BREAKING: CCSA confirms easing of entry restrictions to Thailand from Dec 16

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has confirmed the easing of restrictions for people entering Thailand. 

 

From December 16, 2021, people arriving in Thailand as part of the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes will only be required to take an ATK test on arrival and will no longer be required to take a RT-PCR test. 

 

Furthermore, people arriving as part of the Test & Go scheme will only need to book transportation to their hotel of choice and take an ATK test. 

 

They will no longer be required to book a hotel room for one night.

 

People arriving under the Sandbox scheme will now only book a hotel room for five days.

 

** The CCSA initially announced the new measures would be in place from Dec 1st. However, the CCSA has since released an update to say the new measures are from Dec 16th. This post has been updated to reflect the change. 

 

 

 

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[aussiexpat]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Furthermore, people arriving as part of the Test & Go scheme will only need to book transportation to their hotel of choice and take an ATK test. 

They will no longer be required to book a hotel room for one night.

Why would a hotel be interested in the hassle of doing an ATK test only with no nights booking? And I have a condo, don't need a hotel and my taxi would be straight to Pattaya 

 

Why not set up ATK at the basically empty airport?

 

Can see the Swampy Novatel across the road becoming a very busy ATK test facility lol

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by aussiexpat

[James105]

Just now, aussiexpat said:

Why would a hotel be interested in the hassle of doing an ATK test only with no nights booking?

 

Why not set up ATKat the basically empty airport?

$$$ from taxi

$$$ from test

 

Presumably the hotels still want a piece of the covid action in the absence of tourists.    

[samtam]

1 minute ago, aussiexpat said:

Why would a hotel be interested in the hassle of doing an ATK test only with no nights booking? And I have a condo, don't need a hotel.

 

Why not set up ATK at the basically empty airport?

I guess they can take a fee, both on the transport, and the "service" of sitting in a pen whilst the ATK is administered.

[JustAnotherHun]

4 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Why not set up ATK at the basically empty airport?

It will not stay empty.

[gearbox]

I guess the difference is SHA+ hotels are no longer required, but why booking of transportation? Test the tourists at the airport and let them go if negative. Some may want to use public transport.

[tomacht8]

Very short-term. Nov 26, 4 days to December 1. And it's not official yet. Whether every hotel then knows where the ATK result has to be sent to. With Test and go in Phuket, almost no one knew what to do with the result. In the Mor Chana App there is no upload function either. When and if the Mor Chana QR Code changes from orange to green? So far it didn't work still really well.

[James105]

Having the hotels still involved means lots of potential for scams.   School kids in the UK discovered how easy it was to make these things turn positive (I believe Coca Cola works quite well) so that they wouldn't have to go to school.    I presume the hotels will soon discover that by using a similar technique, they will be able to sell those people the PCR upgrade package which includes a compulsory overnight stay.   

[KannikaP]

8 minutes ago, James105 said:

$$$ from taxi

$$$ from test

 

Presumably the hotels still want a piece of the covid action in the absence of tourists.    

Plus a taxi back to the airport if you left your own car there.

[aussiexpat]

Even bigger joke is that if I nominate Novatel at the airport, I won't get a Thailand Pass unless I show proof of a 600 metre taxi fare and a pre-paid ATK. What would that be, 1000 baht? What's the point....

[richard_smith237]

This is definitely a step in the right direction.

 

Upon entering the UK (everyone) has to submit a ATK test result within 2 days - Simple. 

 

Why does Thailand not do this ????  Answer: Because those tasked with enforcement of any regulation are so lazy no one bothers to follow the regulations, thus everyone is forced into being treated like an untrustworthy child. 

 

 

I’m sure hotels will find a way of charging through the nose for a trip from the airport and an Antigen Test, otherwise its just a lot of effort for them for very little reward. 

 

I can see how performing Antigen tests (with a 5-10 min wait) at the airport could create a bottle neck if not planned well enough. 

 

Ultimately - the best solution is for ‘vaccinated’ passengers to arrive, go through the screening process (i.e. Thailand Pass, which filters out non-vaxxed arrivals. 

- Non-Vaxxed go to their quarantine hotel - as normal.

- Vaccinated (entering on Thailand Pass) - are issued an antigen test kit which is registered to their name, they go to wherever they are going and submit the results within 24 hrs. 

 

Of course, this requires clear planning, clear information, clear instructions and clear penalties for those who do no comply. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tomacht8]

I think you do the ATK test yourself, just like the ATK test currently on the 6th or 7th day. Why a hotel? Or should the maid then swab the nose or throat?

[Eric Loh]

Cautionary warning with new variants discovered in Africa and WHO warning of another inevitable wave in Europe. Better be safe than sorry. 

[mancub]

If this is an attempt at streamlining the "PASS", it's possibly going to cause short-term mayhem, as it's only 5 days notice ! 

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, gearbox said:

I guess the difference is SHA+ hotels are no longer required, but why booking of transportation? Test the tourists at the airport and let them go if negative. Some may want to use public transport.

I suspect they are looking forward to a time when they can ‘normalise’ the arrival process.

 

Pre-Covid there was already a huge bottle neck at immigration. 

With increasing flight numbers testing at the airport will create an additional bottle neck. 

 

 

Self testing at home / hotel (i.e. accommodation) is the viable solution if they can get it organised. 

 

The issue of course is the organisation: We were given Antigen Test Kits by our test and go hotel, there was no information where to submit the data - this is the part which needs to be ironed out. 

[tomacht8]

10 minutes ago, gearbox said:

I guess the difference is SHA+ hotels are no longer required, but why booking of transportation? Test the tourists at the airport and let them go if negative. Some may want to use public transport.

And others have own Condo or stay with Thai family.

[RichardColeman]

OK, so have all the hotels now added packages for just taxi collection and test that can be uploaded to the thai pass or is this just another complete disaster in announcing and contradictory to the thai farce pass  

 

 

Smells of desperation to me - they've obviously been looking at advance bookings

Edited November 26, 2021 by RichardColeman

[The Cipher]

I booked and paid for the original Test & Go package already. I can still stay the night if I want to, right?

[aussiexpat]

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I suspect they are looking forward to a time when they can ‘normalise’ the arrival process.

Pre-Covid there was already a huge bottle neck at immigration. 

With increasing flight numbers testing at the airport will create an additional bottle neck. 

That bottle neck was when there were 110,000 per day arriving. Currently it's at 4,000 per day.

 

By the time it gets to 10,000 per day they could then drop it (or just give the kit to take with you)

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by aussiexpat

[smedly]

22 minutes ago, gearbox said:

I guess the difference is SHA+ hotels are no longer required, but why booking of transportation? Test the tourists at the airport and let them go if negative. Some may want to use public transport.

because these fools have no idea how to come up with a simple solution

[Kevinphall]

Test people mid flight with the rapid tests whilst everyone bored and throw the positives down the emergency exit slide just before landing. Sorted. 

[Cabradelmar]

Probably makes sense only IF people are getting PCR tested 72 hours prior to departure (this would be dictated by the airlines and the airports you would be transiting -- irrespective of what THA does to you on arrival). My friend recently returned to Finland from BKK and tested positive on arrival. Don't think for a minute people can't get covid after getting a PCR test on departure.

[sidgy]

28 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I can see how performing Antigen tests (with a 5-10 min wait) at the airport could create a bottle neck if not planned well enough

The bottle neck is caused by all arrivals waiting for their transport, a 20 minute wait for result of test is a lot less than the 2 hour organized chaos we endured waiting for our designated "special SHA+" van to take us to our hotel

[Ohyesuare]

22 minutes ago, The Cipher said:

I booked and paid for the original Test & Go package already. I can still stay the night if I want to, right?

Of course. And you still have to take the PCR test and wait in your hotel room for the results. These changes are only for people who book from December 1st, it doesn't apply retroactively. 

[ThailandRyan]

So I fly out, return on the Test N Go, take an ATK test and drive my car home. Wait how can I get a QR code if I still have to show a booked hotel. Do I send in a copy of my Co do paperwork?

[GrandPapillon]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They will no longer be required to book a hotel room for one night.

 

People arriving under the Sandbox scheme will now only book a hotel room for five days.

this is a bit confusing ????

 

and how is this breaking news, it's only a minor change, won't change anything

[gearbox]

40 minutes ago, The Cipher said:

I booked and paid for the original Test & Go package already. I can still stay the night if I want to, right?

If you arrive after 1st of December you may get your PCR test charge refunded. It is usually priced in the Test&Go package.

Edited November 26, 2021 by gearbox

[gearbox]

4 minutes ago, GrandPapillon said:

this is a bit confusing ????

 

and how is this breaking news, it's only a minor change, won't change anything

It is short of details bit it may properly remove one of deterrents. TP and the insurance are still there, probably next to go from January....if the number of arrivals doesn't improve.

[aussiexpat]

1 Nov Rule 

- mandated taxi

- PCR test

- stay at hotel until negative result (pay)

- Ambulance to hospital if positive 

 

1 Dec Rule 

- mandated taxi

- ATK test

- stay at hotel until negative result (????)

- Ambulance to hospital if positive 

 

So benefit is what? Or maybe the ATK more likely to give false positive and cost 120,000 baht in hospital ????

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by aussiexpat

[GrandPapillon]

ATK also gives false negative,