Covid will be denied entry to Thailand.

See section 3 here:

https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/35295

 

Google translate of this section:

3. Regarding the draft Ministerial Regulation No. .. (B.E. ....) issued by The Immigration Act 2522 ( Coronavirus 2019 ( COVID-19) or COVID-19 is a prohibited disease under Section 12 (4) and Section 44 (2) of the Immigration Act. City, 1979)
Cabinet approved the principle of draft Ministerial Regulation No. .. (BE ....) issued under the Immigration Act 2522 as proposed by the Ministry of Interior (TU) and submitted to the Office of the Council of State. Review is urgent And proceed  
further.In this regard, SUT proposes that Thailand has declared that Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or COVID 19 is the 14th dangerous communicable disease under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558 by It is intended to prevent the spread of disease so that it can control the disease effectively. It also reduces the socio-economic impact due to the high severity of the disease. And can spread quickly to others As well as a rapidly increasing cross-country epidemic
For the situation of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or COVID 19 in Thailand, there is still a risk of developing a pandemic because the global epidemic situation is likely to increase. And many countries began to relax measures to prevent and control disease.
Therefore, the National Communicable Disease Committee has proposed to add the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or COVID-19 as a prohibited disease under Section 12 (4) and Section 44 (2) of the Immigration Act, P.E. Fri 2522 in order to prevent the disease from spreading out in Thailand To effectively prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. And in line with the situation of the epidemic
TUT agreed that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or COVID-19 is a disease that is prohibited for foreigners who have such a disease from entering the kingdom. Or to have residence in the Kingdom under Section 12 (4) and Section 44 (2) of the Immigration Act 2522 by revising the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (2535) issued under the Immigration Act 2522 B.E.
has proposed a draft Ministerial Regulation No. .. (BE ....) issued under the Immigration Act 2522 B.E.

The essence of the draft ministerial regulation
Determine the coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19) or COVID 19 as a prohibited disease under Section 12 (4) and Section 44 (2) of the Immigration Act 2522 as follows:
1. Diseases under section 12 (4) including  
 (1) Leprosy
 (2) Tuberculosis in the danger stage
 (3) Filariasis in the stage where symptoms are offensive to society
 (4) Narcotic drug disease
 (5) Syphilis stage 3
 ( 6) Infectious disease Coronavirus 2019 or COVID 19
2. Diseases under Section 44 (2) are
 (1) leprosy
 (2) dangerous tuberculosis
 (3) elephantiasis
 (4) drug addiction
 (5) alcoholism
 (6) Stage III syphilis
 (7) Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19.

 

If somebody arrives at the airport and tests positive, will they now simply be put in a detention cell and then on the next flight back home?

Or will they first be put in a hospital, and after they don't have Covid anymore, sent back home?

[ChouDoufu]

shirley they'll be allowed to use the expensive thai covid insurance with 3 million baht cover they were required to purchase as part of the visa application process!

[Phillip9]

5 minutes ago, ChouDoufu said:

shirley they'll be allowed to use the expensive thai covid insurance with 3 million baht cover they were required to purchase as part of the visa application process!

maybe they can use that for their medical evacuation flight back home.

[ChouDoufu]

Just now, Phillip9 said:

maybe they can use that for their medical evacuation flight back home.

afraid not.  i understand the policy covers up to 3 million for medical treatment, and up to 3 million for funeral/repatriation of remains.  don't recall reading anything about covering the return of live bodies.

[FlyingThai]

Would an airline even accept a Covid-19 positive passenger for transportation in the cabin? I highly doubt it.

[ukrules]

10 minutes ago, ChouDoufu said:

shirley they'll be allowed to use the expensive thai covid insurance with 3 million baht cover they were required to purchase as part of the visa application process!

Of course they will, you will go for the Thai treatment (whatever that is) for as long as they deem necessary before they kick your ass out of the country.

[Enoon]

 

Which makes life a lot easier.

 

Insurance that covers the refusal/isolation and return flight (and covers getting COVID in Thailand) is all that's needed.

 

Forget the rest (including Thai purchased insurance).

 

Another 3 months for the Thai government to work it out for themselves?

 

 

Edited September 22, 2020 by Enoon

[alianware]

If PCR test 72 hours before fly shows negative result but than get tested on the 3rd day with positive in survanapoom airport. How could that happen ???  Your test kit must be craizy. How can you test somebody positive in just short time. What kind of test kit magic do you have ?? From other planet ??

Edited September 22, 2020 by alianware

[Phillip9]

23 minutes ago, alianware said:

If PCR test 72 hours before fly shows negative result but than get tested on the 3rd day with positive in survanapoom airport. How could that happen ???  Your test kit must be craizy. How can you test somebody positive in just short time. What kind of test kit magic do you have ?? From other planet ??

Infected after your test.  Or more likely on the airplane.  Since Thais don't need to be tested before flying, its quite common someone onboard would be infected.

[Phillip9]

15 minutes ago, PatrickC said:

You are not allowed to board a repatriation flight to Thailand if you test covid positive, so this law was already basically in place.

They approved this new regulation today, so they need it for some reason.

 

It may be so they can continue the current testing and quarantine on arrival process once the emergency decree is lifted.

[jackdd]

10 minutes ago, PatrickC said:

You are not allowed to board a repatriation flight to Thailand if you test covid positive, so this law was already basically in place.

The test 3 days before departure could be negative, but when you finally arrive in Thailand you could test positive (it could even just be a false positive).

Until today it was clear what would happen in such a case, you were allowed to enter Thailand and would be sent to a hospital until you test negative.

With this latest announcement it's not clear what what will happen, what i mentioned in the OP were just two possible outcomes.

 

Obviously they can't stamp the visitor in on your arrival, because this would be in violation of the immigration act.

The common sense solution would be to send the person to a hospital, and give the entry stamp once the test is negative. But this would mean sending and treating a person in a hospital who is not officially in Thailand, this might cause other problems.

[sammieuk1]

Welcome sir you have ebola and your leg has fallen off but I have an Amex card that will do nicely have a nice day scenario coming ???? 

[BritTim]

This is nonsensical, but I am not totally surprised. Once the Covid-19 is treated, you are no longer a public health danger. If they do not hospitalise you when the infection is identified, they are putting others at risk. If you have the required insurance, that should cover your treatment. If you arrive without the requisite insurance, the bill will likely be sent to the airline who were supposed to check you met the requirements before allowing you to board the plane.

[HashBrownHarry]

3 hours ago, alianware said:

If PCR test 72 hours before fly shows negative result but than get tested on the 3rd day with positive in survanapoom airport. How could that happen ???  Your test kit must be craizy. How can you test somebody positive in just short time. What kind of test kit magic do you have ?? From other planet ??

You might become infected 3 ( or more ) days before your 72 hour test and therefore not the through normal incubation period ( 5-7 days ) at the time of your test for the flight paperwork.

 

Upon arrival you're positive as it's 6 ( or more days ) since infection.

 

This is the purpose of the quarantine and is proven to catch such rogue cases ( as well at to prevent spreading ).

 

Also there's no testing at the airport before you're stamped through immigration, you're positive test would be a ASQ hotel at which point your insurance would take over.

Edited September 22, 2020 by HashBrownHarry

[DrTuner]

I wouldn't be surprised if they use a catapult to throw the infected ai farang over the border.

 

It's again clear as mud what happens if you test positive in quarantine. Off to hospital and then what? Stay there until tests are negative, let loose, or be kicked out of the country?

 

Plenty of risks when going to Thailand, no sane real tourist would take it for such little reward.

[Flying Saucage]

Once again Thailand shows it's unrivalled humanity (sarcasm alert!).

 

Not exactly comparable, I agree, but when Italian and French hospitals ran out of ICU capacity in April, Germany arranged ICU beds for some of the very severe cases from Italy and France, and flew them in, to show humanity and also give the medics in Germany an opportunity to learn from these cases in order to become better prepared, just in case.

 

Completely unthinkable that Thailand ever does such a move. Simply impossible in the "Land of Smiles". No way!

 

LOS, the Land Of Selfishness, egoism and greed.

 

These attributes for me apply to those in power, though, but not to the millions of nice and humble people in Thailand who have a good heart and a good character, however.

 

Edited September 22, 2020 by Flying Saucage

[Tounge Thaied]

They have simply added Covid to the current list of maladies you must be signed off on before you will be issued a COE. If you test negative 72 hours before you board your flight and then test positive on arrival Thailand... you will be taken to a hospital. 

[Tounge Thaied]

2 hours ago, PatrickC said:

 

Yes I'm not really sure what it achieves. It might maybe be to do with this 9 month tourist visa thing. But yes, if you're already stamped in and then you test positive, then what? 

 

and if they implement this for work permit extensions, are they seriously going to deny someone the right to continue working and deport them if they test positive?

 

Who knows. Just more covid madness in 2020

If you test positive at any point in the first two weeks of your arrival you will be sent to the hospital. From there we can speculate... I suspect that the "tourist" may be able to satisfy the quarantine requirement at the hospital. It would all depend on how sick you get or don't get. If you were to remain asymptomatic or your symptoms abated within the quarantine period and then you repeatedly test out negative, you would obviously be released from care. I suspect they would not require you to leave the country and would be allowed to continue your stay. Just my speculation...

[JusticeGB]

To board a flight to Thailand you have to take a covid19 test which is negative for covid19 and a fit to fly certificate signed off by the Embassy in the country that you fly from the test must be within 72 hours of the flight and the Embassy letter within 48 hours of the flight. You will get tested for covid19 on arrival in Thailand and if positive for COVID-19 taken directly to hospital where you can use your expensive insurance. As you would have taken a covid19 test showing that you were covid19 free before the flight the insurance company would have to pay up.

[Dap]

18 hours ago, PatrickC said:

You are not allowed to board a repatriation flight to Thailand if you test covid positive, so this law was already basically in place.

And yet, in the past 14 days, Thailand has reported 55 infected returnees in Thai quarantine. How does that happen when the infected folk can only move from airport to quarantine? The 3 today were reported asymptomatic as were a number of others.

Edited September 23, 2020 by Dap

[Max69xl]

On 9/22/2020 at 6:27 PM, FlyingThai said:

Would an airline even accept a Covid-19 positive passenger for transportation in the cabin? I highly doubt it.

A foreigner on a repatriation flight need a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours prior to departure,and the first test is at the ASQ-hotel, not at the airport. It's old news. A Thai only need a fit-to-fly certificate, but can still be infected. 

[Max69xl]

2 hours ago, Dap said:

And yet, in the past 14 days, Thailand has reported 55 infected returnees in Thai quarantine. How does that happen when the infected folk can only move from airport to quarantine? The 3 today were reported asymptomatic as were a number of others.

Thai nationals just need a fit-to-fly certificate when on a repatriation flight. They can still be infected. 

[Max69xl]

3 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

To board a flight to Thailand you have to take a covid19 test which is negative for covid19 and a fit to fly certificate signed off by the Embassy in the country that you fly from the test must be within 72 hours of the flight and the Embassy letter within 48 hours of the flight. You will get tested for covid19 on arrival in Thailand and if positive for COVID-19 taken directly to hospital where you can use your expensive insurance. As you would have taken a covid19 test showing that you were covid19 free before the flight the insurance company would have to pay up.

Don't confuse a foreigner with a Thai. Not same requirements to get on a repatriation flight. 

[alianware]

19 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

You might become infected 3 ( or more ) days before your 72 hour test and therefore not the through normal incubation period ( 5-7 days ) at the time of your test for the flight paperwork.

 

Upon arrival you're positive as it's 6 ( or more days ) since infection.

 

This is the purpose of the quarantine and is proven to catch such rogue cases ( as well at to prevent spreading ).

 

Also there's no testing at the airport before you're stamped through immigration, you're positive test would be a ASQ hotel at which point your insurance would take over.

exactly this is what i mean. Why the test must be 72 hours before fly ?? If you want to catch that virus in Thailand, than let the tourists make test like 5-6 days before flight. Than on the 7 days get tested in Thailand. 2 tests is still not enough ?? and THailand want to make sure 1000%  by doing hotel and price monopole and discrimination policy ?? imagine...

  

[HashBrownHarry]

1 minute ago, alianware said:

exactly this is what i mean. Why the test must be 72 hours before fly ?? If you want to catch that virus in Thailand, than let the tourists make test like 5-6 days before flight. Than on the 7 days get tested in Thailand. 2 tests is still not enough ?? and THailand want to make sure 1000%  by doing hotel and price monopole and discrimination policy ?? imagine...

  

the problem testing before the flight is there's no control of who the person sees or where they go, hence the 2 weeks controlled quarantine in Thailand upon arrival.

[alianware]

18 hours ago, Flying Saucage said:

Once again Thailand shows it's unrivalled humanity (sarcasm alert!).

 

Not exactly comparable, I agree, but when Italian and French hospitals ran out of ICU capacity in April, Germany arranged ICU beds for some of the very severe cases from Italy and France, and flew them in, to show humanity and also give the medics in Germany an opportunity to learn from these cases in order to become better prepared, just in case.

 

Completely unthinkable that Thailand ever does such a move. Simply impossible in the "Land of Smiles". No way!

 

LOS, the Land Of Selfishness, egoism and greed.

 

These attributes for me apply to those in power, though, but not to the millions of nice and humble people in Thailand who have a good heart and a good character, however.

 

The Humanity in Thailand exist only for their citizen and most of than even only if you have money !

[Sheryl]

You are required to have a COVID test within 72 hours of departure to Thailand. If it id positive, you will not be allowed to come.

 

If the test done on arrival is positive, you will be hospitalized. The test is done after you have passed immigration and indeed, often not till the next day with another day for the results to come. You are already in the country at this point.

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

Not surprised.

 

But, what I'd really like to know, considering that in all Covid-19 statistics you'll find all detected Covid-19 cases 'ever' (since Dec. 2019 that is), is, what happens in the following scenarios, when you arrive at Thailand's border:

 

1.) You've had Covid-19, say, six months ago, and a test registers anti-bodies.

 

2.) You're asymptomatic, but also have anti-bodies.

 

Would entry in both scenarios likely be denied?

Edited September 23, 2020 by StayinThailand2much

[Captain Monday]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

You are required to have a COVIUD test within 72 hours of departure to Thailand. If it id positive, you will not be allowed to come.

 

If the test done on arrival is positive, you will be hospitalized. The test is done after you have passed immigration and indeed, often not till the next day with another day for the results to come. You are already in the country at this point.

 

 

Right. But there is no medical reason to hospitalize non symptomatic positive test cases (several reasons)

They should be kept in quarantine hotels. This was being done in Japan while I was there this year for 3 months. Main reason keep hospitals from being overwhelmed and unnecessary costs.

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Not surprised.

 

But, what I'd really like to know, considering that in all Covid-19 statistics you'll find all detected Covid-19 cases 'ever' (since Dec. 2019), is, what happens in the following scenarios when you arrive at Thailand's borders:

 

1.) You've had Covid-19, say, six months ago, and a test registers anti-bodies.

 

2.) You're asymptomatic, but also have anti-bodies.

 

Would entry in both scenarios likely be denied?

 

You may be getting confused between a PCR test and Antibody test. 

 

Covid-19 RT PCR Tests for existing virus whereas serology testing tests for antibodies of someone who has had Covid-19, serology testing is currently quite unreliable. 

 

Entry requirements rely on Covid-19 RT PCR Testing, thus, whether or not you have any antibodies or carrying immunity etc does not impact the test. 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2020 by richard_smith237