Top official describes the popular ‘Test and Go’ entry as a loophole exposing Thailand to Omicron

[spidermike007]

53 minutes ago, law ling said:

I think the porous land borders have been a greater "loophole" ... but the guy is a Dr. so I won't argue with him.

 

Why didn't he speak up earlier? 

 

Test & Go is a child of the government ... so he's just made himself unpopular ... next time Senate seats need to be allocated.

You are making far too much sense. It is best to avoid the topic of truth, or the discussion of accurate information. Disinformation seems to be far more powerful when it comes to whipping up the public into a frenzy of fear of the impending Apocalypse. 

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

What is the end game here then? Just seal borders forever?

A "Hermit Kingdom"?

[Guderian]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

public health officials had demanded by banning alcohol sales nationwide

Blimey, it's a good job that particular demand didn't make the headlines yesterday or Makro's booze department would have been besieged again, lol! Remember scenes like this from April 2020?

 

 

[koratkarlos]

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

What is the end game here then?

This is an interesting question.  Is there really a plan for a path forward.  I am not sure.

 

A long time ago I arrived in Phuket shortly after the Tsunami.  I met an English couple who knew Thailand well and were making charitable contributions to the natives who had lost their homes from the Tsunami.  They explained to me that the government was not interested in helping the natives as their main goal was to retake the land for property development.

 

Could COVID be a new wave Tsunami?  Another excuse to let the common folks suffer so the government can take more control of the country?  I sure hope not.  But this could be the way.  And how convenient to blame foreigners and alchohol for a virus that globally nobody really has control of.  What an easy way out for the long lunch today.  

 

[vandeventer]

3 hours ago, Daithi85 said:

Why do u keep saying their locking everybody up? Mandatory quarantine is no longer been enforced. Home isolation is the new Go for people who with no symptoms or mild.Things are completely different here this time round,no lockdowns, no curfews.

Soon everyone is going to have Omicron, we have to learn to live with it. We live with a cold and the Flu so why not Omicron. Please tell me how many people have died around the world from Omicron? How many have died from the Flu? A lot more, right? Live with it!!!

[Tropicalevo]

The Test and Go is not fit for purpose.

We have had a number of guests now that have been negative after the first PCR test on their one night quarantine, but are found to be positive after the second PCR test some five days later.

Where the guest is asymptomatic or mild symptoms, they are being allowed to quarantine in their rental villa. No visitors.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, mjakob007 said:

With Omicron now prevalent in the country, what loophole does 'test & go' pose!

 

What is the difference between '7 day phuket sandbox' and 'test & go'?

 

- international arrivals are free to leave the hotel within 24 hours in both cases, after the first test being negative.

- with the sandbox, the hotel earn 6 additional days of income.

 

So how did it benefit anybody from abolishing test & go?

It did not. It was a low risk, high reward program. The cancellation was a knee jerk reaction by cowardly fools, who know very little, about anything. 

[spidermike007]

15 minutes ago, koratkarlos said:

This is an interesting question.  Is there really a plan for a path forward.  I am not sure.

 

A long time ago I arrived in Phuket shortly after the Tsunami.  I met an English couple who knew Thailand well and were making charitable contributions to the natives who had lost their homes from the Tsunami.  They explained to me that the government was not interested in helping the natives as their main goal was to retake the land for property development.

 

Could COVID be a new wave Tsunami?  Another excuse to let the common folks suffer so the government can take more control of the country?  I sure hope not.  But this could be the way.  And how convenient to blame foreigners and alchohol for a virus that globally nobody really has control of.  What an easy way out for the long lunch today.  

 

Very little concerning the "official Covid narrative" seems to be fact based and accurate. They are multiple agendas and few benefit the masses. 

[Bangkok Barry]

From the linked article:

On Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health raised the COVID-19 alert level from three to four meaning that alcohol sales nationwide can now be banned by order.

 

Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul and public health officials were reported to have pushed hard for suspension of all alcohol sales nationwide.

 

Anutin had warned that he did not want to see a return to crowded and rowdy bar scenes which many regular foreign tourists to Thailand associate with their holidaymaking activity in the kingdom.

 

Anutin may be the next PM.

 

[IamNoone88]

We are two years into this pandemic and no further down the road in terms of and end to restrictions and control  - the economy remains in tatters. Phuket currently has a major out break in the community (and I suspect many cases are not detected) and yes the bars are largely responsible for transmission events. With more "sandboxes" opening and this is really the minimum of control, it is impossible to stop the 5th or 6th wave of community infection. At this juncture, perhaps the Gov't is accepting this by opening more Sandbox destinations. It is an individual responsibility to ensure vaccination and control your own risk profile. This cannot be stopped and the end game is not yet in sight .... so lets get on with business and hope that those with Covid are responsible enough to do the right things and stay at home. 

[kiwikeith]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

‘Test & Go is a loophole for the virus to enter the country,’ Dr Taweesilp told reporters on Friday.

 

Xenophobia in overdrive again. With it already here , in my mind there is very little reason not to reinstate test and go, since there is more omicron now found in the thai populace in one day than the entire tourists from the opening day of Thailand in November. they are just wasting time and money now

The Burmese workers pose no threat, they never brought Delta to Thailand and they wont bring Omicron no matter how many we smuggle.

Nor will the people from Bangladesh that can also walk into Thailand through Burma, they have Natural immunity , no problem, just pay your 3k Bhatt and your immunized.

Anyhow it may be all over in another month or two, It may have displaced Delta already, I don't think anyone knows the true numbers as many will get Pben Wat and never know they had omicron.

[Harveyboy]

6 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

They need to immediately round up all foreigners and put them in isolation camps.

 

with a bar..and sexy issaan girls ..ok I'm ready

[snowgard]

3 hours ago, kimamey said:

I don't know all the statistics but if Omicron is already in the country then I can't see how a few tested and vaccinated tourists will make much difference to the spread. Just take simple precautions that cause little or no disruption or negative affect on the economy. Masks are simple and possibly some social distancing if it can be achieved without too many problems such as in queues in supermarkets.

 

From experience Thais just seem to have a problem coping with anything that involves safety so you end up with helmets in the basket on the front of bikes sometimes whilst using an umbrella. Masks under the chin or hanging off one ear. The inability to keep a hard hat on top of their heads. Not using seat belts in the front of vehicles because there aren't any police checkpoints on back roads or in the back because you don't have to because "this is Thailand". Yes I've heard that one.

 

Wow, if you walk around Pattaya you can see that almost 50% of the Farang population also give a <deleted> about all laws, including the Covid-19 rules. They are no better than Thais. ????????

What I find absolutely inconsiderate is that most farangs are of an age in which they are at risk for Covid-19 but they walk around everywhere without a mask, meet in groups, drink and have fun, ... !!! ????????????

And the police do absolutely nothing. ???? I thought there was a fine of 6,000 Baht for "Don't wear a mask"! And then the cops cry in the news that they have no money and high debts! I wish they would do their job and get filthy rich in Pattaya. ???????????? 

Looks like a lot old Farangs want a great "Last Stop Thailand" before they die of Covid-19. ????

[KhunLA]

Thankfully the police have more common sense than policy makers, and reassuring many are now not living in fear of the air they breathe.

[findlay13]

6 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

They need to immediately round up all foreigners and put them in isolation camps.

 

Yes, Ex-pats ,Test and goers,Sanbox users,long term stayers, round the lot up.

[asiasurfer]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin is a blazing idiot. The number of people found positive from the program was miniscule. He is just another emotionally undeveloped fool, looking for a scapegoat, and refusing to take responsibility for anything. Dumb and dumber. 

 

Woe is Thailand when men like him end up in positions of leadership. True bottom of the barrel selections. 

Jap. And I didn't know Omicron needs a "loophole" to come in. 

[FinChin67]

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

It's not a 'loophole' if it's intentional.

 

It is most definitely intentional, they knew the situation in Europe and the US yet decided to proceed.

 

They definitely seem to be moving in a different direction to China.

 

I suspect China has been pressuring the zero covid strategy, which as we know is not very deisrable to a country which relies on visitors and once it's here - it's impossible to stop.

 

They appear to have chosen the let it in and now it's impossible to stop route, it would have walked here from South Asia anyway....

Zero covid strategy fails in China and Hong Kong too but they blame it on imported cases. Kind of ironic China blaming foreigners for the <deleted>storm they first try to hide and then let it spread. 

[Dcheech]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

On Friday, it was described by Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) as a ‘loophole’ that left Thailand vulnerable to the Omicron virus storm now brewing.

Dr T reminds the populace, where this virus is coming from, who brings it in, and most importantly, by implication, who to blame. The Government is on top of this variant. 

[Lucky Bones]

Ah. The Doctor points finger and blahs into his mask, resulting in constant streams of mouth excretions going directly to his eyes via his glasses.

 

Hey, my comment is OK. I am an self proclaimed expert.

Funny old world these days.

[Jimbo2014]

The illusion Anutin and his pack are living under boggles the mind.  Omicron wont be stopped.  It will spread fast and wide quickly and then will disappear.  It has made its way into far more secure places than Thailand with its porous borders of free flowing illegal workers and trade.  Let it burn and be done with it.

[ThailandRyan]

As per the Royal Gazette in print.

Published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 8 January 2022, the announcement also officiated the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA) decision to reopen 3 more Sandbox destinations – Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) from 11 January 2022 – in addition to Phuket. 

The announcement also confirmed that travelers who have applied/obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before 22 December 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from 24 December 2021, onwards, can still enter Thailand until there are any changes.

Currently, there is no cut-off date.

[Mr Meeseeks]

7 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

They need to immediately round up all foreigners and put them in isolation camps.

 

Don't give them ideas. That would be a dream for many of the locals here. 

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, koratkarlos said:

Could COVID be a new wave Tsunami?  Another excuse to let the common folks suffer so the government can take more control of the country?  I sure hope not.  But this could be the way.  And how convenient to blame foreigners and alchohol for a virus that globally nobody really has control of.  What an easy way out for the long lunch today.  

 

It has been evident that developers have picked up land in Pattaya during Covid.  Big business is just as likely to be doing this.....

[Misterwhisper]

Ah, Thailand. The hub of loopholes. And the only hub the country truly excels in -- and always has. 

[flyfrog]

6 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

This was literally last week, and countless other tourists being sent to hospitals (or isolation units). 

How is this possible?? I had Covid and could stay home for 10 days cause no symptoms??

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

From the linked article:

On Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health raised the COVID-19 alert level from three to four meaning that alcohol sales nationwide can now be banned by order.

 

Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul and public health officials were reported to have pushed hard for suspension of all alcohol sales nationwide.

 

Anutin had warned that he did not want to see a return to crowded and rowdy bar scenes which many regular foreign tourists to Thailand associate with their holidaymaking activity in the kingdom.

 

Anutin may be the next PM.

 

Get your plan b ready and your suitcases packed. 

 

I can very well see a pogrom against expats and long staying foreigners if he ever gets to be PM.

[WEBBYB808]

4 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Who was your response to and in what regard?

Opening to fast allowed the tourist and outsiders to take the virus in. Agreeing  with article  headline

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, WEBBYB808 said:

Opening to fast allowed the tourist and outsiders to take the virus in. Agreeing  with article  headline

Thanks for the clarification, I was just a little confused by the brevity.

[Boomer6969]

6 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

This was literally last week, and countless other tourists being sent to hospitals (or isolation units). 

Thanks for this video, share it on FB for those of my friends who might still dream of a holiday in Thailand.

 

Also that guy is brilliant in that he was uncooperative, just enough to get what he wanted: get moved to a hotel. I share his opinion that what they do to people in Thailand is disgusting, goes against anything we know and embrace with regards to human rights.

[Mr Meeseeks]

16 minutes ago, WEBBYB808 said:

Opening to fast allowed the tourist and outsiders to take the virus in. Agreeing  with article  headline

The Omicron variant would have got here eventually and spread anyway.