Thailand prepares airports for quarantine-free travellers

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, JCP108 said:

But, still, if they do swab people at the airport (there has been talk of this) and it takes 10 minutes per person, a plane load of 400 people would take 4,000 total minutes to process with one station. If they had 10 stations running non-stop, that would take 400 minutes to process that one plane, or almost 7 hours to process. And, what if more planes land during that 7 hours?

A change of plan one would hope.

[mtls2005]

When they previously lowered the quarantine from 14 days to 7 days the queues at the airport were ~ 6 hours, for just a few hundred arrivals.

 

Now, with a new process the queues will be similarly lengthy until they remove/streamline the processes.

 

 

[CMBob]

When I went through the "sandbox" arrival in Phuket, they ushered all the passengers to an area with chairs roughly situated 6 feet apart and then one of many people came and looked through my paperwork (certificate of entry, Sha+ hotel reservation, vaccination card, health insurance paperwork, and negative PCR test result).  Then we were shuffled to a station for a swab test, then through immigration, then to luggage, and then out the door.  At least for my flight, it was very efficient and fast.....and I have no doubt it was less than 25 minutes for me to be out the door.  Fastest I've ever made it out the door from an international arrival.

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by CMBob
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[yogi yogi]

im confused.  better just stay home

[Rampant Rabbit]

4 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

I don't think I have ever gotten through the terminal gates to leaving the airport in 25 minutes. I've waited longer than that just to get my luggage.

Before  coivd and business  class it was literally 10  minutes  if  that

[crazykopite]

[Sydebolle]

Well, Welcome to Thailand then. 

You will see, that Bangkok, Udon Thani and Chiang Mai could be in three different countries if not continents and after having gotten off an airplane (domestic flight), where you were cramped with fellow passengers, the megaphones shout all the rules of that particular airport you've just landed - which are different from place to place. 

Wondering how many rules and regulations will be introduced against/for the dirty farang - in addition, that is! 

Graphic ©Thai Smile from an email sent to all passengers 

[Cake Monster]

4 hours ago, david555 said:

Thailand opens ....

And same time in U.K. & Europe covid contagions are rising again to a 4 th wave ....so it shall be a temporary opening ....unless this time Thailand keep ordering vaccines and keep vaccinating .

 

The virus keep changing ....that is ehat virusses do

 

Final thought ...." here we go ...again " ...☹️

There is also a rapid rise in cases from Russia ( i know its Europe ) but Russia/ Latvia Etc are one of the main target demi graphs for the November 1 st opening.

With the onset of the European Winter season, which seems to be the pinnacle time for Covid, I am sure there will be very few Tourists from there stepping foot in Thailand any time soon.

 

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Which brings a valid question, arrivals go to their booked 1 night hotel and get swabbed at the hotel.

Is there any guarantee that they will get their test result by e.mail/SMS strictly by the next morning / within 24 hours?

The quarantine hotels have a dedicated hospital, results could be slower for the more popular hotels.

Last week I had 1st test in the evening and got the result just after lunch following day, 2nd test was in the morning and got the result mid morning following day.

Results came from hotel nurse on Whatsapp, was given a physical copy on check out.

[scorecard]

3 minutes ago, sandyf said:

The quarantine hotels have a dedicated hospital, results could be slower for the more popular hotels.

Last week I had 1st test in the evening and got the result just after lunch following day, 2nd test was in the morning and got the result mid morning following day.

Results came from hotel nurse on Whatsapp, was given a physical copy on check out.

I'm guessing that you mean foreigners/tourists who are doing 7 or 10 or 14 days quarantine with several tests whilst in quarantine, and who arrived in Thailand with a CoE (Certificate of Entry).

 

My comment is in regard to the new system which starts/comes into operation on 1 November 2021 and foreigners/tourists will need to have a different document which they apply for online and is issued before they arrive called a 'Thailand Pass'.

 

When they arrive they need to do 1 day quarantine (spend 1 night) at an approved hotel The list of approved hotels is being developed right now and supposedly will be announce tomorrow 22 Oct 2021. On the way from the airport these folks will stop temporarily at a 'Covid- 19 Test Hub' to be swabbed, or they will be tested at the hotel when they arrive (who will do the test if it's at their hotel hasn't yet been announced).

[BumGun]

5 hours ago, Tramboy said:

I'd hate to be one of the first.

This is going to be a calamity.

I am waiting for others to be the guinea pigs and report back on any issues. I guess if you are coming for months, an extra hour or three is a pain but you can live with it, if you are coming for a weeks holiday.... you''ll be salty if it takes as long as predicted in here.

[Neeranam]

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

Anyone know what quarantine would be required for someone exiting Thailand for less than 14 days? e.g. A return  trip to UK for 10 days.

 

Would a 1 night quarantine be enough? or Required to do the full 14 days?

This piece is about quarantine NOT being necessary. 

A great move by govt to help tourists. 

As usual, good news met by the moaning brigade. 

[Neeranam]

24 minutes ago, sandyf said:

The quarantine hotels have a dedicated hospital, results could be slower for the more popular hotels.

Last week I had 1st test in the evening and got the result just after lunch following day, 2nd test was in the morning and got the result mid morning following day.

Results came from hotel nurse on Whatsapp, was given a physical copy on check out.

Where had you come from? 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Yet, you're still "quarantined" for up to 24/36 hrs in wait for the results. 

Would be much more logical to administer rapid test - 5/10 min results. 

So a question for the medical experts (real virology experts not armchair warriors):

 

- Is there a well proven, well accepted, well accredited rapid test (10 - 20 minutes for result) available with a very high level of consistent accuracy?

[Pinot]

My wife wants to fly from Phuket to Udon Thani after November 1. She's got all the shots. What's required? Test results?

[Jimbo2014]

Looks like the notorious and legendary five hour Suvarnabhumi queues will also be returning ????

[robertson468]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

"Foreign tourists and investors from at least 10 countries which are in health-safe zones, as well as doing great financially, can come to visit and spend in the country."  Hello Thailand, your economy is in a downward dive due to your mismanagement of the pandemic, you can't afford to be choosy of who does and who does not come.  How do you intend to legislate "as well as doing great financially" ?  Demand Tourists produce their Bank Statements?  Perhaps something has got lost in the translation, in which case the Government need more proficient interpreters.

 

[toolpush]

6 hours ago, david555 said:

Thailand opens ....

And same time in U.K. & Europe covid contagions are rising again to a 4 th wave ....so it shall be a temporary opening ....unless this time Thailand keep ordering vaccines and keep vaccinating .

 

The virus keep changing ....that is ehat virusses do

 

Final thought ...." here we go ...again " ...☹️

No one has an end game. The never ending pandemic?

[david555]

7 minutes ago, toolpush said:

No one has an end game. The never ending pandemic?

Who knows ...????.....untill only the strong survive ...?( and getting as almost immune to it ..)

Or when it becomes a common cold or flu...

No choice just must take it as it comes .....part time lockdowns & etc. maesures

 

 

 

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Just another one of many things that they have never considered when designing this flawed program.

 

They already said that full details/instruction how to apply for the 'Thailand Pass', where the swab tests would be conducted, what hotels travelers can book, when they can leave the 1 day 'isolation' would be announced by the end of this week. That's tomorrow, we wait and see. 

[skorp13]

8 hours ago, JCP108 said:

But, still, if they do swab people at the airport (there has been talk of this) and it takes 10 minutes per person, a plane load of 400 people would take 4,000 total minutes to process with one station. If they had 10 stations running non-stop, that would take 400 minutes to process that one plane, or almost 7 hours to process. And, what if more planes land during that 7 hours?

It takes less than 2 minutes to do a swab test. Trust me i've done about 200 of them and i don't think the planes will be that full especially in the beginning.

[Harveyboy]

6 hours ago, gim12 said:

the article states that testing can be done at the hotel and not the airport, looks like someone with common sense finally was involved in the planning

nope just seen more money opportunity  

[james2m]

9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Way I read it is 25 minutes from your plane to the taxi - probably the same 5 minutes at immigration.

 

I imagine they'll escort you at a brisk pace.

 

I'm still confused though where and when the test is done, if you book one night, and arrive after the days testing is done, are you stuck for an additional 24 hours ? 

 

Will the health pass allow just one day booking ? 

 

 

 

Straight after clearing customs they funnel you to the test centre. They process several at a time in parallel. Way more efficiently and cleanly than I’ve experienced in western countries. That, at least was Phuket which is the model for other reopenings. 

[Farangus]

I do not know who create the list of "safe" countries, but according to the latest data, many of them have record morbidity and mortality.  It looks like the list simply includes countries from which there are traditionally a lot of tourists in Thailand.  It seems to me that the idea of a list of countries does not make sense if the tourists are vaccinated and tested.

[MaiChai]

I suspect the government won't want to shoulder the pcr test costs at the airport, so they will palm it off to the hotels and you will end up paying alot of money for a 1 night stay in Bangkok (with pcr test included). Tourists will get milked in the process; be aware!

[dogfish180]

I better get some popcorn. This is going to be entertaining ????

[PoorSucker]

8 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Yet, you're still "quarantined" for up to 24/36 hrs in wait for the results. 

Would be much more logical to administer rapid test - 5/10 min results. 

Last month when I arrived in Phuket Sandbox.

25 min from exit plane to sit in taxi.

One hour later arrived in hotel, took shower and complimentary Gin Tonic.

2 hours after arrival in hotel I got an Email and the reception called me confirming I was tested negative and free to roam Phuket.

 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, skorp13 said:

It takes less than 2 minutes to do a swab test. Trust me i've done about 200 of them and i don't think the planes will be that full especially in the beginning.

Good points, but I doubt (I hope) this won't be a one person at a time exercise. Surely there will be multiple staff on duty (if they can find enough people with the correct training and experience)?

 

 

[Moncul]

10 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Yet, you're still "quarantined" for up to 24/36 hrs in wait for the results. 

Would be much more logical to administer rapid test - 5/10 min results. 

Rapid Tests are not very reliable.

[Moncul]

4 hours ago, james2m said:

Straight after clearing customs they funnel you to the test centre. They process several at a time in parallel. Way more efficiently and cleanly than I’ve experienced in western countries. That, at least was Phuket which is the model for other reopenings. 

But that was before someone came up with "swab hubs"....