Guy next to me on plane has COVID, so i have to quarantine?

[fhfuentes]

hi all - i'm planning a group trip in april / may and have heard many news stories about covid negative travelers getting stuck in quarantine because they were near covid positive passengers during transportation (flights and/or van). you can see the richard barrow posting here: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/richardbarrow/issues/the-nightmare-of-testing-positive-848695 and i believe the Stefanie story from the Thaiger a few months ago are well documented examples of someone that was COVID negative forced to quarantine because of close contact with someone testing positive for COVID. 

 

can anyone find the official government policy on this? i have searched many times but cannot find the relevant official policy. for example, on a plane are persons seated within a 3 meter radius of someone testing positive forced to quarantine or is it a 1 meter radius? the entire plane? what about a group travelling if one of the travelers from the group is covid positive, does the entire group have to quarantine or is it just a select few that were seated next to infected passenger?

 

trying to bring a sizeable group of 50 people next year but need to understand the official policy first, any help would be appreciated

[Captain Monday]

Probably. To come to Thailand you have to jump through hoops, and there are risks. Tens of thousands of people however came to Thailand particularly since the Phuket Sandbox opened and this happened only to a small handful. That is what the insurance is for right? If you so are so concerned, go elsewhere. This will be the case for the foreseeable future.

 

There are dozens of countries open to travelers. Without onerous entry restrictions, irrational public health laws, and failed online QR code applications. When you get to these regions you can covert maskless on the beach as is completely safe, and even have a glass of wine at a Bar.

 

Up 2 U 

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by Captain Monday

[fhfuentes]

yes thank i know that going somewhere else is always an option

 

but i'd like to make an informed decision and that requires reading the official policy to make an informed decision that is why i am posting this thread ????

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, fhfuentes said:

can anyone find the official government policy on this?

 

Which will change a dozen times between now and April. And how does a policy help you plan/mitigate?

 

Any current "close-contact" policy covers both the arriving aircraft and local ground transportation

 

Challenging to plan an event of this size, remotely five months hence.

 

Maybe choose a location which is more reliable?

[stupidfarang]

You may be able to understand the official policy once you find it, but it comes down to how the official at the time interprets the official policy. Best to talk with the airline you will be traveling with and keep up to date with the ever-changing policies/guidelines from the government. Good luck.

[jackdd]

Just now, Captain Monday said:

That is what the insurance is for right?

Afaik there is no insurance that pays if they put you in quarantine just because somebody who was close to you tested positive.

So the affected persons will have to pay this out of their own pockets.

[RmcaIssan]

9 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

Probably. To come to Thailand you have to jump through hoops, and there are risks. Tens of thousands of people however came to Thailand particularly since the Phuket Sandbox opened and this happened only to a small handful. That is what the insurance is for right? If you so are so concerned, go elsewhere. This will be the case for the foreseeable future.

 

There are dozens of countries open to travelers. Without onerous entry restrictions, irrational public health laws, and failed online QR code applications. When you get to these regions you can covert maskless on the beach as is completely safe, and even have a glass of wine at a Bar.

 

Up 2 U 

 

'Next year' ..no doubt many changes, either way, could happen. Cambodia is dropping the PCR test on arrival might push Thailand to rethink !! But they (Thai) tend to behave like headless chickens most of the time ...

 

[Captain Monday]

48 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Afaik there is no insurance that pays if they put you in quarantine just because somebody who was close to you tested positive.

So the affected persons will have to pay this out of their own pockets.

I guess you are right. I heard there was insurance that would cover quarantine for asymptomatic covid, which is of course different. I came to Thailand twice this year for three months at a time, but I can afford unnecessary hospitalization and had the free time. One has to jump through hoops and there are risks. There is also a risk you'll fall off a motorbike, be drugged by a bar-beer, get scammed, be falsely accused of a crime and fleeced, or written up for a valid Agoda review.

 

All part of the fun and why this addictive Kingdom can attract SOME tourists even under these onerous conditions. Doubt there will be many actual tourists until the covid madness ends. Coming for "a holiday"?

 

High Season 2021-2022. Failure to launch. A self fulfilling prophecy.

Edited November 25, 2021 by Captain Monday

[1FinickyOne]

Life in the times of covid... so it goes.

 

Just hope the person next to you doesn't rob a bank... 

 

50 people? Wow... 

[1FinickyOne]

13 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

There is also a risk you'll fall off a motorbike, be drugged by a bar-beer, get scammed, be falsely accused of a crime and fleeced, or written up for a valid Agoda review.

And then most of us die... 

[fhfuentes]

59 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Which will change a dozen times between now and April. And how does a policy help you plan/mitigate?

 

Any current "close-contact" policy covers both the arriving aircraft and local ground transportation

 

Challenging to plan an event of this size, remotely five months hence.

 

Maybe choose a location which is more reliable?

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is absurd. yes reading official current policy helps. understanding current policy and comparing it to past policy will give us the trajectory of the policy which will help us to better predict where things are going. 

 

thanks all i understand that i can just pick another country however the group is set on coming to thailand so writing it off immediately without understanding the official is nonsensical

[fhfuentes]

can people focus on being helpful instead of trying to be right? 

 

im just asking if anyone knows what the official rules are now. telling me to go somewhere else is totally unhelpful

[Captain Monday]

8 minutes ago, fhfuentes said:

this is absurd. yes reading official current policy helps. understanding current policy and comparing it to past policy will give us the trajectory of the policy which will help us to better predict where things are going. 

 

thanks all i understand that i can just pick another country however the group is set on coming to thailand so writing it off immediately without understanding the official is nonsensical

Have you ever been to Thailand? The law is whatever a man with badge says it is.In this case quarantine officials at BKK or whoever is responsible at from Center for Covid-19 Situation administration (CCSA) at the time of arrival would decide. 

 

If you can find an "Official Policy" it means nothing and will change 6 times by next year.

 

Thai law shown directly to customs officials at BKK airport either went stop them from illegally fleecing you or seizing your goods. Its completely up to them. TIT????

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by Captain Monday

[mtls2005]

18 minutes ago, fhfuentes said:

can people focus on being helpful instead of trying to be right? 

 

 

Slapping people down, who are sincerely trying to help you, is not conducive to planning a successful event.

 

The official policy "appears" to be that some negative tested/close contacts are directed towards asymptomatic detention for 10 - 14 days.

 

My guess is that this policy is in Thai only, and resides with the CCSA or MoPH. It is not highlighted in the ThailandPass infographics for obvious reasons.

 

I sincerely wish you the best of luck planning your event.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, fhfuentes said:

can anyone find the official government policy on this? i have searched many times but cannot find the relevant official policy. for example, on a plane are persons seated within a 3 meter radius of someone testing positive forced to quarantine or is it a 1 meter radius? the entire plane? what about a group travelling if one of the travelers from the group is covid positive, does the entire group have to quarantine or is it just a select few that were seated next to infected passenger?

I am not sure anybody can answer you questions with any certainty since things can change between now and April/May.

From what I understand of current requirements it would not be the entire group. Only the person or person sitting near the infected person would have stay in for a period of time to have another covid 19 test done or are showing symptoms of being infected.

At this time if fully vaccinated the longest time in quarantine would be 7 days. 

 

[fhfuentes]

thank you for your information ubonjoe and mtls! 

[J Branche]

21 hours ago, jackdd said:

Afaik there is no insurance that pays if they put you in quarantine just because somebody who was close to you tested positive.

So the affected persons will have to pay this out of their own pockets.

I am no insurance agent and would ask anyone to call and confirm if the insurance covers for Government required Quarantine with no Covid Symptoms or without Positive Covid Test.  The  JAL Covid-19 Cover Assistance policy found Google searching "JAL Covid-19 Cover Assistance" in the "Applicable Service Conditions" section on the "NEW Applicable conditions for cover (JAL Covid-19 Cover Guide) : Departure from July 1, 2021 to January 10, 2022" PDF attachment and provided by some Japan Airlines flight states "Accommodation costs related to Covid-19 Quarantine" If diagnosed with Covid-19 or if suspected of having Covid-19.
On Page 10 (JAL Covid-19 Cover Guide) "Quarantine" is defined as Mandatory individual, involuntary confinement by order or other official directive of a government, public, or regulatory authority, which is intended to stop the spread of a contagious disease to which you or a traveling companion have been exposed, or which you are suspected of being exposed to."

 

This is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon until confirmed with the issuing agency or providing company.

[Oxx]

It has been reported in the press that the official ruling is that people two rows in front to two rows behind have to be quarantined.  However, the government is considering reducing this.

[elcaro]

As long as the emergency decree is in place I would not book a holiday here as any rules and regulations can change overnight 

[Speedhump]

There is a recent thread already on this. I believe legally the plane crew/passengers should all be quarantined, but the doubt is that the government will actually allow such a media crashing thing to happen. That is what my insurance broker has taken away from their investigation into this possibility. No guarantee, of course. Generally Thai insurance policies will only cover you personally testing positive (even if contracted after boarding) , I'm not sure whether the third party cover you are asking for exists, here or anywhere. 

Edited November 26, 2021 by Speedhump

[sandyf]

On 11/25/2021 at 8:44 AM, jackdd said:

Afaik there is no insurance that pays if they put you in quarantine just because somebody who was close to you tested positive.

So the affected persons will have to pay this out of their own pockets.

On my policy, Item  3 was an "Overseas Quarantine Allowance"  at $150/day for up to 14 consecutive days.

My 15 day quarantine booking was $1132.

[Eaglekott]

On 11/25/2021 at 8:35 AM, fhfuentes said:

have heard many news stories about covid negative travelers getting stuck in quarantine because they were near covid positive passengers during transportation

Where have you heard many stories? I have just heard a few out of probably thousands of travelers. Of cause the few that is affected will end up in media while all that has no problem will not.

[chilly07]

Don't!

Hardly the time to be planning group trips.

New SA vaccine resistant variant could bring a 4th/5th wave by then. 

You can't plan 5mths ahead with unvaccinated mutations occuring around the world!

[NoshowJones]

On 11/25/2021 at 8:44 AM, jackdd said:

Afaik there is no insurance that pays if they put you in quarantine just because somebody who was close to you tested positive.

So the affected persons will have to pay this out of their own pockets.

and what if they can't afford it? If it is a tourist with a return ticket they could send them straight back home. Supposing it is someone who is returning and lives here, maybe with a family relying on him financially, and only has his 40.000Bt per month from his own country.

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Eaglekott said:

On 11/25/2021 at 8:35 AM, fhfuentes said:

have heard many news stories about covid negative travelers getting stuck in quarantine because they were near covid positive passengers during transportation

Where have you heard many stories? I have just heard a few out of probably thousands of travelers. Of cause the few that is affected will end up in media while all that has no problem will not.

 

There is not one story of a stranger sat next to another stranger who has tested positive on arrival having to quarantine. 

 

Due to extremely poor media reporting and it being a very good ‘paranoid anti-Thai’ rumour... False information is being spread.

 

What has transpired in the past are two specific events: 

 

1) A large family travelling together to Phuket Sandbox. One of them tested positive, all were asked to quarantine (about 13 ppl I think) - they were not happy. News was misleading and reported that they were forced to quarantine because they were on the same plane, this is not true - its because they were travelling in the same group and spend days together before, during and after travel. 

 

1) Two travellers arriving at their AQ Test & Go hotel together in the same van transport. One of them tested positive, the other tested negative but had to quarantine - Media again reported the story as if these two were strangers and forced to ‘share a van together’ - this is not true, the two were travelling together and were together the days before during and upon arrival. 

 

 

While there have been a number of cases (60 or so ?) of people who have tested PCR positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in Thailand (Test & Go) there are no stories of any strangers on the flights who happened to be sat near those people being forced into quarantine.

 

There is a track and trace system in place and the ’seat’ (on board the flight) is logged - IF someone who was sat near you tests positive, you will (should / may) be contacted and asked to take a test to ensure you are clear. IF of course you test positive, you need to isolate. 

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, Oxx said:

It has been reported in the press that the official ruling is that people two rows in front to two rows behind have to be quarantined.  However, the government is considering reducing this.

Link ???

 

Because... IF one person tests positive, that means 3 people in front, 3 people behind, 2 people to the left and 2 to the right (variable depending on seat allocation) would be forced into quarantine... 

 

Thus: with about 60 or so people testing positive so far for Test & Go arrivals we are looking at an additional 600 people being forced into quarantine.... 

 

There would definitely be plenty of stories and news articles about this - yet there has not been so much of a sniff other than the two guys sharing a van (see my comment in the post above - they were travelling together). 

 

Thus: the only logical conclusion is that those in seats nearby are not quarantined. 

 

Perhaps someone in a position of decision making power realises how poor the optics would be if this were to happen. However, I’m wondering why this has not been made publicly clear to provide travellers with additional confidence. 

[roquefort]

1 hour ago, chilly07 said:

Don't!

Hardly the time to be planning group trips.

New SA vaccine resistant variant could bring a 4th/5th wave by then. 

You can't plan 5mths ahead with unvaccinated mutations occuring around the world!

Yes, stay behind the sofa with your tin foil hat on. Even if we we survive Covid, by 2030 Bangkok could be under water if we don't "solve" global warming.

So best to put your life on hold indefinitely and do not plan anything.

[RocketDog]

On 11/25/2021 at 8:44 AM, fhfuentes said:

yes thank i know that going somewhere else is always an option

 

but i'd like to make an informed decision and that requires reading the official policy to make an informed decision that is why i am posting this thread ????

Then the answer is simple:

Official policy in the Kingdom is often ambiguous, always changeable on short notice, commonly misinterpreted or misapplied by 'officials', and many times simply ignored.

 

As cynical as it sounds, if you're looking for assurances of a smooth transit then you're looking for another destination.

 

In Thailand nothing is assured; it's one of the things that makes life here interesting and maddening at the same time, and I'm not even talking about the women!

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Link ???

Link not permitted by forum rules.

[Eaglekott]

2 hours ago, Oxx said:

Link not permitted by forum rules.

I believe you are wrong. Links seams to be allowed in most cases. Below is from the forum rules.

 

 

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