2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I will be convinced you've "found other places closer and less painful to do long hours of flight" when you actually go and do it.

A total of six of my friends have re-entered Thailand in the past six weeks, three from the UK, two from the US and one from Indonesia. They all commented how easy it was to organize and especially how efficiently they were processed on arrival. No whining, gloomy, Thai-bashing ball ache involved.

When your friends go home will they have to go into quarantine?

17 minutes ago, dabhand said:

This is one report on 3 month validity. Likely to be more similar reports.

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2021/03/05/covid-vaccine-immunity-wont-last-forever-but-doesnt-need/4595171001/

Thanks but please note "

People who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can breathe a sigh of relief. At least for a few months.

That's about how long Lana Dbeibo, director of vaccine initiatives for Indiana University, can say, with certainty, immunity from vaccination will last. That doesn't mean it won't last longer. But length of immunity from vaccination is one of the many things about this new disease that scientists are still learning.

 

QUOTE: "The most accurate answer I can definitively give is more what we can get from studies that were done, where participants were followed for three to four months," Dbeibo said. "That's the minimum we know it lasts. After that, we don’t have any hard scientific evidence immunity lasts beyond, not because it doesn’t but because we don’t have data."

Key point is that the comment is based on people who were vaccinated 3 to 4 months and no more, because they don't have any longer-period data. Also mentioned 'we are still learning', a point which I think/hope most people realize. 

I have no advanced medical knowledge but it seems to me (just my opinion, nothing more) boosters may be needed and that's already mentioned by several global scientists, including mention of a booster maybe every year or every 2 years.  

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Thanks but please note "

People who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can breathe a sigh of relief. At least for a few months.

That's about how long Lana Dbeibo, director of vaccine initiatives for Indiana University, can say, with certainty, immunity from vaccination will last. That doesn't mean it won't last longer. But length of immunity from vaccination is one of the many things about this new disease that scientists are still learning.

 

QUOTE: "The most accurate answer I can definitively give is more what we can get from studies that were done, where participants were followed for three to four months," Dbeibo said. "That's the minimum we know it lasts. After that, we don’t have any hard scientific evidence immunity lasts beyond, not because it doesn’t but because we don’t have data."

Key point is that the comment is based on people who were vaccinated 3 to 4 months and no more, because they don't have any longer-period data. Also mentioned 'we are still learning', a point which I think/hope most people realize. 

I have no advanced medical knowledge but it seems to me (just my opinion, nothing more) boosters may be needed and that's already mentioned by several global scientists, including mention of a booster maybe every year or every 2 years.  

Indeed. 

Maybe that's why the current advice is for a 3 month validity. It is a moving target and likely to be extended, but only when further data is available. If they had indicated, say. a one year validity period from the outset many would have been on their back questioning such a lengthy period and indicating that it is not justified by 'the data'.   

5 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Christ on a bike! Get over it can't you?

 

Get over "racism"............??????????

Try telling that to offended people.  Sorry, get over the racist comment by a government minister............  that does not work.

RACISM in any way, shape or form should be highlighted and not forgotten or tolerated !!!!

 

Thailand blames its Covid-19 crisis on Caucasians - Asia Times

 

.

 

 

6 hours ago, SmartyMarty said:

Well this is certainly good news.

I will believe it once it is posted in the royal gazette and becomes a law.

I have seen so many flips that flopped to trust a newspaper report.

5 hours ago, hioctane said:

Most countries are still “xenophobic.”

Let's run with all shall we?

5 hours ago, night_rider said:

The quarantine has two impactful components : time and money. There are three large expenses : flights, insurance and ASQ. They opened to commercial aviation and did away with the charter flights full of untested Thai nationals at greater expense. Well done. They are limiting ASQ and competition has seen declining rates. They have not moved on the insurance.

The concerns I have are that they do not follow the science. Insurance against hospitalization is an unnecessary expense with vaccines at 98% and 99% efficacy against serious illness in the Israeli real world studies. They should do away with this expense component and allow travelers to use the airline's coverage or regular travel insurance. No requirements.

The science also would support a quarantine of 3-5 days for fully vaccinated individuals. Anutin even mentioned shorter times in his talks with the Chinese. I know I'm returning to family and we've already discussed no airport reunions even if there were no quarantine. I'd want to wash and do laundry after traveling through a bunch of airports. So a few days is in line with my personal view as well.

My concern would all the asq hotels charging the same fee for 10 days as they do for 16. Call me cynical but...and like atm does 10 days mean 11 days? Does 7 mean 8 etc etc. I'm stoked with the news but dubious on the execution. 

4 hours ago, Enzian said:

My situation is almost exactly the same. Kaiser is ready to give me the shots, but I may have to get something here to even get on a plane to SFO. My Non-O by reason of retirement rolls over in December. I need to do some estate planning in person in CA (because I'm 81 and this is no joke), see grandkids I've never seen in person, ideally do a stopover in Europe on the way back here (though that is probably a dream at this point). And the insurance requirement?

Alternatively I could stay right here in Bangkok till next year. Might not be the worst thing. This town is never going to be so empty or accommodating again.

As you are planning to go to the States and the UK which are clearly some of the places in the world who are the most poorly dealing with covid you may be better off staying in BKk ill doubt you would be on the reduced Quarantine list with that itinerary 

6 minutes ago, starky said:

As you are planning to go to the States and the UK which are clearly some of the places in the world who are the most poorly dealing with covid you may be better off staying in BKk ill doubt you would be on the reduced Quarantine list with that itinerary 

How many people a day are getting vaccinated against Covid in the UK? Seem to be dealing with it very well.

18 minutes ago, starky said:

My concern would all the asq hotels charging the same fee for 10 days as they do for 16. Call me cynical but...and like atm does 10 days mean 11 days? Does 7 mean 8 etc etc. I'm stoked with the news but dubious on the execution. 

i think its 10 days( 11 days 12 nights)

13 minutes ago, roo860 said:

How many people a day are getting vaccinated against Covid in the UK? Seem to be dealing with it very well.

Read the fine print does it not mention countries with mutant variants? Was there not just a massive hullabaloo about a potentially more infectious variant of covid? It was only a few weeks ago too. Now where was that found and what was that called again? It was the something variant,

  Memory fails me.

we ALL need to ask nearest Thai Embassy and also double check the hotel for what we can do and how long we quarauntine.

for example Africa departures will be 14 days, not allowed out at all.

 

the hotel needs to confirm before you pay anything 

4 minutes ago, starky said:

Now where was that found and what was that called again?

Brazilian strain or was it the South African strain you are thinking of?

6 minutes ago, starky said:

Read the fine print does it not mention countries with mutant variants? Was there not just a massive hullabaloo about a potentially more infectious variant of covid? Now where was that found and what was that called again?

  Memory fails 

1 minute ago, Kadilo said:

Brazil......and its been found on numerous countries. 

Yep and probably not many of them will be getting the 7 day let off either and let's not forget South Africa but as I said to another poster are you trying to tell me that there is a specific variant known as the UK variant? Doesn't many how many countries they spread it too. Please. Give me a break.

13 minutes ago, starky said:

are you telling me there is not a UK variant?

 

Nah, but being a lazy Sunday, thought I'd cut the poms a break for a change ????

 

3 minutes ago, starky said:

Yep and probably not many of them will be getting the 7 day let off either and let's not forget South Africa but as I said to another poster are you trying to tell me that there is a specific variant known as the UK variant? Doesn't many how many countries they spread it too. Please. Give me a break.

Come October and the high season they will be opening up to anyone who has been vaccinated whether you still can’t sleep at night with the worry or not. 

 

Sounds like you could do with a break. 

5 hours ago, Big Yuley said:

As from 1 October, we will let you dirty foreigners in, but you can only go to places in Thailand that we say so.

Yeah sounds awesome

Long as that is my house, I am ok with that

26 minutes ago, bolt said:

i think its 10 days( 11 days 12 nights)

10 days means 10 full 24 hr (00:00rs to 24:00 hrs) periods.

 

Check in on day Zero.

Check out on day 11 

Total 11 nights. 
 

 

Seems the bit about being allowed out of the room on the first day as much you want was BS. The virus mutation doesn’t make sense, nearly every country has a variant. 

28 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

10 days means 10 full 24 hr (00:00rs to 24:00 hrs) periods.

 

Check in on day Zero.

Check out on day 11 

Total 11 nights. 
 

 

So 2400 hours of fun in the LED, fluorescent sun light, or with your blinds open like a cat on the windowsill 

19 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Come October and the high season they will be opening up to anyone who has been vaccinated whether you still can’t sleep at night with the worry or not. 

 

Sounds like you could do with a break. 

Me? I don't need a break champ I live here lol and already transited it 2 times in the last 6 months leaving again next week. Without a couple of very minor hurdles regardless to the popular belief of the people who haven't done it., it really isn't that difficult to come and go as you please if you really want to be here. Not as a tourist of course but for anyone else suck it up.

None of it bothers me ill do another 16 days on the way in if I have to. And I work in Aus so that's 6 weeks quarantine I've done already just coming back and forth to Thailand. This may be a surprise to you but it's not a novel idea I've also done it in 2 other countries in the last year. Facing another 2 next week when I go back and fingers crossed 7 days or less on the way back in sounds awesome to me.

  The people that need a break are the whingers and <deleted> who can't adapt to situations in the world as they are. There are those that do and those that do not.

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He said the 14-day quarantine period would remain in places for arrivals from countries where the Covid-19 virus has mutated, which is a global concern.

So whitch coundry is not mutated? St. Kitts and Nevis? You can expect many tourist from there! All 50k population come here to help ! 

17 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So 2400 hours of fun in the LED, fluorescent sun light, or with your blinds open like a cat on the windowsill 

My asq had a balcony and I was allowed out to walk in the garden twice a day for an hour? So tell me more about your asq experience..

42 minutes ago, Scofield said:

Seems the bit about being allowed out of the room on the first day as much you want was BS. The virus mutation doesn’t make sense, nearly every country has a variant. 

No one would let you out of your room before your first test results come through I would imagine . But rapid pcr results come back in a day now so maybe day 2 or 3.

37 minutes ago, Scofield said:

The virus mutation doesn’t make sense, nearly every country has a variant.

Correct. I believe that the UK variant is the dominant strain in the US now.

 

Subsequent to the CCSA meeting on Friday 19th,chaired by Prayut, this announcement was made:

 

"Lastly, the relaxation of state quarantine measures has been approved in principle. The mandatory 14-day quarantine has been reduced to 10 days for people coming to Thailand from foreign countries with no cases of Covid-19 variant strains and deemed as low tisk. Foreigners coming from Covid-19 variant strain countries will continue to perform 14 days of state quarantine and conduct RT-PCR tests three times as usual."

 

So, no variant strains and low risk, which rules out most Western countries. I guess that most of us will continue with 14 days quarantine for a while longer. Maybe China and S.Korea will get on the list?

 

 

All a bit sketchy on the testing cos you can guarantee they will be in excess of Baht3000 for each test .

6 hours ago, Thaiophil said:

Well given that most countries don’t have facilities to test for mutations, how will they know?

Hopefully the UK will not be on the list as I may want to go back in summer to get vaccinated and take care of stuff

A 3rd wave is sweeping through France, Germany and Italy, I can’t see many European countries being on the the list including the U.K. 

3 minutes ago, superal said:

All a bit sketchy on the testing cos you can guarantee they will be in excess of Baht3000 for each test .

Well it should be part of your asq package has been thus far. plus whatever you pay on your home country 72 hours before you fly. Currently 150 in Australia for a test 5000 baht at Bangkok hospital other hospitals may be cheaper but I havemt heard below 3800 which makes Thailand's pricing in the ballpark. Another thing most dont factor in when complaining about the price of asq hotels. That's minimum 7000 off the top . Plus your 16 nights accommodation and 3 meals a day and snacks and coffee and water ...

Just now, Jumbo1968 said:

A 3rd wave is sweeping through France, Germany and Italy, I can’t see many European countries being on the the list including the U.K. 

The classic will be if they allow China and the SE Asian countries, which I think they will. The origin for all of this will be deemed the welcome party, really couldn’t write it.

 

Still nothing official on the leaving room part which is the main deal for me. I’m close to calling 2021 if all this uncertainty continues. You then need to factor in if/when they do get a substantial wave that you could then be caught in a lockdown over there when your origin country is open!!