Involuntary Quarantine on Arrival

[FangFerang]

I arrived by flight from BKK to Udon Thani and was redirected at the airport, along with anyone else with no vaccination (so readily available too, now). No announcements beforehand, cannot upset sacred airlines, so walked into it blind. Currently quarantined in a local Udon university dorm room-- fans, fed Thai food and free. My other option was 14 days at 700 baht a night suddenly pricey hotel (checked old rates now inflated, of course) but I declined to spend most of my savings as I take care of three Thais I love on a teacher's salary, being more a Poor Peter than a Cheap Charlie. Awaiting COVID test result later today along with hundreds more scattered in over ten shelters locally. Was told if negative, just seven days more Q and then second test. If also negative, on Personal Recog until two weeks pass. Day one was sent to room, no soap or toilet paper; had my own so didn't complain. Day two also spoke with Muslim girl who was taken to local home and brought back, told to buy her own food. All of us came from non-red zones, but considered tainted from passing through Swampy and BKK. Since every meal is pork, Muslim girl didn't have a lot to eat. Today is Day three. Met a Swede and saw one of those Golden Ticket Elite Visas, and he was unruly as only arrogance can manifest, ticked and having a canary about doing what the rest of us peasants have to do. Boo freaking hoo. I have been tossing the yolks from cholesterol, but expect eggs every meal now. I was going to a new job here. They are being patient, but I hear between the lines they are unhappy about it and somehow think I should be fixing this knee-jerk reaction that the PM sparked after the recalled exodus and outbreaks nationwide. Wish me luck.

[gk10012001]

so you were simply traveling domestically and they made you quarantine?  I know some provinces had such policies to enter before but I have seen people posting on Youtub recently that have been driving up that way.  Was it really because you came from Bangkok or just because BKK

[asiam110]

That's absolutely insane.

 

>he was unruly as only arrogance can manifest

 

Understandably, it's difficult to normalize in any way  the absolute stupidity of putting asymptomatic people in close quarantine together that have traveled only domestically, it sounds like a recipe for disaster if one of you is actually incubating covid after all. Wow

 

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by asiam110

[buick]

one would hope the airlines would be notified of the 'rules' and then make the passengers aware before boarding the plane (or making the reservation !).  i know i and several members of the forum have been wondering about the 'rules'.  i'd like to visit buriram sometime in august, i'm hoping my pfizer vaccine certificate from USA will help me get through the airport gauntlet. 

[Freeduhdum]

Non-sick people being incarcerated (with potentially sick people) against their will. Things are getting a bit too tyrannical it seems. 

[tonray]

3 hours ago, FangFerang said:

Met a Swede and saw one of those Golden Ticket Elite Visas, and he was unruly as only arrogance can manifest, ticked and having a canary about doing what the rest of us peasants have to do. Boo freaking hoo

????I wonder if he has a preferred member card at IKEA ?????

Edited July 3, 2021 by tonray

[impulse]

I wonder how much they're getting for fake vaccine certificates at Khao San Road?

 

[kimamey]

12 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

so you were simply traveling domestically and they made you quarantine?  I know some provinces had such policies to enter before but I have seen people posting on Youtub recently that have been driving up that way.  Was it really because you came from Bangkok or just because BKK

It would almost certainly have been the case if coming from Bangkok but it might also be if transiting through BKK. I've copied and below a comment I pasted regarding the Phuket sandbox as it's relevant.

 

It's all a bit confusing isn't it. I was planning to return via Phuket with my wife joining me for part of the time but it seems she would have to quarantine at home in Mahasarakham when she returned. Her director comes from Chanthaburi but isn't going back to see his wife since he'd have to quarantine at both ends. I think my wife said there was someone who lives in Khon Kaen who goes back and forth but I don't know why.

I've no idea how or if they police this as in this case it's quarantine at home so I don't know why the OP is in a hotel. I think some of the increased price is due to having to provide three meals a day and covid testing but as always there are differences in how this is run.

[86Tiger]

13 hours ago, buick said:

one would hope the airlines would be notified of the 'rules' and then make the passengers aware before boarding the plane (or making the reservation !).............

 

 

The poor souls kidnapped on first snatch didn't know, but hopefully word is out and every one is prepared now.

 

 

This has been my biggest fear since this entire none sense started, being taken into custody unawares at any given stop.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There was a prior time when the Ministry of Interior in TH and then the Tourism Authority of TH were keeping updated lists of the quarantine and other restrictions on domestic / province to province travel...  But in looking now, I don't see that TAT has updated anything on that for a long while.

 

The problem typically with such policies in Thailand is the farang domestic traveler has no idea what the rules are going to be for going to any particular destination. Udon Thani may be doing one thing with arrivals, but Khon Kaen something else, and Hua Hin something else still.  It's enough to make a person crazy!

 

[vinny41]

You would that thought the op's new employer would have informed him of the changes as they were posted on this forum last Monday

And according to this post 8 people postive yesterday from a single Bangkok bus

 

[tomazbodner]

17 hours ago, FangFerang said:

Wish me luck.

I wish you luck.

[Caldera]

This was published a while ago, but it's hard to keep track of all these ever-changing local regulations.

 

I think that the airlines should be required to warn domestic travelers what they are getting themselves into.

 

Best of luck to the OP and thanks for sharing this experience.

[jerrymahoney]

21 hours ago, impulse said:

I wonder how much they're getting for fake vaccine certificates at Khao San Road?

I don't know about non-Thai issued vax certificates but the ones issued by MoPH in Thailand have Batch No. & Serial number and personal ID No. all linked to bar code and QR which could be easily checked by govt folks if so desired.

[richard_smith237]

Op: You can thank the government for shutting the factories for this... 

 

All the workers have travelled home to the provinces, the governors have had little option but to impost quarantine. 

 

The reality is, the safer less risky travellers such as yourself will be quarantined while many travelling 10 to a pickup will somehow manage to avoid it. 

 

An impossible policy .

 

 

[Lorry]

13 hours ago, Caldera said:

This was published a while ago, but it's hard to keep track of all these ever-changing local regulations.

 

I think that the airlines should be required to warn domestic travelers what they are getting themselves into.

 

Best of luck to the OP and thanks for sharing this experience.

It's foolish to travel to a province without asking entry requirements. All Thais know that. 

If you don't know whom to ask call TAT in that province,  they will know whom to ask. Many provinces have covid hotlines. 

 

But in the end, you have to have your Thai partner (or whoever you are going to visit in that province) ask Phuyai baan and OSM อ.ส.ม. village health volunteers/the local health center อนามัย. 

If you don't have any Thai in that province you shouldn't be going anyway. 

 

For OP,  it would have been his new employer. 

[paddyfield7]

I'm in the midst of ASQ in BKK after having returned from Europe last week. I have a booking for a flight to my final destination which is CNX, but I did read some rumours that upon arrival at CNX, they will force me into another quarantine or at least 14 days house arrest. All this after I will check out from here next week, holding a confirmation that I have completed 14 days ASQ and been tested negative for Covid-19. Although it's a 9 hours drive down and up again, I have asked my Thai wife to arrange a commuter to pick me up here in BKK, and she will come along. I hate no-shows for booked flights, but I will advise Thai Smile after departure by bus that I will not fly. I have not found any competent source to reliably advise me what the present rules for domestic travelling are after completion of ASQ and 3 negative tests. Looking forward to be home again next week, and will most likely not travel ever again as long this pandemic is dominating, and the government has zero ideas how to manage the crisis, or communicate in a proper way. Main thing for them is that their Sandbox party in Phuket was nice.

[Sydebolle]

Beware of #ThaiVietJetAir and their UDON THANI flights.
 

Without a vaccine, completely administered at least four weeks before, it is mandatory quarantine! This newest fart came with compliments of the local chieftain!

As Thailand started vaccinating 7 June for the first day, observing at least 4 weeks between first and second jab, the earliest date of flying to Udon would be 2 August 2021!

No pop-up, warning etc. when I booked my wife, my grandson and myself two days ago. The mandatory quarantine was known to them and their Udon-staff already but not to the general public - when I booked. The public relation department covers the government but not the erratic wet dreams of individual provincial head clowns who, quite obviously, have not clue what they are talking about in the first place! 
 

We cannot fly, shall miss grandson's birthday and he cannot spend his six weeks summer break with us.  #ThaiVietJetAir refuses to credit as they did not created the rule - correct. But as they MUST HAVE KNOWN beforehand, for once a pop-up other than crappy meals, excess luggage or seat selection would have avoided a lot for frustration and financial loss to the passengers; we just toasted thousands of Baht - never again #ThaiVietJetAir!

 

Customer service is an attitude and not a department - a message quite clearly not understood by #ThaiVietJetAir.

[jomtienisgood]

On 7/3/2021 at 5:53 AM, asiam110 said:

That's absolutely insane.

 

>he was unruly as only arrogance can manifest

 

Understandably, it's difficult to normalize in any way  the absolute stupidity of putting asymptomatic people in close quarantine together that have traveled only domestically, it sounds like a recipe for disaster if one of you is actually incubating covid after all. Wow

 

 

Obviously " Elite Visa Holders " cannot be infected or contagious......

[jomtienisgood]

2 hours ago, paddyfield7 said:

I'm in the midst of ASQ in BKK after having returned from Europe last week. I have a booking for a flight to my final destination which is CNX, but I did read some rumours that upon arrival at CNX, they will force me into another quarantine or at least 14 days house arrest. All this after I will check out from here next week, holding a confirmation that I have completed 14 days ASQ and been tested negative for Covid-19. Although it's a 9 hours drive down and up again, I have asked my Thai wife to arrange a commuter to pick me up here in BKK, and she will come along. I hate no-shows for booked flights, but I will advise Thai Smile after departure by bus that I will not fly. I have not found any competent source to reliably advise me what the present rules for domestic travelling are after completion of ASQ and 3 negative tests. Looking forward to be home again next week, and will most likely not travel ever again as long this pandemic is dominating, and the government has zero ideas how to manage the crisis, or communicate in a proper way. Main thing for them is that their Sandbox party in Phuket was nice.

I wish you a nice trip and ' holiday ', very sad and disappointing all this..... 

[jomtienisgood]

23 hours ago, Lorry said:

It's foolish to travel to a province without asking entry requirements. All Thais know that. 

If you don't know whom to ask call TAT in that province,  they will know whom to ask. Many provinces have covid hotlines. 

 

But in the end, you have to have your Thai partner (or whoever you are going to visit in that province) ask Phuyai baan and OSM อ.ส.ม. village health volunteers/the local health center อนามัย. 

If you don't have any Thai in that province you shouldn't be going anyway. 

 

For OP,  it would have been his new employer. 

Surely TAT is the one to ask,NOT....

[SomchaiCNX]

On 7/3/2021 at 7:15 AM, tonray said:

????I wonder if he has a preferred member card at IKEA ?????

I would be mad as well. paying a lot of money for a privilege and being treated like pheasant.

 

[tonray]

1 hour ago, SomchaiCNX said:

I would be mad as well. paying a lot of money for a privilege and being treated like pheasant.

 

Well you know they do say 'birds of a feather flock together'

[jomtienisgood]

2 hours ago, SomchaiCNX said:

I would be mad as well. paying a lot of money for a privilege and being treated like pheasant.

 

Money can't pay everything.. 55555

[aboctok]

4 hours ago, SomchaiCNX said:

I would be mad as well. paying a lot of money for a privilege and being treated like pheasant.

 

I hate when people think I'm a bird.

[foreverlomsak]

5 hours ago, SomchaiCNX said:

being treated like pheasant.

do you mean shot, plucked and roasted

[SomchaiCNX]

Just now, foreverlomsak said:

do you mean shot, plucked and roasted

???? I will ask my spell checker ???? why he changed it or wanted me to change.

[tonray]

2 hours ago, jomtienisgood said:

Money can't pay everything.. 55555

Ain't that a 'phact' !

[foreverlomsak]

1 minute ago, SomchaiCNX said:

???? I will ask my spell checker ???? why he changed it or wanted me to change.

maybe your spell checker has birds on the brain, the feathered variety of course

[SomchaiCNX]

3 minutes ago, foreverlomsak said:

do you mean shot, plucked and roasted

But now that you mention it there have been many occasions where I felt like being a bird (chicken) like this.

 

Edited July 5, 2021 by SomchaiCNX