A busy Cicada night market in 2018. File photo.

 

By Paul Andrews

 

(NNT) Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is preparing to reopen the country to visitors from abroad on October 1st, starting with Bangkok, Chon Buri (Pattaya), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chiang Mai.

 

The board of the national medical hub, comprised of health and tourism officials, approved guidelines for the reopening at a meeting on Wednesday.

 

The reopening is in line with the prime minister’s 120-day deadline, announced in June.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/hua-hin-october-1st-reopening-guidelines-formally-approved/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2021-09-04

 

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but the PM said yesterday October is not happening.

Earlier on, shortly after he proposed this idea in June, he backtracked and said, that it's only a guideline, not to be taken literally. Shortly after the 4th wave unfolded.

With poor vaccination program I think that idea of sandboxes might work, and that only on islands, enclosed spaces.

Allowing tourists to roam 12mln capital city is a risky step. Authorities have said earlier mamy times, that because of importance of bangkok tourists won't be allowed 

14 minutes ago, internationalism said:

but the PM said yesterday October is not happening.

Earlier on, shortly after he proposed this idea in June, he backtracked and said, that it's only a guideline, not to be taken literally. Shortly after the 4th wave unfolded.

With poor vaccination program I think that idea of sandboxes might work, and that only on islands, enclosed spaces.

Allowing tourists to roam 12mln capital city is a risky step. Authorities have said earlier mamy times, that because of importance of bangkok tourists won't be allowed 

It appears that October will be happening - full course ahead, regardless of the present and contradicting rhetoric. 

Apart from New Zealand it seems that more and more gov's now realise you can't stay locked down forever and they're gonna have to crack on while trying to get as many jabs in arms as poss. Good.

3 minutes ago, Johnny Mac said:

Apart from New Zealand it seems that more and more gov's now realise you can't stay locked down forever and they're gonna have to crack on while trying to get as many jabs in arms as poss. Good.

 Nz thinks it’s going to control Delta, 

Yesterday looks hopeful, down from 100’s to 28

They might be lucky this time, but the next time it leaks out of MIQ, who knows what will happen 

5 minutes ago, Johnny Mac said:

Apart from New Zealand it seems that more and more gov's now realise you can't stay locked down forever and they're gonna have to crack on while trying to get as many jabs in arms as poss. Good.

although I agree with you Thailand is acting like it has jabbed its population already unfortunately that is far from reality and is also using a questionable vaccine, they really are getting ahead of themselves 

 

Experts now believe everyone will get covid and herd immunity is impossible - best to be fully vaccinated with an effective vaccine when it happens

UK reporting big infection numbers daily nearly 40k regardless of vaccinated so it's not the answer, covid is not going away 

 

Thailands cautious approach to tourism is the right one for now 

1 hour ago, madmen said:

UK reporting big infection numbers daily nearly 40k regardless of vaccinated so it's not the answer, covid is not going away 

 

Thailands cautious approach to tourism is the right one for now 

Yes agreed. In the UK deaths are down, hospitalization numbers are down. Vaccination is working. The medical profession never once claimed vaccination stopped people from getting Covid, only not suffering seriously from it, i.e. immunity. Vaccination accelerates herd immunity. The effort must be mass vaccination as fast as possible. Thankfully, that seems to be happening now. 

1 hour ago, madmen said:

UK reporting big infection numbers daily nearly 40k regardless of vaccinated so it's not the answer, covid is not going away 

 

Thailands cautious approach to tourism is the right one for now 

Might be easy for us that have not loose everything , some of my Thai friends have lost it all and all of them say them will be more then happy to take the risk to get Covid and might die from it then soon die from hunger , that is actually the reality for many Thais just look at the suicide numbers. 

1 hour ago, madmen said:

UK reporting big infection numbers daily nearly 40k regardless of vaccinated so it's not the answer, covid is not going away 

 

Thailands cautious approach to tourism is the right one for now 

Covid is indeed endemic. But, there is a big difference. The UK deployed a quality vaccine effective against the current virus to the majority of the population to manage and strike a balance that is acceptable to the population of economy, social expectation and health outcome.

Thailand is absolutely not at that point. Mix and match vaccine policies to try to cover up shortages, 50% of the population with vaccines that less effective (looking at you Sinovac) and not anything like the coverage. Also, "management" is spelled with a "mis-" here ????

The article spelled out no more specifics than reported in this post. Anyone have any idea what exactly do they mean by "reopening guidelines?" Google and DuckDuckGo.com searches just regurgitate the same nondescript article. Will bars reopen? Soapy Massage parlors (as long as we both wear masks)? Inquiring minds want to know!

1 hour ago, kiwikeith said:

 Nz thinks it’s going to control Delta, 

Yesterday looks hopeful, down from 100’s to 28

They might be lucky this time, but the next time it leaks out of MIQ, who knows what will happen 

How come they can't even get 4 million adults vaccinated? Pretty pathetic, I'd say.

1 hour ago, madmen said:

UK reporting big infection numbers daily nearly 40k regardless of vaccinated so it's not the answer, covid is not going away 

 

 

Same as Israel, the most vaccinated nation in the world.

2 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The article spelled out no more specifics than reported in this post. Anyone have any idea what exactly do they mean by "reopening guidelines?" Google and DuckDuckGo.com searches just regurgitate the same nondescript article. Will bars reopen? Soapy Massage parlors (as long as we both wear masks)? Inquiring minds want to know!

I don't think that bars and whatever else will not open somewhen in October. Covid got too expensive for some people and they simply will call it "the new normal". We had such businesses open during Covid times already with regulations - that often were not enforced. I expect the same again. 

Sure would be nice if they would list the guidelines?

 

9 hours ago, madmen said:

UK reporting big infection numbers daily nearly 40k regardless of vaccinated so it's not the answer, covid is not going away 

Please give the source that says 'regardless of vaccinated' - the situation here in the UK is very different.  Despite large numbers of new infections, hospitalisations and deaths are relatively low - especially when compared to the figures from last year and this January.

 

The vaccines are for now, working and working very well.

 

You would be well advised to check out the actual figures before making unsubstantiated claims - starting here:

 

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19/latestinsights

11 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

It appears that October will be happening - full course ahead, regardless of the present and contradicting rhetoric. 

Seems that way.

 

A few friends living there are a little concerned.

 

Hope for the best.

8 hours ago, Johnny Mac said:

Same as Israel, the most vaccinated nation in the world.

"Despite this fall, vaccination still prevents a substantial amount of sickness, with the unvaccinated becoming severely ill with Covid about nine times as often in over-60s, and twice as often in younger people."

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58432776

 

 

15 hours ago, internationalism said:

Allowing tourists to roam 12mln capital city is a risky step. Authorities have said earlier mamy times, that because of importance of bangkok tourists won't be allowed 

Given how few tourists there are likely to be, the strict testing requirements prior to flying and on arrival, and the rate of infection already prevalent in Bangkok, the tourists are unlikely to add much to the risk level; a bit of a drop in the ocean. At least the tourists will be vaccinated and have some protection from the locals.

13 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The article spelled out no more specifics than reported in this post. Anyone have any idea what exactly do they mean by "reopening guidelines?" Google and DuckDuckGo.com searches just regurgitate the same nondescript article. Will bars reopen? Soapy Massage parlors (as long as we both wear masks)? Inquiring minds want to know!

I think they mean the entry requirement gudelines for the foreigners,  not guidelines how and when the businesses would reopen. Hopefully the CoE would go, also the quarantine for vaccinated, but probably some PCR testing would be required.