The tourists won't be piling into Thailand if they have to spend 14 days in quarantine in what the Telegraph newspaper described as the most complicated country in the world to enter!

7 hours ago, Pjeffries said:

.. stop the unreliable pcr testing ( what cycle threshold is thailand using btw) and the problem goes away.

Your question about cycle rate is very important and not being talked about AT ALL by Thai authorities (as far as I can tell). 

 

One clue that they are fudging with the cycle rate is the percentage of positive results of tests done during the Phuket sandbox. According to the number of tests reported and the number that were positive, they are reporting 0.17% positive. That includes true positives (infected) and false positive (test error which is part of every test of this kind). Per the published studies, the mean false positive error rate for Covid PCR tests is 0.6%. The low end of reported false positiver errors for that test is 0.4%. Even if there were absolutely no infected persons showing up in Phuket in the last four months and all their positive results were false, that doesn't fit with the known error rate. Given the number of travelers reported to have gone to Phuket during the sandbox and each getting three tests, 440 of them would have been positive just from the false positive error rate (even going with the low end of 0.4%) if they were running the cycle rate within the normal range. However, they only had 130. See article below...

 

https://www.icd10monitor.com/false-positives-in-pcr-tests-for-covid-19

I wonder when they will start up a visa on arrival.

For North Americans, Mexico has been fully open for awhile.

 

I like Thailand, but drop the restrictions for the fully vaccinated.

14 hours ago, scorecard said:

If that's the deal they need to quickly organize several hotel into the ASQ model in Chiang Mai.

Plus, make a policy:

- Will there be authorized semi-commercial flights direct into Chiang Mai (from Singapore would be practical for some folks).

- Will there be a policy whereby arrivals go through COE arrival procedures on arrival at Swampy including rapid test, and then with no contact board standard/semi-commercial flights to Chiang Mai? And will there be zero quarantine on arrival in Chiang Mai? Or 7 days in ASQ hotel or 7 days home quarantine? 

 

Hopefully more details/announcements soon.

Phuket is not a success, as widely reported many are returning expats and therefore not tourists.

More meaningless mumbo jumbo.

 

If quarantine is part of the deal real tourists will go where there isn't any and will enjoy a good night.

Where as here it's curfew and no bars are open.

16 hours ago, cape said:

"Open" means quarantine is reduced to 7 days and you can wander round the restricted area. So it's Phuket Sandbox extended to these other areas.

It won't achieve much. The difference in tourist numbers will come when the COE (Certificate of Entry) requirement is removed.

COE covers quarantine and insurance - no tourist in prepared to forego a week of their holiday allowance and cough up hundreds of dollars for insurance against a non-existent risk.

Incidentally, ou pay the hotel in advance and even if COE is dropped, it isn't refunded, you've lost that money, maybe €2,000. I have checked this..

 

If CoE isn’t approved or you fail the PCR test the SHA+ is refunded. It is specifically stated on the SHA+ reservation. 

 

Who did you check this with?

2 minutes ago, Carrbhoy said:

If CoE isn’t approved or you fail the PCR test the SHA+ is refunded. It is specifically stated on the SHA+ reservation. 

 

Who did you check this with?

On a related note, I am pretty sure from what I read, that if you do fail the PCR you are dragged off to a miserable hospital quarantine for 14 days, no ifs ands or buts.  And your insurance will not cover that.  That is what that lady on Phuket reported.  Would be interested to know if any other tourists have failed a PCR, gone to hospital, had to pay, and then did or did not get reimbursed.  The gist of it was she was NOT treated, just quarantined so the providions of the insurance policy did not cover that,

So if things start, tourists arrive, then situation becomes unstable, what would change for people that already arrived in country, finished any SHA, were vaccinated, etc?  Maybe some things may shut down that had opened, maybe a stricter curfew, start visa limits similar to what they did a year ago when tourists had to leave?  Man that would be a horrible and messy reversal 

6 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

On a related note, I am pretty sure from what I read, that if you do fail the PCR you are dragged off to a miserable hospital quarantine for 14 days, no ifs ands or buts.  And your insurance will not cover that.  That is what that lady on Phuket reported.  Would be interested to know if any other tourists have failed a PCR, gone to hospital, had to pay, and then did or did not get reimbursed.  The gist of it was she was NOT treated, just quarantined so the providions of the insurance policy did not cover that,

If you followed the story of "that lady in Phuket" to fruition, you would know that she was comfortable with the ASQ hotel she was allocated and had no real issues as she was coming long term. She flew with Emirates airline and their Covid insurance covered her ASQ costs (SHA+ hotel costs were reimbursed in full as per policy). Once this was known, it was droppped from the "news". Her name was Stefanie and she was from Germany fyi.

17 hours ago, BadSpottedDog said:

Apparently, covid loves people drinking alcohol and late evening hours. Have no fear! Thai govt knows what they're doing! 

Yes, it created many thousands of cases of Covid in the Bangkok nightlife scene... heaven knows how many lives could be attributed to it. 

1 hour ago, Rhacsyn said:

If you followed the story of "that lady in Phuket" to fruition, you would know that she was comfortable with the ASQ hotel she was allocated and had no real issues as she was coming long term. She flew with Emirates airline and their Covid insurance covered her ASQ costs (SHA+ hotel costs were reimbursed in full as per policy). Once this was known, it was droppped from the "news". Her name was Stefanie and she was from Germany fyi.

I did not see that. I have heard that emirates has some special insurance but I won't be flying with them.  But thanks for the update.  But now what if one gets dragged off to a hospital for quarantine?

12 hours ago, BadSpottedDog said:

Yep. I commented on another article. My daughter teaches English to Chinese kids online. The companies that that provide this service, are now having to shut down. Chinese don't want any more foreign influence, and are prohibiting foreign teachers. 

My neighbors had good teaching jobs lined up in China and was supposed to leave July but we’re told by the school not to bother to come.  Not wanted. Not needed.  

Off topic posts and replies about Florida and California have been removed.

10 hours ago, zib said:

Hotel booking req will be dropped. Only simple COE required showing you have some insurance + vaccine. Still test before flying and one on arrival. Unclear if also a test after 1w.

Wrong.

Yea come to Thailand for your 'holiday' where to have to quarantine for 7 days, wear a muzzle 24x7 and get looked at like you're a child murderer if it doesn't fully cover your nose, and cannot enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with a meal??

 

Seriously, please tell me this is a joke?? Only a complete mug would come here.

1 hour ago, gk10012001 said:

I did not see that. I have heard that emirates has some special insurance but I won't be flying with them.  But thanks for the update.  But now what if one gets dragged off to a hospital for quarantine?

they(you) will have COVID insurance to cover the costs.

move on with your life 

23 hours ago, bolt said:

I would say this flier is for October ONLY

 

November should be different, whereas the tourists are allowed out of approved (SHA+-AQ-ASQ-ALQ) hotel, but must return each night to scan – check back in with QR code, its similar to Sandbox

So when i arrive back i can go home and spend time with my wife and kid in my own home. We can hang out and all good so long as i sleep somewhere else??? Can anyone provide any logic behind that other than hotel revenue? LOL

10 minutes ago, DLock said:

Wrong.

he's right, final steps will be proof of vaccine and test before flying

2 minutes ago, skorp13 said:

So when i arrive back i can go home and spend time with my wife and kid in my own home. We can hang out and all good so long as i sleep somewhere else??? Can anyone provide any logic behind that other than hotel revenue? LOL

Don't mention Logic, but remember

 

As part of the COE getting approved, you MUST agree to follow the rules laid out, such as NOT hanging out too close with anyone for at least the quarantine period.

Why don’t people get that

 

When you arrive you have to follow the guidelines until you have been cleared, when you agree to follow the guidelines follow them, don’t question how or who will control this, you have agreed so you will control yourself, and if you can’t control yourself then you shouldn’t be going.

I believe reopening after November 1st in the designated districts (eg. Bangkok) is WITHOUT quarantine. 

15,000.000 visitors x 500b entrance fee = 7,500.000.000 Baht........Nice

1 hour ago, bolt said:

Don't mention Logic, but remember

 

As part of the COE getting approved, you MUST agree to follow the rules laid out, such as NOT hanging out too close with anyone for at least the quarantine period.

Why don’t people get that

 

When you arrive you have to follow the guidelines until you have been cleared, when you agree to follow the guidelines follow them, don’t question how or who will control this, you have agreed so you will control yourself, and if you can’t control yourself then you shouldn’t be going.

Why would anyone jump through any amount of tedious time consuming administration hoops, queue at airports for up to 5 hours, risk being hospitalised for failing a test, then be "controlled" for 7 days at their destination and still have the possibility that all entertainment venues be shutdown again overnight.

That's what you call getting on with your life and a stress free "holiday".

I'll get on with my life OK and give it a miss thanks.

 

So much moaning and groaning. I get it, the rules don't make sense but many posting here must have been living in a bubble if you haven't been exposed to living with BS rules and laws. JHchrist get over it. Covid has scrambled people's brains the world over. Expats with family ties welcome these changes coming Nov 1. I for one am optimistic.

 

 

2 hours ago, Johnny Mac said:

Yea come to Thailand for your 'holiday' where to have to quarantine for 7 days, wear a muzzle 24x7 and get looked at like you're a child murderer if it doesn't fully cover your nose, and cannot enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with a meal??

 

Seriously, please tell me this is a joke?? Only a complete mug would come here.

Oh dear how awful,,,, the suffering and discomfiture.

12 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Oh dear how awful,,,, the suffering and discomfiture.

What's your point?? Would you fly half way around the world for a 'holiday' where you have to quarantine and cannot have a beer or a glass or wine?? Again, what's your point??

 

Still, I'm sure this regime will be happy that they do have some support out there.

35 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Why would anyone jump through any amount of tedious time consuming administration hoops, queue at airports for up to 5 hours, risk being hospitalised for failing a test, then be "controlled" for 7 days at their destination and still have the possibility that all entertainment venues be shutdown again overnight.

That's what you call getting on with your life and a stress free "holiday".

I'll get on with my life OK and give it a miss thanks.

 

Only a complete moron would do it, but they are out there.

Just now, Johnny Mac said:

What's your point?? Would you fly half way around the world for a 'holiday' where you have to quarantine and cannot have a beer or or a glass or wine?? Again, what's your point??

 

Still, I'm sure this regime will be happy that they do have some support out there.

From what I hear in the Phuket sandbox people are able to get a beer....and the quarantine is not required, just you have to stay in the location.  A person who does not drink, like a Muslim, would not care about a beer or a whine...oops, sorry wine. 

What's all this foot stomping for.....?

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

From what I hear in the Phuket sandbox people are able to get a beer....and the quarantine is not required, just you have to stay in the location.  A person who does not drink, like a Muslim, would not care about a beer or a whine...oops, sorry wine. 

What's all this foot stomping for.....?

Like I said, I'm sure this regime will be happy with your support.

45 minutes ago, Cherrytreeview said:

Why would anyone jump through any amount of tedious time consuming administration hoops, queue at airports for up to 5 hours, risk being hospitalised for failing a test, then be "controlled" for 7 days at their destination and still have the possibility that all entertainment venues be shutdown again overnight.

That's what you call getting on with your life and a stress free "holiday".

I'll get on with my life OK and give it a miss thanks.

 

yes you are right, and the world could close tonight. so better you go out NOW and buy 200 rolls of toilet roll just in case 

then you can go back to your life.