Thailand restores quarantine-free entry – and this time the whole world is invited

[webfact]

 

From February 1, Thailand will fling its doors wide open to foreigners from every corner of the world, offering quarantine-free entry for those who are fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19.

 

This time, quarantine-free entry will be available to travelers from all countries – though they will have to take two RT-PCR tests during their stay, not one as previously.

 

From Tuesday, travelers will have a choice of two entry schemes – Test & Go or the Sandbox.

 

Test & Go

 

As the name suggests, Test & Go requires travelers to undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival and spend the first night in a pre-booked AQ or SHA Extra+ hotel, after which they can check out if their test is negative.

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-restores-quarantine-free-entry-and-this-time-the-whole-world-is-invited/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-01-31

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[RandiRona]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

quarantine-free entry

It is quarantine free but its Thai definition of quarantine, where you are subjected to 2 nights forced stay with 2 tests if you are lucky. Will be transferred to 10 days of usual Thai quarantine in Hospitel if found positive. 

Edited January 31, 2022 by RandiRona

[khunjeff]

Evidently the terms "wide open" and "quarantine-free" have different meanings here than what I'm used to.

[volsfan]

BS title. Nothing quarantine-free about it. Be honest about it. 

 

[richard_smith237]

Now this is what you call ‘polishing a turd & then rolling it in glitter’ !!! 

 

The day  5 PCR test & forced hotel stay is utterly moronic & for some an obvious deal breaker. 
 

No need for more than first night ‘Test & Go’ 

[TooMuchTime]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Now this is what you call ‘polishing a turd & then rolling it in glitter’ !!! 

 

The day  5 PCR test & forced hotel stay is utterly moronic & for some an obvious deal breaker. 
 

No need for more than first night ‘Test & Go’ 

You need to trust The Science more.  Stop spreading misinformation.  You can still get covid and pass it to granny within the few days you arrive in Thailand.

 

2nd test is absolute necessary.  You would know this if you trusted The Science.

[RichardColeman]

I'm in 7 days AQ now, better to stay in the room 7 days, have little exposure for my 5th day test and be free with the wife on day 7, than mix with the untested and come back and test positive ! There are about to be some real horror stories in the coming months on here.

[JustAnotherHun]

2 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

You need to trust The Science more.  Stop spreading misinformation.  You can still get covid and pass it to granny within the few days you arrive in Thailand.

 

2nd test is absolute necessary.  You would know this if you trusted The Science.

And you need to think more. Why not a third test after 10 days? As everybody should know by now you can get infected after day five too.

Stop spreading misinformation ????

[clivebaxter]

Am I right in thinking if you get to your hotel after 6PM that needs another night in quarantine, add the fifth night and a 3rd test in a week to go with 3 nights banged up and they can kiss real tourist arrivals goodbye for now.

[ikke1959]

The world has to change their travel advice first from to red to green, but that is not done yet....

[Cake Monster]

11 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm in 7 days AQ now, better to stay in the room 7 days, have little exposure for my 5th day test and be free with the wife on day 7, than mix with the untested and come back and test positive ! There are about to be some real horror stories in the coming months on here.

How right you are.

With Omicron being able to ' Breakout " from Vaccinated people, and its rampant ability to re-infect those that have already had Covid, and the whole situation becomes a massive Catch 22 situation

[KannikaP]

21 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

You need to trust The Science more.  Stop spreading misinformation.  You can still get covid and pass it to granny within the few days you arrive in Thailand.

 

2nd test is absolute necessary.  You would know this if you trusted The Science.

But, as you say, you have already passed it on the Granny, so 2nd test is too late.

[connda]

Quote

This time, quarantine-free entry will be available to travelers from all countries – though they will have to take two RT-PCR tests during their stay, not one as previously.

That's a show killer and always will be.  It is NOT quarantine free.  And if a tourist has a positive PCR - Covid Jail for 10 days and an expensive bill as they walk out the door.

Why bother.  Go to Mexico or Portugal.

[a3tsw]

Quarantine free , but not as we know it!

or , as  Thai would say

"Same Same quarantine free! ... but different!"????

 

[ezzra]

Given few weeks and that 1st and 5th night will go away once they will realized how silly, unnecessary and bothersome this system is...

[Willy Wombat]

Fully vaccinated.

PCR test before you board your flight with. negative result.

Get a stamp a Suvarnabhumi immigration.

Leave us alone after that.

[daveAustin]

Sensationalist trip from thaipbs. If the application of the convoluted Thai Pass, insurance, tests, quarantine hotels, etc etc doesn’t put people off, then I’m sure they’ll change their minds once they’re whisked off by plonkers in hazmat suits with the realisation that they could be sent to hospital. Even if they do pass go and make it out into the world, they’ll find much of it shut for business. In the meantime they potential pick up the cold locally and are put through the ringer again. I remember the days when just the flight was stressful enough, PRE 911!

[Kenchamp]

They need to at least cut out the fifth day test. The first one i can sort of understand but even with that you would be open to dodgy testing and or a scam

[stigar]

40 minutes ago, connda said:

That's a show killer and always will be.  It is NOT quarantine free.  And if a tourist has a positive PCR - Covid Jail for 10 days and an expensive bill as they walk out the door.

Why bother.  Go to Mexico or Portugal.

The numbers of people in "hospitels"is about 33.000.

I dont understand why people want to go to thailand at all.Its NOT quarantene free.Is a big lie.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, TooMuchTime said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Now this is what you call ‘polishing a turd & then rolling it in glitter’ !!! 

 

The day  5 PCR test & forced hotel stay is utterly moronic & for some an obvious deal breaker. 
 

No need for more than first night ‘Test & Go’ 

Expand  

You need to trust The Science more.  Stop spreading misinformation.  You can still get covid and pass it to granny within the few days you arrive in Thailand.

 

2nd test is absolute necessary.  You would know this if you trusted The Science.

You didn’t really think this one through at all... 

 

The second test is ‘only' absolutely necessary IF someone is in quarantine for 6 days...

That is not the case,  arrivals are free to go and ’spread it to Granny’ on Day, 2, 3 and 4.... so.... While I agree whole heartedly with ’trust the science’ I find it comical that you were so hellbent on accusing me of 'spreading misinformation' and telling me to ’trust the science’ you failed to recognise basic common sense. 

 

Additionally, anyone ‘can spread it to granny’ - thats why I trust the science and ‘ensure granny is fully vaccinated and boosted’.....    I know a lot of people in Thailand who have had Covid-19 over the past few months, some without any symptoms at all.

 

So ‘mr trust the science’ - what do you do ? lock down again ?.... or ’trust the science’ and rely on vaccination ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, stigar said:

The numbers of people in "hospitels"is about 33.000.

I dont understand why people want to go to thailand at all.Its NOT quarantene free.Is a big lie.

Where do you get that figure of 33,000 people in hospitels ????  

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

1 hour ago, TooMuchTime said:

You need to trust The Science more.  Stop spreading misinformation.  You can still get covid and pass it to granny within the few days you arrive in Thailand.

 

2nd test is absolute necessary.  You would know this if you trusted The Science.

But, as you say, you have already passed it on the Granny, so 2nd test is too late.

He's too busy trying to generate andeffective sound-bite than identifying common sense.... 

 

An absence of critical thought.... 

 

 

[stigar]

COVID-19 SATURDAY_ 19 deaths, over 200,000 infections in 2022 _ Thaiger.mhtml

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Where do you get that figure of 33,000 people in hospitels ????  

I saw in a update on "the thaiger"yeserday.

Edited January 31, 2022 by stigar

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Now this is what you call ‘polishing a turd & then rolling it in glitter’ !!! 

 

The day  5 PCR test & forced hotel stay is utterly moronic & for some an obvious deal breaker. 
 

No need for more than first night ‘Test & Go’ 

No need for anything, the crisis is all but over now. 

[jonclark]

 This surely cannot apply to residents? 

 

So if i choose to leave Thailand, then the renetry process is;

 

1) Spend 1 night at a hotel (Day 1)

2) Go home and then go to work ...say I am a school teacher for arguments sake. (Days 2, 3, and 4)

3) Take a day off work and spend it in a hotel (Day 5)

 

I'm thinking there is a slight hole in this plan sherlock? 

 

This cannot be for foreign residents here surely? 

[DonniePeverley]

It is NOT test and go. The sheer energy they put on testing on vaccinated visitors is bizarre, when they barely test their own population (where Omicron is rife). 

[Mentors65]

Test & Go is NOT Quarantine free. Point

[Laughing Gravy]

2 hours ago, khunjeff said:

Evidently the terms "wide open" and "quarantine-free" have different meanings here than what I'm used to.

Yes that's the usual. Same with democracy, it has a different meaning. ????

[billd766]

2 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

You need to trust The Science more.  Stop spreading misinformation.  You can still get covid and pass it to granny within the few days you arrive in Thailand.

 

2nd test is absolute necessary.  You would know this if you trusted The Science.

Trusting Science is OK in a lot of countries.

 

Trusting the current Thai government is a whole new ballgame.

[The Hammer2021]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm in 7 days AQ now, better to stay in the room 7 days, have little exposure for my 5th day test and be free with the wife on day 7, than mix with the untested and come back and test positive ! There are about to be some real horror stories in the coming months on here.

'real horror ' stories..lol