Contact tracing apps now COMPULSORY in Thailand - possible penalties for people not using them

[John Drake]

27 minutes ago, Guderian said:

 

According to this article, it's only required for interprovincial travel with the red provinces, not for travelling within them, or if you just live there and never go anywhere else:

 

"The Thai Government has clarified that the “MorChana” GPS tracking and tracing application is required for interprovincial travel in the highest risk zones, which are currently five provinces, including Chonburi/Pattaya. Failure to have the application and if caught with Covid-19 can result in stiff fines and possible jail time if traveling inter provincially without it.

The current five high-risk zones are Chonburi/Pattaya, Rayong, Trat, Nonthaburi, and Samut Sakhon."

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/01/07/thai-morchana-gps-tracking-and-tracing-application-required-for-inter-provincial-travel-to-and-from-highest-risk-covid-19-zones/

 

Effectively, what you're saying is that you need a smartphone as a passport to go between provinces. Only those Thais wealthy enough to own smartphones can travel outside their province. Sounds like the serfs making only a couple of hundred baht per day will be locked up in their own areas.

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Oh dear I don't have eenough memory on my phone for any Apps.

Better start eating klong weeds then lol

[Mung]

That's one thing I certainly don't miss, and something I realised a lot more after having moved away from LOS for the first time in a decade, the control is real. Alcohol being sold at certain times of the day, alcohol bans, not being able to think and say what you feel like, and now you must own a smartphone and download an app that restricts your privacy lol. I'll pass thanks.  

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, apex2000 said:

I assume these apps require an Internet connection to log in/out of places. 
What happens in the case of not having an Internet connection on my phone?
I use wifi for Internet on my phone at home.

I am the same.

When we flew to Krabi in August we couldn't leave arrivals without scanning the QR code. I told the woman at the exit phone didn't work but she didn't listen. After about 5 minutes messing about and holding up the queue she realised there was no internet. Sent me to another desk to fill in a form.

Has happened many times since, where you need to use the app there will be a form available. Obviously they would prefer the app, and so do people, it helps to keep the queues down. Something that those that have the facility to use the app should bear in mind.

[GaryAdriaenssens]

2 hours ago, Kaopad999 said:

There is no excuse not to own one these days. They can be had for as little as 1-2k thb
If people can not afford that, then they can't afford to be here in Thailand

What are you, a rep. of a smartphone company maybe!!??

[EricTh]

For those who don't have internet connection on their phone, is the government going to penalize them? This is ridiculous.

[Nout]

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Many, and they do not shop in the malls, but buy clothes at the corner stands or from the sellers on the over crosses.  Many homeless here in Bangkok as well.  You really think those that are groveling for your satang or nueng baht have a smart phone.  Lets be real here.

You don't know these people at all  just because you have seen them or know of them but you are using their existence to  be obstructive. Their lack of mobile phone is not your business or concern. Your main priority is to agree and commit to cooperation with the authorities in this matter and stop trying to be clever. If you genuinely feel so strongly about it....go and complain at your local police station.

[DavisH]

1 hour ago, Kaopad999 said:

Can just buy one for now as it will only be a temporary measure. If someone gets Covid & then goes to many places, they can then trace back your steps to prevent it from spreading and potentially savings lives. Certainly worth it for such a low cost and a small inconvenience! 

Too many western "but my freedoms, my rights" people here. Look what those freedoms and rights have resulted in the UK and USA. Covid running out of control. Let them breathe in deep and suck it up. 

[SymS]

Can I install the app and deny all permissions?

 

Also sometimes, I may decide to go out with my Nokia 3310, or a Linux smartphone...

 

[Nout]

4 minutes ago, Mung said:

That's one thing I certainly don't miss, and something I realised a lot more after having moved away from LOS for the first time in a decade, the control is real. Alcohol being sold at certain times of the day, alcohol bans, not being able to think and say what you feel like, and now you must own a smartphone and download an app that restricts your privacy lol. I'll pass thanks.  

If you are not in LOS you are not involved so 'passing' is not an issue for you.

[bkkdawg]

1984 has officially arrived! 

[DavisH]

9 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Many, and they do not shop in the malls, but buy clothes at the corner stands or from the sellers on the over crosses.  Many homeless here in Bangkok as well.  You really think those that are groveling for your satang or nueng baht have a smart phone.  Lets be real here.

All the street sweepers in my village spend their free time on them. Posh gits...One would have to be extremely poor not to own one. I know only one Thai who does not own a phone. 

[Kaopad999]

1 minute ago, DavisH said:

Too many western "but my freedoms, my rights" people here. Look what those freedoms and rights have resulted in the UK and USA. Covid running out of control. Let them breathe in deep and suck it up. 

They're the same people who make a huge fuss about having to wear a mask when they enter a shopping mall or grocery store.

[MadMac]

40 minutes ago, oneton said:

According to Richard Barrow and Thaiger this becomes 'compulsory'  if you plan to do interprovincial travel. I guess that means you will be checked when you cross provincial borders.

 

@RichardBarrow

2h

If you plan to do interprovincial travel in these five provinces Chanthaburi, Chonburi (Pattaya), Trat, Rayong & Samut Sakhon you MUST download and use the two apps. The names are ThaiChana and MorChana. They are available for both iPhone and Android. Just search for those names.

 

To become compulsory it must pass law and be published in the Royal Gazette. Unless that happens any Dr. Thai Fauci can say whatever he wants. 

[JeezeLooeze]

Only 67 deaths to date, the latest claimed to be an 88 year old man. It wasn't made clear if he died of C19 or with C19 and if it was his comorbidities, age, and weakened immunological state that made him an easier target of C19 infection and eventual demise.

 

And to that point the misuse of the word 'case' to erroneously mean a 'positive' test of viral particles but also being asymptomatic as apposed to the clinical definition of 'case' meaning showing symptoms and requiring hospitalization. The latter number of 'cases' and death count are very, very small (comparable to historical annual flu seasons) but the former grabs the headlines and used by media and public officials as the excuse to impose track and trace measures.

 

Further, the inventor of the PCR test, before his death, has publicly stated it should not be used to accurately determine viral load in the way it is being done to test C19. So even the number of positive 'cases' needs to be questioned and the risk it poses on the wider population.   

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, Nout said:

You don't know these people at all  just because you have seen them or know of them but you are using their existence to  be obstructive. Their lack of mobile phone is not your business or concern. Your main priority is to agree and commit to cooperation with the authorities in this matter and stop trying to be clever. If you genuinely feel so strongly about it....go and complain at your local police station.

You just crack me up.  My GF and I buy food for the homeless people around us, drop coins in the cups of those panhandling for money with their children sitting near them, and watch everyday from where we live as they scrap around for items they can use.  The side Sois around us here in Sathon have many poor people who we know on a personal level as we walk daily around the Area.  You are always one to bash my posts as being unhelpful or full of fabrication as you state with "You don't know these people at all  just because you have seen them or know of them but you are using their existence to  be obstructive".  You need to get an idea and become part of the solution and not part of the problem within the community you live in.  As far as tracking and tracing goes, many of these people are viewable daily and can be seen with very little in their possession. When you tell me their lack of a phone is none of my business you go against the grain of the OP and the tracking app which the OP lists as now compulsory, and the response herein are not just about expats.  Enjoy your day.

[Crossy]

And then the flip-flop, Thai only at present but I'm sure the English press will have it soon. Google Translate does a "reasonable" job.

 

https://www.matichon.co.th/politics/news_2517929

 

[2long]

I think that we all know that (like in Round #1) many people will be diligent, and many will either just walk past or pretend to check in. The poor* security guards aren't exactly going to block entry or rugby tackle those who they feel didn't follow protocol, are they?

*poor in salary and in pitiful circumstance.

 

As for signing in with the name and phone number, well, who else had had their grubby mitts on the pen, and who's to say you can't write Mickey Mouse +66123456789?

 

Thais are too lazy to keep up with these new rules, and it only lasts a week or so before everyone jets bored.

 

I'll have the app if forced, but they can't prove I went places where I didn't check in. So I can only get 'caught' when at the place they catch me and I check in.

 

And as a previous member mentioned, so what if we are deemed to have been near an infected person? They just tell us to quarantine ALONE, or force us or tack us 24/7? They don't have the manpower or patience and the government don't have the intelligence.

[10baht]

So if you don't own a smartphone you are now a criminal in Thailand???

There is no excuse not to own one these days. They can be had for as little as 1-2k thb
If people can not afford that, then they can't afford to be here in Thailand

What people can and want to afford is none of your business. I will refrain from calling you what the rest of us think you are.

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

A bit of naivety in your statement/question.

Temporary - are you sure? How do you know? When will it finish?

Once they download all of your personal data, what do they do with it?

Wherever you leave your app - that's your home. (Apologies to Marvin Gaye.)

I thought it was 'wherever I lay my wife that's my home'.

[ExpatOK]

So have two phones, leave the one with the app at home?

[DavisH]

10 minutes ago, Mung said:

That's one thing I certainly don't miss, and something I realised a lot more after having moved away from LOS for the first time in a decade, the control is real. Alcohol being sold at certain times of the day, alcohol bans, not being able to think and say what you feel like, and now you must own a smartphone and download an app that restricts your privacy lol. I'll pass thanks.  

And tou think Big Brother doesn't exist in the West. Wake up! Your government know more about you than you realise. 

[Yorkshire Tea]

Richard Barrow in Thailand

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Looks like they are going to cancel the rule that people travelling in the five provinces must have the Mor Chana app. Apparently they just realized that not everyone has a smartphone and so not fair to penalise them for this #COVID19 #โควิด19 #Thailand

????

 

[pontious]

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, DavisH said:

All the street sweepers in my village spend their free time on them. Posh gits...One would have to be extremely poor not to own one. I know only one Thai who does not own a phone. 

So the street sweepers in your village are homeless and sit on the corners or the sides of the roads and beg for coin yet have a phone, well congratulations on living in a village whose homeless people have more than others and can afford to be on their cell phones daily........wow

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Richard Barrow in Thailand

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Looks like they are going to cancel the rule that people travelling in the five provinces must have the Mor Chana app. Apparently they just realized that not everyone has a smartphone and so not fair to penalise them for this #COVID19 #โควิด19 #Thailand

????

Your post now clarifies the issue for those posters on this OP who believe everyone has a phone or can buy one......

[MadMac]

3 minutes ago, Crossy said:

And then the flip-flop, Thai only at present but I'm sure the English press will have it soon. Google Translate does a "reasonable" job.

 

https://www.matichon.co.th/politics/news_2517929

 

 

LOL, he is truely the brightest candle on the Xmas tree :D. They really have no idea what to do. Now back to the paper sheets.

[bradiston]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

Definitely use the ThaiChana app (blue fist icon), MorChana wants wayyyy too much personal data (and apparently swallows the battery too).

 

EDIT The ThaiChana link in the OP appears to be for registration of a store, the App itself is in the Android and iOS playstores.

 

I don't think you need the app. You just need a QR code scanner.

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

Your post now clarifies the issue for those posters on this OP who believe everyone has a phone or can buy one......

 

Incredible.

[Crossy]

Just now, bradiston said:

I don't think you need the app. You just need a QR code scanner.

 

At present certainly, it's unclear whether it will stay that way, also see my earlier post with the link to Matichon.