Tourist faces huge bill, separation from family after testing positive on arrival in Thailand

[Sticky Rice Balls]

6 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

Out of curiosity why can’t you get it on the plane ? Some flights are 20+ hours with recycled air . If anything the flight and airport is where you are almost guaranteed to test positive . 

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/10/20/925892185/do-masks-really-cut-your-risk-of-catching-covid-19-on-long-plane-flights

[Russell17au]

6 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

whats the time frame between those tests?

From memory I think it was the first test at 3 days and the second test at 10 days and if both those test were negative then the patient was released. I remember being told that the reason for the long timeframe was to allow any symptoms to show and that any symptoms would show within the 10 day timeframe.

[sezze]

3 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

Out of curiosity why can’t you get it on the plane ? Some flights are 20+ hours with recycled air . If anything the flight and airport is where you are almost guaranteed to test positive . 

no , because you do know the incubation period . It is been mentioned here . It is not visible the 1st second you contract covid ( or any virus that is ) unfortunate . It would be fantastic if it would be and maybe somewhere in lets say 20y it might be , but atm it isnt. 1st you contract the virus , and it goes in your cells . After a few days , the growth is exponential , since your body doesn't know it is there and neither is any of the tests . After a while/couple of days , viral load goes skyhigh , and is detectable . Your body is also producing antibodies if everything is correct , and we go where you know it will . Unless you are flying from 5 destinations for week week in airports , no way 1st test are positive unless you contracted it before . btw , it does have a name , it is called incubation time . It is the time needed for the body to have the virus but not knowing it does have it.

[Sticky Rice Balls]

4 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Of course, you can contract Covid on an airplane.

 

But you can’t contract it on an airplane and then test positive the next day.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/10/20/925892185/do-masks-really-cut-your-risk-of-catching-covid-19-on-long-plane-flights

[Capt Rob]

19 hours ago, redsongthaew said:

 

AXA have an excellent policy:

 

https://axaxl.com/insurance/products/security-risks

Here is a link to a on topic article.

Basically it is " Buyer Beware " regarding insurance as they contract out of any Covid related liability.  Unless otherwise stated  https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2021/11/11/a-quick-trip-around-the-covid-changed-world-of-travel-insurance/?

Australian article but relevant.

 

[chrisandsu]

5 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Of course, you can contract Covid on an airplane.

 

But you can’t contract it on an airplane and then test positive the next day.

Why can’t you ? If anything we already know that the drs don’t really have a clue how it’s passed or how long it takes to incubate . 

[ThailandRyan]

17 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

That might be how it is in Bangkok but it is not that way here where I live. But this man and his family are tourists and do not have a residence in Thailand so he cannot self isolate in his home so the only place for him is in a hospital to be monitored and his family sent into quarantine 

exactly, that is the disparity we have been talking about.  I feel bad for him, but if he is positive then he has a chance of infecting others around him.  His family is being sent to quarantine to see if in a few days they test positive as well.

[Danderman123]

2 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

Why can’t you ? If anything we already know that the drs don’t really have a clue how it’s passed or how long it takes to incubate . 

Maybe you don’t but physicians understand that the incubation period for Covid is more than one day.

[chrisandsu]

7 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/10/20/925892185/do-masks-really-cut-your-risk-of-catching-covid-19-on-long-plane-flights

Who wrote this article ? The airline industry ? They also say that the hepafilters on planes wipe out 99.9% of bacteria ….. anyone that’s been on a long haul flight will safely say that’s bs . 

[Danderman123]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

exactly, that is the disparity we have been talking about.  I feel bad for him, but if he is positive then he has a chance of infecting others around him.  His family is being sent to quarantine to see if in a few days they test positive as well.

It is very possible this person was infected back home, maybe a few days before their pre-departure Covid test.

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

Why can’t you ? If anything we already know that the drs don’t really have a clue how it’s passed or how long it takes to incubate . 

Time for each seat on the flight to be bubble and sealed......lol

[Jonathan Swift]

20 hours ago, Chris.B said:

350,000 baht hospital bill, nearly £8,000 for 10 day stay! Must be a good room at 35,000 baht a night!

Thailand requires a $100,000 US Covid insurance policy for entry. That’s 3,300,000 baht. Did this guy screw up big time?

[Russell17au]

2 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

It is very possible this person was infected back home, maybe a few days before their pre-departure Covid test.

 

 

It is possible that this man got infected the day before his pre-flight test which is 72 hours before departure and that test would give a negative result but when he arrives here possibly 5 days later he gives a positive result because of the time for incubation 

[Jonathan Swift]

5 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

It is very possible this person was infected back home, maybe a few days before their pre-departure Covid test.

 

 

False positives are also possible. 

[chrisandsu]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Time for each seat on the flight to be bubble and sealed......lol

Long haul flights and the stress really weakens your immune system. The one thing we can say is no one really has a clue what’s going on . 

[aussiexpat]

Just now, Jonathan Swift said:

Thailand requires a $100,000 US Covid insurance policy for entry. That’s 3,300,000 baht. Did this guy screw up big time?

Not all of the"acceptable"  insurance policies cover you if you are asymptomatic, which he was.

 

If Thailand is going to mandate everyone get insurance then it should cover all cases, so symptoms, no symptoms or forced quarantine as a so called close contact. All insurance should pay direct to the hospital or quarantine hotel as well, otherwise the whole thing is pointless.

[Russell17au]

5 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Thailand requires a $100,000 US Covid insurance policy for entry. That’s 3,300,000 baht. Did this guy screw up big time?

The insurance issue has always been a big problem with westerners, they all want to do it cheap and that is not only with Thailand and the westerners do not bother to read the exclusions like motorbikes and jetskis and one of the first things that they do is hire a motorbike or go on a jetski and have an accident and end up in all types of s**t because they are not covered by their insurance. They would prefer to take the risk than to pay that extra cover premium to protect themselves and this has been happening for many years in many holiday countries.

[Jonathan Swift]

20 hours ago, wprime said:

Congratulations Kirovs. You're the reason we have these rules, because you can't be trusted to protect yourself from the virus before traveling.

 

Enjoy your 350,000 baht bill.

Your utter lack of compassion is stunning. No one knows how he contracted this, he could still contract it even if vaccinated, it’s quite common. If he abided by the rules his insurance should cover covid up to $100,000 according to immigration. Perhaps he has the insurance, or else why would they have let him in? But if not, I would gladly contribute to a go fund me effort on his behalf. Because unlike you, I have compassion and am a human being.

[Sanookmike]

Already expressed my concerns with the PCR test on arrival being a gamble due to false positives etc, saying that tho they do give you a list of things that you shouldn't do up to 30 mins before taking it so you don't spoil the test... Maybe he was positive before he departed. 

 

Not heard anything recent about close contact on the plane but the guy that shared the taxi knew the other person and was in the same "party", they won't bundle you in a cab with a stranger.

 

Edited November 11, 2021 by Sanookmike

[crazykopite]

Only a fool would come to Thailand with its current restrictions ,it just not worth the gamble unless you have money to burn 

[Jonathan Swift]

8 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Not all of the"acceptable"  insurance policies cover you if you are asymptomatic, which he was.

 

If Thailand is going to mandate everyone get insurance then it should cover all cases, so symptoms, no symptoms or forced quarantine as a so called close contact. All insurance should pay direct to the hospital or quarantine hotel as well, otherwise the whole thing is pointless.

That’s why one needs to read and choose carefully one’s policy. For my past 2 trips here I had great coverage which even covered emergency repatriation flights

[Russell17au]

4 minutes ago, Sanookmike said:

Already expressed my concerns with the PCR test on arrival being a gamble due to false positives etc, saying that tho they do give you a list of things that you shouldn't do up to 30 mins before taking it so you don't spoil the test... Maybe he was positive before he departed. 

 

You are dead right about that because even if you show a negative result for your pre-flight test 72 hours before departure you could have been infected 2 days before the test and still give a negative result which would mean about a 6 - 7 days incubation period before the positive test on arrival. There is no test just before boarding the plane, the only test is 72 hours before and anything can happen in between that test and your arrival test 

[stickyrice2000]

I expect this type of situation already.  It's a bet that the tourist is taking.  If you hit the jackpot, your vacation is ruined including extra bills.

[goatfarmer]

20 hours ago, redsongthaew said:

 

AXA have an excellent policy:

 

https://axaxl.com/insurance/products/security-risks

Kidnap? Extortion? Wrongful detention? Good luck with that!

[jaideedave]

19 hours ago, Nabby said:

Do not go to Thailand unless you must. No need to visit this dry caliphate devoid of tourist infrastructure. Go elsewhere, or be prepared to have your year ruined. 

Nabby : You are exactly correct. Very bad timing to visit now..Wait till next year and only if these stupid rules are gone!

[Sticky Rice Balls]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Does it matter? To board, they have to have been tested a maximum of 72 hours prior.... 3 days of wandering about there to get infected. Travel time of 24 hours including packed in a tube and airport....

Then the possibility you, or one of the other passengers has a fake test certificate!

 

As to your question:

It can take almost a week after exposure to COVID-19 to have a positive test result.

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/10/20/925892185/do-masks-really-cut-your-risk-of-catching-covid-19-on-long-plane-flights

[aussiexpat]

1 hour ago, Russell17au said:

The insurance issue has always been a big problem with westerners, they all want to do it cheap and that is not only with Thailand and the westerners do not bother to read the exclusions like motorbikes and jetskis and one of the first things that they do is hire a motorbike or go on a jetski and have an accident and end up in all types of s**t because they are not covered by their insurance. They would prefer to take the risk than to pay that extra cover premium to protect themselves and this has been happening for many years in many holiday countries.

Not only bike and jet ski, when I read the small print it said not covered if testing at > 0.15 alcohol. That means  I'm only covered for 10 hours a day ????

 

Edited November 11, 2021 by aussiexpat

[Sticky Rice Balls]

1 hour ago, chrisandsu said:

Who wrote this article ? The airline industry ? They also say that the hepafilters on planes wipe out 99.9% of bacteria ….. anyone that’s been on a long haul flight will safely say that’s bs . 

This guy. Seems legit.

 

 

[RafPinto]

Imagine you have your 2 vaccines.

Self-isolate 2 weeks  at home before your flight to eliminate all possible risks of an infection. You do your test before flying.

You arrive in BKK and come into close contact with a thai person let's inside the airplane or stepping out of the aircraft, walking inside the airport, paper checking or whatever.

The thai person was not required to do a test before flying.

Thai person tests positive and you, the unlucky farang who was close to that person, you will pay the price and off you go for your 2 weeks "holidays in hell".

 

They should make it compulsory for everyone "thais included" to have both vaccines and test negative before flying.

[Farangus]

46 minutes ago, RafPinto said:

The thai person was not required to do a test before flying.

Thai person tests positive and you, the unlucky farang who was close to that person, you will pay the price and off you go for your 2 weeks "holidays in hell".

Guys, when you fill out the Thailand Pass, is there an agreement that you agree to pay for the quarantine hotel if you test negative, but the neighbor on the plane failed the test? If not, how can they get you to pay a huge amount of money?