Thailand bans arrivals from 8 African countries as a precaution against new COVID-19 variant Omicron

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

The Thai government has imposed a total ban on arrivals from eight African countries, effective today (Saturday), and those who already have permission to enter the country will be subject to quarantine for 14 days from Sunday.

 

The countries are Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Additionally, nationals from these countries, where the new coronavirus variant known as Omicron has been found or who are at risk of spreading it, will not be allowed to apply to enter Thailand, effective today. Those already granted permission to enter Thailand must arrive before December 15th and will be subject to state quarantine for 14 days and three COVID-19 tests.

 

Entry via the “Test and Go” or “sandbox” programs is not permitted.

 

The immediate action by the Public Health Ministry follows a statement by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha via Facebook this morning, saying that he is ready to order the immediate restriction of travel to and from any country where the new coronavirus variant is spreading.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-bans-arrivals-from-8-african-countries-as-a-precaution-against-new-covid-19-variant-omicron/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-11-28

 

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[jacko45k]

Prudent.....until we know more.

[Jeffr2]

There goes my January travel plans.

[cyril sneer]

The end is nigh

[Bkk Brian]

Now in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Botswana and South Africa. What a difference a couple of days makes.

[Kinnock]

Unfortunately, if Thailand did not ban entry from certain countries with known cases, then other countries will stop travel from Thailand.

 

It's just politicians pretending to protect their people, as any new variant that spreads quicker than the old model will be everywhere in time - but impotent politicians have to be seen to do something, even if it adds no value and wrecks the economy.

 

UK now has the new variant, so maybe next on the ban list?

[jonclark]

"The immediate action by the Public Health Ministry follows a statement by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha via Facebook this morning, saying that he is ready to order the immediate restriction of travel to and from any country where the new coronavirus variant is spreading."

 

Let's hope it does not spread like delta did. Delta started off small and then spread like wildfire. If it does (and one hopes we have learned from experience and can contain these spreads quicker) and the PM restricts travel to countries with cases,that will mean many people could be unable to return home for Xmas and importantly be unable to return to Thailand. Sadly any restrictions would snuff out any hope of a significant uptick in tourism and nightlife. 

 

 

 

 

[CANSIAM]

The PM and his circle may need a new and better plan to get emergency relief money to his citizens depending on his upcoming Ban decisions regarding Omicron.......

[Le Addeur noir]

Here comes phase two of the great worldwide lockdown.

[jollyhangmon]

 

... yes, Austrian public broadcast talks of as yet unconfirmed cases in AT, DE, IT ... not fully sequenced yet. Sufficient to say the carriers flew in from the concerned omicronuos regions.

 

Talking of which, wonder why those hypocrites left out the greek lettah before  Omicron, LOLz ... 

 

 

[zzaa09]

10 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Unfortunately, if Thailand did not ban entry from certain countries with known cases, then other countries will stop travel from Thailand.

 

It's just politicians pretending to protect their people, as any new variant that spreads quicker than the old model will be everywhere in time - but impotent politicians have to be seen to do something, even if it adds no value and wrecks the economy.

 

UK now has the new variant, so maybe next on the ban list?

Appears that the timely Omicron is already disrupting flight schedules worldwide - 

The sensationalized fear mongering is spreading faster than the latest bug......one that we really don't know much about yet. 

[Jeffr2]

2 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Appears that the timely Omicron is already disrupting flight schedules worldwide - 

The sensationalized fear mongering is spreading faster than the latest bug......one that we really don't know much about yet. 

It'd be irresponsible not to take precautions against a new variant like this.  That's what caused problems in the first place.

[Bkk Brian]

14 minutes ago, jollyhangmon said:

 

... yes, Austrian public broadcast talks of as yet unconfirmed cases in AT, DE, IT ... not fully sequenced yet. Sufficient to say the carriers flew in from the concerned omicronuos regions.

 

Talking of which, wonder why those hypocrites left out the greek lettah before  Omicron, LOLz ... 

 

 

This is their excuse:

 

Why were two letters in the Greek alphabet skipped to name the new coronavirus variant? WHO has provided this explanation

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1464764926405320712

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by Bkk Brian

[Willy Wombat]

The Chinese gift that keeps on giving.

 

[itsari]

Inflation concerns suddenly eliminated 

[jollyhangmon]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

This is there excuse:

 

Why were two letters in the Greek alphabet skipped to name the new coronavirus variant? WHO has provided this explanation

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1464764926405320712

 

 

... 555, yeah, also known as 'common codswallop' but so be it ...

 

A shame really 'cause the commiecreep 4 life would have deserved the honors, 4 shizzles ...

 

[Rimmer]

A troll post has been removed

[sandyf]

42 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

It'd be irresponsible not to take precautions against a new variant like this.  That's what caused problems in the first place.

Exactly, if you are not prepared to take the word of someone else and have to prove to yourself that the door is in fact open, it is too late, the horse has gone.

I posted a few days ago about this variant and the response from the "free thinkers" on this forum was that you cannot believe what appears in the news.

The longer people think like that, the longer this will go on. Little chance of winning the battle while there are mutineers in the ranks.

 

[sandyf]

LONDON/BERLIN/AMSTERDAM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Britain, Germany and Italy detected cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new steps to contain the virus, while more nations imposed restrictions on travel from southern Africa.

The discovery of the variant has sparked global concern, a wave of travel bans or curbs and a sell-off on financial markets on Friday as investors worried that Omicron could stall a global recovery from the nearly two-year pandemic.

https://www.reuters.com/world/concerns-over-covid-variant-trigger-more-travel-curbs-southern-africa-2021-11-27/

[ozimoron]

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

Appears that the timely Omicron is already disrupting flight schedules worldwide - 

The sensationalized fear mongering is spreading faster than the latest bug......one that we really don't know much about yet. 

Yes, lets under react because you know, under reacting is always better than over reacting when it comes to a pandemic. It's called insurance. Restrictions can always be lifted, a runaway pandemic not so much.

[Farangus]

It never happened and now it happened again ????

[bobandyson]

Nevermind giving out Greek letters, give a virus a name like 'Mega Death 2021', 'The Lung Clotter' or 'Breath Reaper' and there'd be no need for anymore travel warnings.  

Edited November 28, 2021 by bobandyson

[smedly]

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Now in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Botswana and South Africa. What a difference a couple of days makes.

and is Thailand going ban these and the  rest ?

 

what about India and China

 

I guess we will have to wait and see how this developes, this new variant could see the end of covid 19 or a new deadly beggining lets hope its not the latter 

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, smedly said:

and is Thailand going ban these and the  rest ?

 

what about India and China

 

I guess we will have to wait and see how this developes, this new variant could see the end of covid 19 or a new deadly beggining lets hope its not the latter 

It has a reproduction rate of 2, per early studies.  Delta is around 5.  So not as transmissible.  But, it's taking off in South Africa.  Big time.  Most are unvaccinated and seems this new variant is going after those in their 20's to early 30's.

 

Scary.

[smedly]

2 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Unfortunately, if Thailand did not ban entry from certain countries with known cases, then other countries will stop travel from Thailand.

 

It's just politicians pretending to protect their people, as any new variant that spreads quicker than the old model will be everywhere in time - but impotent politicians have to be seen to do something, even if it adds no value and wrecks the economy.

 

UK now has the new variant, so maybe next on the ban list?

sounds like you (think) have all the answers - why can you not be in charge

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Now in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belgium, Israel, UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Botswana and South Africa. What a difference a couple of days makes.

Decisions decisions, I wonder if Thailand will add them back onto the quarantine list like some African countries.

[RafPinto]

What's about Turkey?

 

The woman which was found positive in Belgium never went to Africa. She has been in Turkey.

[Rimmer]

A misleadng post has has been removed

[RafPinto]

3 hours ago, jollyhangmon said:

 

... yes, Austrian public broadcast talks of as yet unconfirmed cases in AT, DE, IT ... not fully sequenced yet. Sufficient to say the carriers flew in from the concerned omicronuos regions.

 

Talking of which, wonder why those hypocrites left out the greek lettah before  Omicron, LOLz ... 

 

 

It was actually Ny and Xi they skipped.

I read this today online. Most probably not to upset the Chinese headman.

[Lemonltr]

Like many, this virus was originally named by the regions it emerged causing affront. So the WHO switched to Greek numbers which few understand. 

Why not use the more universal English numbering such as:-

Whun. 

Two 

Three. 

Then nobody is unjustly blamed.