Discovery of Delta Plus variant will not scupper Thailand's reopening plans

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Image: Reuters, file photo

 

The presence of the Delta Plus COVID-19 variant in Thailand will not delay the government's plan to reopen the country to foreign tourists on November 1, the Ministry of Public Health has said. 

 

On Monday, health officials announced the discovery of the more contagious Delta Plus variant in a 49 year old man who had been working in Ayutthaya before then travelling to Kamphaeng Phet, where the strain of the variant was confirmed.

 

The man, who had no history of travelling overseas or being in contact with any 'high risk' groups, has since made a full recovery. 

 

On Tuesday, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said the discovery of the COVID-19 variant will not disrupt the reopening plans. 

 

Mr Sathit said that because viruses can mutate all the time, only a mutation that is found to cause severe illness or be resistant to drugs would be significant enough to potentially halt the reopening plans. 

 

Mr Sathit added that the Delta Plus is only considered to be a minor variant, therefore it will result in a delay to the November 1 reopening. 

 

The news comes as Thailand will begin welcoming foreign tourists from 46 low risk countries and territories on November 1.

 

Tourists do not have to quarantine in the same manner as was required previously (spending either 14 or 7 days confined to a hotel room) but they are required to spend the first night of their stay in Thailand in an approved quarantine facility such as a Alternative Quarantine – AQ, Organisation Quarantine – OQ, or Alternative Hospital Quarantine – AHQ, or SHA Plus-certified hotel, while they await test results of a RT-PCR test.

 

The entry for foreign tourists from Nov 1 are as follows:

 

• Travel by air from the approved countries/territories. Currently, Thailand has approved quarantine-free entry for arrivals from Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, USA, and Hong Kong.
  • Must have been in the approved countries/territories for 21 days or more.
  • For returning Thais and foreign residents, it is not necessary to be in an approved country/territory for 21 days or more, as long as they are travelling from Thailand to the approved country/territory and return within the last 21 days.
• A Thailand Pass QR Code, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/ from 1 November, 2021. Until then, a Certificate of Entry (COE) can be applied via https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/.
• A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
  • A Medical Certificate of Recovery is also required from those having a lab result with COVID-19 detected to show that that have recovered from COVID-19 no later than 3 months.
• An insurance policy, with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$50,000, which should cover the cost of the treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation for the whole duration in Thailand. *Except for Thai citizens who are entitled to the national health insurance system.*
• A payment confirmation for no less than a 1-night stay upon arrival at the approved quarantine facilities (Alternative Quarantine – AQ, Organisation Quarantine – OQ, or Alternative Hospital Quarantine – AHQ), or SHA Plus-certified hotel.
  • The prepayment should cover both the 1-night accommodation, the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test, and an Antigen Test Kit (ATK).
• A Certificate of Vaccination (fully vaccinated).
  • For those fully vaccinated, proof includes a Certificate of Vaccination with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) (see here) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) (see here) no less than 14 days before their travel date.
  • For those having recovered from COVID-19, proof includes a Certificate of Recovery within the last 3 months and a Certificate of Vaccination with at least one dose of the approved vaccine at least 14 days before their travel date.
  • Travellers under 12 years of age, travelling with their parents or guardians, are exempt from this vaccination requirement, but must have a Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
• Undergo the entry screening (health screening and Immigration procedures) upon arrival at Thailand’s International Airport, and submit all the required documentation to the officials.
• Then proceed directly by the approved airport transfer to the pre-arranged COVID-19 test centre, or the reserved accommodation and undergo the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 0-1.
  • Travellers must download and install the specified alert application (MorChana), and must wait within the accommodation only for the test result, which should be available within the day.
• If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers can go anywhere in Thailand.
  • Each traveller will receive an ATK that they have prepaid when booking the accommodation.
  • Any traveller experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must immediately get a test done, using the provided ATK. If experiencing no symptoms, travellers must use the provided ATK for COVID-19 self-testing on Day 6-7, and show the result to staff at the hotel or accommodation, as well as record the result (both detected and non-detected) in the MorChana App.
  • Hotel/AQ staff must recommend that travellers self-monitor themselves for at least 7 days. If any traveller experiences COVID-19 symptoms, Hotel/AQ staff must immediately notify the officer in charge of communicable disease control in their respective area.
• For travelling from Thailand to other countries, travellers are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination.

 

 

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[DrMJA]

???? ….. and a partridge in a pear tree  ???? 

[DaveSamutP]

36 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 

The entry for foreign tourists from Nov 1 are as follows:

 

• Travel by air from the approved countries/territories. Currently, Thailand has approved quarantine-free entry for arrivals from Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, USA, and Hong Kong.
  • Must have been in the approved countries/territories for 21 days or more.
  • For returning Thais and foreign residents, it is not necessary to be in an approved country/territory for 21 days or more, as long as they are travelling from Thailand to the approved country/territory and return within the last 21 days.
• A Thailand Pass QR Code, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/ from 1 November, 2021. Until then, a Certificate of Entry (COE) can be applied via https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/.
• A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
  • A Medical Certificate of Recovery is also required from those having a lab result with COVID-19 detected to show that that have recovered from COVID-19 no later than 3 months.
• An insurance policy, with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$50,000, which should cover the cost of the treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation for the whole duration in Thailand. *Except for Thai citizens who are entitled to the national health insurance system.*
• A payment confirmation for no less than a 1-night stay upon arrival at the approved quarantine facilities (Alternative Quarantine – AQ, Organisation Quarantine – OQ, or Alternative Hospital Quarantine – AHQ), or SHA Plus-certified hotel.
  • The prepayment should cover both the 1-night accommodation, the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test, and an Antigen Test Kit (ATK).
• A Certificate of Vaccination (fully vaccinated).
  • For those fully vaccinated, proof includes a Certificate of Vaccination with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) (see here) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) (see here) no less than 14 days before their travel date.
  • For those having recovered from COVID-19, proof includes a Certificate of Recovery within the last 3 months and a Certificate of Vaccination with at least one dose of the approved vaccine at least 14 days before their travel date.
  • Travellers under 12 years of age, travelling with their parents or guardians, are exempt from this vaccination requirement, but must have a Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
• Undergo the entry screening (health screening and Immigration procedures) upon arrival at Thailand’s International Airport, and submit all the required documentation to the officials.
• Then proceed directly by the approved airport transfer to the pre-arranged COVID-19 test centre, or the reserved accommodation and undergo the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 0-1.
  • Travellers must download and install the specified alert application (MorChana), and must wait within the accommodation only for the test result, which should be available within the day.
• If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers can go anywhere in Thailand.
  • Each traveller will receive an ATK that they have prepaid when booking the accommodation.
  • Any traveller experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must immediately get a test done, using the provided ATK. If experiencing no symptoms, travellers must use the provided ATK for COVID-19 self-testing on Day 6-7, and show the result to staff at the hotel or accommodation, as well as record the result (both detected and non-detected) in the MorChana App.
  • Hotel/AQ staff must recommend that travellers self-monitor themselves for at least 7 days. If any traveller experiences COVID-19 symptoms, Hotel/AQ staff must immediately notify the officer in charge of communicable disease control in their respective area.
• For travelling from Thailand to other countries, travellers are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination.

Sounds like a fun vacation

[The Hammer2021]

The puritanical alcohol ban and feared police will hamper the opening

[poskat]

most prospective tourists will start thinking about a different holiday spot by about item 3....

 

thailand aint going anywhere

[Cake Monster]

48 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

On Tuesday, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said the discovery of the COVID-19 variant will not disrupt the reopening plans. 

An announcement any sooner would have certainly disrupted opening plans, as the discoveries of both the Delta + and Alpha + were made back in September, but only just released.

[cyril sneer]

it'll be used as an excuse to keep schools closed, parents have paid up now

[ikke1959]

Nothing is the same in Thailand, Delta + not the same as elswhere in the world, same for vaccines and combinations of vaccines, Democracy as Mr Prayuth said Thailand has its own democracy, the police force, the freedom of speech, the elections and even the opening for tourists with all the paper work and restrictions in the entertainment industry... No Thailand is very very different and stands far away from world in the 21st century 

[Petey11]

So I do the day 6 test and am staying in my accommodation, I show the result to myself?

[Petey11]

57 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Nothing is the same in Thailand, Delta + not the same as elswhere in the world, same for vaccines and combinations of vaccines, Democracy as Mr Prayuth said Thailand has its own democracy, the police force, the freedom of speech, the elections and even the opening for tourists with all the paper work and restrictions in the entertainment industry... No Thailand is very very different and stands far away from world in the 21st century 

AHH, it's it's uniqueness that attracts the millions of tourists.

[ikke1959]

12 minutes ago, Petey11 said:

AHH, it's it's uniqueness that attracts the millions of tourists.

maybe because they have here hostesses in stead of s*workers

[Karma80]

Don't worry. Be another announcement along shortly. They are more frequent than the Tokyo subway.

[TooMuchTime]

lol at the long section on entry requirements.

 

Just make it as simple as 2 years ago.  Buy a ticket, show up and get your visa exempt stamp.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The presence of the Delta Plus COVID-19 variant in Thailand will not delay the government's plan to reopen the country to foreign tourists on November 1, the Ministry of Public Health has said.

Not even the original Delta variant is going to do that... so nothing else is going to scupper Prayuts & Phipats master plan.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, poskat said:

most prospective tourists will start thinking about a different holiday spot by about item 3....

 

thailand aint going anywhere

My friends in UK have already said bye bye Thailand... booked Maldives.

[Rampant Rabbit]

17 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

• A Thailand Pass QR Code, which can be applied via https://tp.consular.go.th/ from 1 November, 2021. Until then, a Certificate of Entry (COE) can be applied via https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/.
• A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
  • A Medical Certificate of Recovery is also required from those having a lab result with COVID-19 detected to show that that have recovered from COVID-19 no later than 3 months.
• An insurance policy, with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$50,000, which should cover the cost of the treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation for the whole duration in Thailand. *Except for Thai citizens who are entitled to the national health insurance system.*
• A payment confirmation for no less than a 1-night stay upon arrival at the approved quarantine facilities (Alternative Quarantine – AQ, Organisation Quarantine – OQ, or Alternative Hospital Quarantine – AHQ), or SHA Plus-certified hotel.
  • The prepayment should cover both the 1-night accommodation, the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test, and an Antigen Test Kit (ATK).
• A Certificate of Vaccination (fully vaccinated).
  • For those fully vaccinated, proof includes a Certificate of Vaccination with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) (see here) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) (see here) no less than 14 days before their travel date.
  • For those having recovered from COVID-19, proof includes a Certificate of Recovery within the last 3 months and a Certificate of Vaccination with at least one dose of the approved vaccine at least 14 days before their travel date.
  • Travellers under 12 years of age, travelling with their parents or guardians, are exempt from this vaccination requirement, but must have a Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.
• Undergo the entry screening (health screening and Immigration procedures) upon arrival at Thailand’s International Airport, and submit all the required documentation to the officials.
• Then proceed directly by the approved airport transfer to the pre-arranged COVID-19 test centre, or the reserved accommodation and undergo the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 0-1.
  • Travellers must download and install the specified alert application (MorChana), and must wait within the accommodation only for the test result, which should be available within the day.
• If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers can go anywhere in Thailand.
  • Each traveller will receive an ATK that they have prepaid when booking the accommodation.
  • Any traveller experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must immediately get a test done, using the provided ATK. If experiencing no symptoms, travellers must use the provided ATK for COVID-19 self-testing on Day 6-7, and show the result to staff at the hotel or accommodation, as well as record the result (both detected and non-detected) in the MorChana App.
  • Hotel/AQ staff must recommend that travellers self-monitor themselves for at least 7 days. If any traveller experiences COVID-19 symptoms, Hotel/AQ staff must immediately notify the officer in charge of communicable disease control in their respective area.
• For travelling from Thailand to other countries, travellers are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination.

Is  that  all, well that seems  pretty  straight forwards I mean whats  that 2  sides of A 4, dont i  have to recite the national anthem to?

[IAMHERE]

17 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Mr Sathit said that because viruses can mutate all the time, only a mutation that is found to cause severe illness or be resistant to drugs would be significant enough to potentially halt the reopening plans.

Well darn good that the Delta Variant doesn't cause severe illness. Pretty good too that Delta isn't resistant to the drugs used for Covid treatment. We all dodged a bullet this time.

[crazykopite]

It will when it spreads like no tomorrow 

[Mr Meeseeks]

17 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

*Except for Thai citizens who are entitled to the national health insurance system.*

What about work permit holders? They are also entitled to these benefits.

[Mr Meeseeks]

17 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

An announcement any sooner would have certainly disrupted opening plans, as the discoveries of both the Delta + and Alpha + were made back in September, but only just released.

They might appear to be incompetent, bungling fools to most, but everything they do is calculated and deliberate.

Edited October 28, 2021 by Mr Meeseeks

[Cake Monster]

6 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

They might appear to be incompetent, bungling fools to most, but everything they do is calculated and deliberate.

Of that fact  you may be certain.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Just now, Cake Monster said:

Of that fact  you may be certain.

 

What we have to remember, is that those in power here have gotten there by stepping on the heads of others and offering tribute to the leading clans, along the way by means of trickery, deceit and connivance.

 

This is no meritocracy, however the skills they have developed over time are well suited in dealing with the Thai public. 

 

Make of that what you will. 

[Peterphuket]

We will wait and see......what happens.

It can change by the hour.

[Gottfrid]

Oh Nooo! This is an evil master plan. Here the goal seems to be to lure as many to Thailand as possible, before they have to go into total lockdown again. All that got infected will then be taken into hospital and get their insurances activated. In one way or another they will get the dough! ????

[ArcticFox]

19 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Mr Sathit added that the Delta Plus is only considered to be a minor variant, therefore it will result in a delay to the November 1 reopening. 

Give it three months.  The sky will again be falling.

[Boedog]

Nothing will stop the Grandmasters re-opening plan need to get those brown envelopes flowing again its been tough of late.

Why if you are double or triple vaxed do you still require covid insurance, and yes l know you can still get it and spread it but isn't that the reason there telling you to be vaccinated to apparently lessens the severity ie hospitalised.

Why are they still using pcr test when they have being proven to give false positives and stay in approved hotel for 1 night, why not Antigen test 15mins wait and on your way.

If you have had covid which gives you natural immunity which is far better why are they insisting you still get jabbed.

And of top of that the alcohol ban and arresting so many people for having a beer and they still think the hoards will come.

Good luck 

[dunroaming]

It is the same old story.  The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Plus the right hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing and the left hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Best for the right hand to stick to the up and down movement that they seem to do so well!

[KhaoYai]

On 10/27/2021 at 9:02 AM, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The prepayment should cover both the 1-night accommodation, the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test, and an Antigen Test Kit (ATK).

And an Antigen test kit?

[KhaoYai]

Discovery of Delta Plus variant will not scupper Thailand's reopening plans

 

 

I certainly hope not.  A while back Prayuth stated that he expected cases will rise following the country's re-opening - seemingly accepting that we will all have to learn to live with this virus. 

 

Vaccines and treatments are now playing a significant part in fighting Covid 19 and hopefully there will be new discoveries/improvements over the coming months/years. Until then, in my opinion, only a massive 'spike' that threatens the abilities of a country's healthcare service should lead to a return to lockdowns.

[unblocktheplanet]

Does this *Except for Thai citizens who are entitled to the national health insurance system.* mean everyone covered by the 30-baht health plan?