Phuket Sandbox drama: Tourist flees hotel to find Thai wife

[Mickeymaus]

6 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I'm in the sandbox now. The reality is that you only need to stay in your room until after your first test comes back (mine took 10 hours). After that you are free to come and go as you'd like. You must have your QR code scanned once a day at the hotel and leave your tracking app turned on. But you don't really have to sleep in the hotel bed each night. 

 

The sandbox folks, who (mostly) had Western vaccines, a PCR test before the flight, another test when landing, and then a 3rd and 4th test, are at much less of a risk to have or pass on Covid that the locals living in Phuket. 

They obviously have different regulations for different locations. In Koh Samui you are not allowed to leave the hotel the first 3 days. 

 

•   Day 1-3: Can leave the hotel room for designated areas in the hotel only;

•   Day 4-7: Can travel within designated routes and on tour programmes on Ko Samui only;

•   Day 8-14: Can travel within Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao;

•   Day 15: If the last test on Day 12-13 is negative, can go anywhere in Thailand.

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/07/06/an-extensive-faq-for-foreign-tourists-who-want-to-visit-koh-samui-koh-tao-or-koh-phangan-the-samui-plus-program-starting-from-later-this-month/

[OneMoreFarang]

I wonder what they do if the phone of one of those tourists has no battery charge anymore.

Imagine in the morning you go out to the beach and at noon the police is watching for you because your tracker signal is off since hours.

[OneMoreFarang]

About those tracking devices (mostly phones):

With all the technology in place I suggest every taxi and tuk-tuk in Phuket should be monitored.

And all payments for trips should be made per app.

And then let the computers calculate how much they charged, like 200B per kilometer.

And then prosecute all those greedy bastards.

 

I know, it won't happen, but I like the idea.

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

I think if I had been away from my family for a long long time and finally managed to get back, given its supposedly not quarantine I have entered, I would have bailed on the hotel and gone straight home too. Wrong to classify him as a tourist too, when he clearly isn't one.

That's why I booked another room for my wife and kids in the hotel I'll be staying at.

[wensiensheng]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

When you have thousands of tourists under controlled circumstances, it bound to have a few problems and an unusual behavior among the lot, and i'm sure the authorities are aware and ready for it...

Do they have thousands of tourists? I think it’s low hundreds.

 

easy to deal with this kind of thing when it’s a small number, if they did in fact have thousands of tourists, how would they cope?

[wensiensheng]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

About those tracking devices (mostly phones):

With all the technology in place I suggest every taxi and tuk-tuk in Phuket should be monitored.

And all payments for trips should be made per app.

And then let the computers calculate how much they charged, like 200B per kilometer.

And then prosecute all those greedy bastards.

 

I know, it won't happen, but I like the idea.

You mean a meter 5555

[stevenl]

25 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Sounds to me like they got the big spenders into the country they wanted and then some who do not like to play ball or listen to the rules.  A man with Alzheimers, you have to wonder if he came with family or alone, and if his family knows where he is.  Sad reality.  Just talked to a friend in the US, lives in Vegas, his sister and her family saw the Phuket sandbox advertised and started the process, but when they found out the logistics of what, where, and how, they said no way and are going to Cozumel for 2 weeks instead.

How nice. Now look at Facebook and see many happy visitors. Oh, but that would be something positive, so can't do that.

[Rhacsyn]

32 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I'm in the sandbox now. The reality is that you only need to stay in your room until after your first test comes back (mine took 10 hours). After that you are free to come and go as you'd like. You must have your QR code scanned once a day at the hotel and leave your tracking app turned on. But you don't really have to sleep in the hotel bed each night. 

 

The sandbox folks, who (mostly) had Western vaccines, a PCR test before the flight, another test when landing, and then a 3rd and 4th test, are at much less of a risk to have or pass on Covid that the locals living in Phuket. 

Agree. I am in the sandbox too and have family here. We all knew the sandbox rules prior to signing up, whether you agree with them or not or like them or not. They are simple rules and easy to to follow. I have spent a lot of time with family.

Edited July 7, 2021 by Rhacsyn
Add text

[ikke1959]

Bangkok Hilton is now Phuket Hilton??? Looks like no quarantine , but it is even worse. Tourists handled as criminals..And they are fully vaccinated!!!

[Andrew Dwyer]

30 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I'm in the sandbox now. The reality is that you only need to stay in your room until after your first test comes back (mine took 10 hours). After that you are free to come and go as you'd like. You must have your QR code scanned once a day at the hotel and leave your tracking app turned on. But you don't really have to sleep in the hotel bed each night. 

 

The sandbox folks, who (mostly) had Western vaccines, a PCR test before the flight, another test when landing, and then a 3rd and 4th test, are at much less of a risk to have or pass on Covid that the locals living in Phuket. 

So, if you have a home in Phuket you can stay at home just make a daily visit to the hotel to scan the QR code , at a time which is best for you ? Of course you will have to be present at the hotel for the PCR tests but the rest of the time you can stay where you wish ( on the island ).

 

Wonder how many are doing this ??, after all they have been vaccinated, negative Covid tests and paid for the hotel already !! Why not .

 

Shame the “ fleer” ( or is it fleeist? ), didn’t realise this .

[Titan1962]

What good is a sandbox in phuket if we are getting 6000+ cases day already. People leaving Bangkok and heading everywhere. Cases in Chiang Mai on the rise,schools closing. The sandbox idea was good at first before the Delta strain started kicking off in BKK. I can understand there thinking,trying to allow tourists into the island and keep them isolated,stop covid spreading to the rest of Thailand. Well that’s well and truly out the window now. 
Maybe they should keep the sandbox going and keep phuket safe from the rest of Thailand. LOL

[Phuketshrew]

26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

About those tracking devices (mostly phones):

With all the technology in place I suggest every taxi and tuk-tuk in Phuket should be monitored.

And all payments for trips should be made per app.

And then let the computers calculate how much they charged, like 200B per kilometer.

And then prosecute all those greedy bastards.

 

I know, it won't happen, but I like the idea.

I think it's called Grab.

[Golden Triangle]

5 minutes ago, Rhacsyn said:

Agree. I am in the sandbox too and have family here. We all knew the sandbox rules prior to signing up, whether you agree with them or not or like them or not. They are simple rules and easy to to follow. I have spent a lot of time with family.

So in your estimation how many in the Sandbox scheme are real tourists against expats ?? As you will have seen on here there is a lot of speculation about the majority being returning expats, TIA.

[ThailandRyan]

21 minutes ago, stevenl said:

How nice. Now look at Facebook and see many happy visitors. Oh, but that would be something positive, so can't do that.

The thought of jumping through hoops for your 2 week vacation, that's all most get from the US, and then subjecting yourself to all of the mandatory PCR tests, and tracking is a big turn off for many.  Those same people can go elsewhere and then get back home to work instead of possibly being locked into a hospital, because even though being double vaccinated if they tested positive here in Thailand they will now will miss work and go unpaid while they sit in a isolation/field hospital.  Sure there are people that are enjoying themselves, but truly would you chance the possibility of not enjoying your vacation just like the group from the UAE who now are quarantined inside because a fellow traveler tested positive.  To each his own, but as positive as some may be there are many negatives as well.  Good luck in the sandbox.  I know that being in Bangkok, people will not be visiting here for a long time.  

 

Take a look at where those happy tourists have come from and think to yourself, what restrictions did they have in their own country and then how many are truly tourists and not just trying to get back home to a wife and family here.

Edited July 7, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[Espanol]

1 hour ago, Mickeymaus said:

Obviously he doesn't care about restrictions. He could give Covid to family members. They should send such people back home to the country where they came from. 

 

He is already fully vaccinated and with 2 negative PCR so far.

 

Do you really think that, if he is at home full day with his family, they will only be at risk at night. 

 

And think that, even if he returns at home at night, his wife may stay with him at night. 

 

Full thing is ridiculous. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

The thought of jumping through hoops for your 2 week vacation, that's all most get from the US, and then subjecting yourself to all of the mandatory PCR tests, and tracking is a big turn off for many.  Those same people can go elsewhere and then get back home to work instead of possibly being locked into a hospital, because even though being double vaccinated if they tested positive here in Thailand they will now will miss work and go unpaid while they sit in a isolation/field hospital.  Sure there are people that are enjoying themselves, but truly would you chance the possibility of not enjoying your vacation just like the group from the UAE who now are quarantined inside because a fellow traveler tested positive.  To each his own, but as positive as some may be there are many negatives as well.  Good luck in the sandbox.  I know that being in Bangkok, people will not be visiting here for a long time.  

IMO , to sum it up simply, the sandbox is a good option for returning expats or Thai but as a holiday destination there are many better alternatives.

[poskat]

1 hour ago, Mickeymaus said:

Obviously he doesn't care about restrictions. He could give Covid to family members. They should send such people back home to the country where they came from. 

 

yes, the double vaccinated, tested before flying, tested upon landing guy is a clear covid risk and should be deported ASAP

[Rhacsyn]

7 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

So in your estimation how many in the Sandbox scheme are real tourists against expats ?? As you will have seen on here there is a lot of speculation about the majority being returning expats, TIA.

I can only guesstimate around 60% to 70% for the flight that I was on from Dubai which had 163 passengers. Flights from the Middle East are going to differ in make up to flights from Europe at this early stage. A wild guess for the European flights would be that there are minimal numbers of tourists on those. It would not make too much sense to me. Sorry. Only a guess.

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, poskat said:

yes, the double vaccinated, tested before flying, tested upon landing guy is a clear covid risk and should be deported ASAP

Did you not see that a member of a group from the UAE just tested positive in the sandbox and his entire group is now in a 14 day quarantine location where they can not go out and about. Guess you missed that little news trinket.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[Bluespunk]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Did you not see that a member of a group from the UAE just tested positive in the sandbox and his entire group is now in a 14 day quarantine location where they can not go out and about.

Can just imagine how popular the guy who tested positive is amongst his group right now…

[Espanol]

27 minutes ago, Rhacsyn said:

Agree. I am in the sandbox too and have family here. We all knew the sandbox rules prior to signing up, whether you agree with them or not or like them or not. They are simple rules and easy to to follow. I have spent a lot of time with family.

Is there any real tourist in sand box?

 

I bet that most of them are just returnees or family of Thai citizens avoiding ASQ hotels in Bangkok. 

 

[hioctane]

9 minutes ago, Titan1962 said:

What good is a sandbox in phuket if we are getting 6000+ cases day already. People leaving Bangkok and heading everywhere. Cases in Chiang Mai on the rise,schools closing. The sandbox idea was good at first before the Delta strain started kicking off in BKK. I can understand there thinking,trying to allow tourists into the island and keep them isolated,stop covid spreading to the rest of Thailand. Well that’s well and truly out the window now. 
Maybe they should keep the sandbox going and keep phuket safe from the rest of Thailand. LOL

Apparently you still don’t understand the concept. It is a test of allowing vaccinated tourists in… in combination with a 70%+ of the local population being vaccinated. There would eventually be minimal Covid restrictions (bars and entertainment venues being wide open).  This would be a good test of the Delta variant too. If it does not work and Covid spreads, it would be limited to island (inside the sandbox). If it does work, then they can apply this to other tourist areas. What is happening in other areas of Thailand is irrelevant to the Phuket sandbox test.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Another man, aged 83, was staying at a hotel in Thalang and went out without his phone or passport, just with his wallet.

 

He was discovered at 4.30 am wandering near a department store in Wichit sub-district.

 

He couldn't remember where his hotel was and was tired and hungry. He appeared to have Alzheimer's.

so this 83 yo man came all the way to thailand with his Alzheimer? AMAZING. how did

he manage to complete all form and get the COE? or maybe his family sent him here to

get lost and never come back ??

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Pol Col Thanet Sukchai assured the public that these were the only three problem cases. He assured the nation that no one has left Phuket among the tourists.

so the nation can be relaxed now? no zombi farang left the infected area to bite them?

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

now what happans when the farang finishes his 14 days in phuket and want to leave to bangkok? can the farang just hop on a bus or must go threw another COE process?

[ikke1959]

The Sandbox or how you may call it is an area quarantine.. You are allowed to go around on the island, but are obliged to sleep and use your hotel. The only difference is that you are not need to stay in your room all day. Only available for fully vaccinated people and no exceptions for expats who return to Thailand. But with the low vaccination grade, because of that the most people only got one jab, there will be serious risk that Phuket also will face more Covid cases. 

[ThailandRyan]

25 minutes ago, hioctane said:

Apparently you still don’t understand the concept. It is a test of allowing vaccinated tourists in… in combination with a 70%+ of the local population being vaccinated. There would eventually be minimal Covid restrictions (bars and entertainment venues being wide open).  This would be a good test of the Delta variant too. If it does not work and Covid spreads, it would be limited to island (inside the sandbox). If it does work, then they can apply this to other tourist areas. What is happening in other areas of Thailand is irrelevant to the Phuket sandbox test.

Yet a domestic tourist who has not been vaccinated, but just tested and tests negative can still actually be infected after the test they did 1 week prior to arriving, and bring the virus to Phuket with them on their 2 or 3 day vacation/visit.  They then can fly back to the rest of the country without testing again prior to flying back out or driving out and then keep spreading it as they go. Unless all are treated equal, just as the Sandbox participants are, it is in my opinion a firestorm waiting to happen.

Edited July 7, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[rbkk]

51 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

So, if you have a home in Phuket you can stay at home just make a daily visit to the hotel to scan the QR code , at a time which is best for you ? Of course you will have to be present at the hotel for the PCR tests but the rest of the time you can stay where you wish ( on the island ).

 

Wonder how many are doing this ??, after all they have been vaccinated, negative Covid tests and paid for the hotel already !! Why not .

 

Shame the “ fleer” ( or is it fleeist? ), didn’t realise this .

.....Shame the “ fleer” ( or is it fleeist? )

Fugative?

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by rbkk

[Dart12]

2 hours ago, Mickeymaus said:

Obviously he doesn't care about restrictions. He could give Covid to family members. They should send such people back home to the country where they came from. 

 

i thought the tests and vax's work?

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He couldn't remember where his hotel was and was tired and hungry. He appeared to have Alzheimer's.

I have met 30 year-olds with this problem. Alcohol, not Alzheimer's