Opposition targets Test and Go for spreading the virus as government insists on endemic status

[webfact]

Pheu Thai Party deputy spokesperson, Treechada Srithada (centre), this week, expressed misgivings about the large number of people entering Thailand under the relaunched Test and Go regime. She warned they are free to travel throughout the kingdom from Day 1 to Day 5 when a second COVID-19 PCR test is required. It comes as Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn (inset right), has announced a postponement of the ฿300 foreign tourist levy due to be introduced in April until June this year.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has also announced the postponement of the foreign tourist levy from April to June although the plans to attach the fee to airline fares may be in contravention of a 1944 convention pointed to by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

 

Thailand’s main opposition Pheu Thai Party has taken aim at the Test and Go foreign tourist entry scheme which is recording strong numbers initially for applications and approvals in the first week with over one hundred and fifty thousand applications submitted in 8 days. Ms Treechada Srithada, the party’s deputy spokesperson took issue with the fact that foreign travellers were free to travel throughout the kingdom after one day while only being required to return for one night to a hotel for a second test on Day 5 of the scheme.

 

Ms Treechada claimed this allows incoming travellers to spread the disease around the kingdom before a second test result. It comes amid rising COVID-19 cases in the kingdom which the government insisted on Tuesday would begin to level off this week although top spokeswoman, Dr Apisamai Srisangson, maintained that a guarded approach to the situation is important with a spiral in cases in some provinces expected. At the same time, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul insists that the country is moving towards an endemic status for COVID-19 this year and putting the crisis behind it.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/02/15/opposition-targets-test-and-go-entry-scheme/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-02-16

 

- 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

[daveAustin]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Ms Treechada claimed this allows incoming travellers to spread the disease around the kingdom before a second test result.

No. It allows travellers to pick up the virus LOCALLY. Wakey wakey! And here was I thinking someone with some nous would could along to challenge the authority and their over the top requirements, but they go the other way. Shakes head. 

[UKPaul67]

Oh dear, here they go again trying to blame the "farangs", nothing to do with the porous borders ????.

It's the poor tourists getting caught and infected. 

I would like to see the numbers of day 1 infections after a pre flight PCR to day 5 infections ????

[Jotho]

There are way too many brainwashed ppl there to even actually believe that... It is unreal how that big part of people can be that ignorant and it almost makes one question if alot of illiterate makes up those because people with just an ounce of sanity and education should be able to see through the madness some are preaching there.

[smedly]

31 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

No. It allows travellers to pick up the virus LOCALLY. Wakey wakey! And here was I thinking someone with some nous would could along to challenge the authority and their over the top requirements, but they go the other way. Shakes head. 

exactly, foreign arrivals have alread had 2x tests unlike most of the locals they will be mixing with, who is infecting who is the question and the bigger question - with omicron does it really matter as western countries have pretty much reduced restrictions or removed them completely, why is Thailand always months behind the curve

 

seems the only thing that matters now is - are you vaccinated or (as increasing recent evidence is showing) have you already been infected with the virus which seems to offer the best protection - natural immunity that could last for years

 

this pandemic is coming to an end Thailand needs to get with the program

[Petey11]

Need to look in their own backyard before looking over the fence and pointing at other peoples yards.

[ThailandRyan]

Incubation period for Omicron is short at 3 days.  Tourist arrives, tests negative prior to flying and then negative on day 1.  Travels around in tourist areas meeting people of all nationalities and many Thais in the service industries.  On day number 2, possibly becomes infected from contact with someone in the country.  Returns for a test on day 5 and viola the tourist/traveler or even expat like myself tests positive after catching a homegrown Thailand infection of omicron.  Many Thais my GF and her friends know are showing cold type symptoms and not isolating because they need to work and some have even tested positive on an ATK test, but since they feel fine other than the sniffles and a cough continue on with their daily activities........nuff said.

 

https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/what-is-incubation-period-omicron-covid-19

[Danderman123]

I cannot think of a good reason for the day 5 test, except that testing in general is a good thing. But Thailand would be better served if instead random sampling were undertaken to give the authorities a better understanding of the epidemic. 

[charmonman]

This should serve as a reminder to everyone of what idiots the Pheua Thai are. The idea that covid-19 positive incoming tourists could contribute anything more than a drop in the bucket compared to local transmissions does not stand up to any logical examination. Her brain must move very slowly because it seems to be stuck in 2020 when Thailand had very little local transmission and there was legitimate reason to fear travellers bringing it in. She seems to think that prolonging the misery of millions of Thais who lost their source of income due to the collapse of the tourism industry would be a good idea, and I thought the Pheua Thai were supposed to care about poor people.

The day 5 thing (which I am currently doing) is not really sensible, but for the opposite reason to what this silly opposition politician thinks.

[KhaoYai]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Ms Treechada claimed this allows incoming travellers to spread the disease around the kingdom before a second test result.

As opposed to Asymptomatic Thai citizens who 'spread the disease around the Kingdom' and don't undergo any form of test!

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, UKPaul67 said:

Oh dear, here they go again trying to blame the "farangs", nothing to do with the porous borders ????.

It's the poor tourists getting caught and infected. 

I would like to see the numbers of day 1 infections after a pre flight PCR to day 5 infections ????

So you want access to the figures the Government have so that you can come up with a better track for Thailand to take? You have this authority? A problem in the past was infections getting past the arrival test as likely very new. Thailand will be opening up soon.... I think we just need to see the omicron spike turn around. After all, that is what the rest of the world is doing, and they have killed far more of their populations than Thailand did by inaction. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has also announced the postponement of the foreign tourist levy from April to June although the plans to attach the fee to airline fares may be in contravention of a 1944 convention pointed to by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

This guy really needs to be put out to pasture.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Ms Treechada claimed this allows incoming travellers to spread the disease around the kingdom before a second test result.

If they test negative previously to departure, and negative again on day one then surely they are being infected within Thailand?

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

If they test negative previously to departure, and negative again on day one then surely they are being infected within Thailand?

Not necessarily true. 

The infection has an incubation period before it can be detected reliably.

The interim period between pre-departure test (72 hours)  and landing in Thailand is probably quite risky given the highly infectious omicron.... at airports, security, transit and on board. It is well and truly here now and we just need it to rip through and supply that immunity.... can't be stopped.

[ezzra]

Boil the blood to read such rubbish first thin in the morning...The article header said it all "the Opposition" their job is to muddy the waters and make life difficult for the ruling party and this is why they will go against anything the government does...

[klauskunkel]

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

The article header said it all "the Opposition" their job is to muddy the waters and make life difficult for the ruling party and this is why they will go against anything the government does...

That's correct, it's purely political no matter the science or common sense. Pheu Thai is searching for more popular support by riding the fear wave, the same tactic the government has used many times. This shows of course that Pheu Thai is perfectly suited to govern (sarcasm emoji is needed)

[dogfish180]

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

I cannot think of a good reason for the day 5 test, except that testing in general is a good thing. But Thailand would be better served if instead random sampling were undertaken to give the authorities a better understanding of the epidemic. 

Extra income for the hotels and government of course!!

[Bkk Brian]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Incubation period for Omicron is short at 3 days.  Tourist arrives, tests negative prior to flying and then negative on day 1.  Travels around in tourist areas meeting people of all nationalities and many Thais in the service industries.  On day number 2, possibly becomes infected from contact with someone in the country.  Returns for a test on day 5 and viola the tourist/traveler or even expat like myself tests positive after catching a homegrown Thailand infection of omicron.  Many Thais my GF and her friends know are showing cold type symptoms and not isolating because they need to work and some have even tested positive on an ATK test, but since they feel fine other than the sniffles and a cough continue on with their daily activities........nuff said.

 

https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/what-is-incubation-period-omicron-covid-19

Community positivity rate in Phuket is over 60%, thats extreme and yes a large proportion will be getting infected here as a result and then testing positive on the 5th day.

[RichardColeman]

Course, having a graph showing those testing positive on arrival on day 1 of the test and go and one showing positives on day 5 seems well beyond the computer ability of these people. Maybe it showing more on day 5 after mixing with the 145th or something per million of untested Thais would be detrimental to their argument !

[wandasloan]

4 hours ago, UKPaul67 said:

Oh dear, here they go again trying to blame the "farangs", nothing to do with the porous borders ????

No, "they" (whoever you think "they" is or are) know that the alleged "government" of Thailand has no way to dodge, face or explain the abject failure of Prayut's laughable "re-opening" of Thailand. Blaming farangs or Burmese or Chinese virus-inventors is not the point. The point is that the so-called "government" has failed to control the spread of this plague. It's 100% politics, which is the reason for having a parliament and a two-day no-confidence debate..

 

 

[Gandtee]

4 hours ago, daveAustin said:

No. It allows travellers to pick up the virus LOCALLY. Wakey wakey! And here was I thinking someone with some nous would could along to challenge the authority and their over the top requirements, but they go the other way. Shakes head. 

A lack of critical and lateral thinking comes to mind. But then.......

[Gandtee]

Just now, wandasloan said:

No, "they" (whoever you think "they" is or are) know that the alleged "government" of Thailand has no way to dodge, face or explain the abject failure of Prayut's laughable "re-opening" of Thailand. Blaming farangs or Burmese or Chinese virus-inventors is not the point. The point is that the so-called "government" has failed to control the spread of this plague. It's 100% politics, which is the reason for having a parliament and a two-day no-confidence debate..

 

 

I don't wish to defend this abysmal government but what other countries governments have controlled the virus?

[tigerfeet]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

exactly, foreign arrivals have alread had 2x tests unlike most of the locals they will be mixing with, who is infecting who is the question and the bigger question - with omicron does it really matter as western countries have pretty much reduced restrictions or removed them completely, why is Thailand always months behind the curve

 

seems the only thing that matters now is - are you vaccinated or (as increasing recent evidence is showing) have you already been infected with the virus which seems to offer the best protection - natural immunity that could last for years

 

this pandemic is coming to an end Thailand needs to get with the program

Unfortunately this virus is a big money maker for the rich in Thailand in more ways than one .

[elgenon]

25 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Community positivity rate in Phuket is over 60%, thats extreme and yes a large proportion will be getting infected here as a result and then testing positive on the 5th day.

And then mandatory 10 day hospital visit? And if asymptomatic, Covid insurance won't cover it? Is that what happens?

[elgenon]

150,000 applications in one week? If the "opposition" quotes this number does it mean it's real?

[Gentleman Roy]

Yes its all the horrible round eyed people who have a test before flight and a test on Day 1 of arrival that is spreading the virus.

 

Not the thousands and thousands of locals congregating in markets together and never getting tested or being tested.

 

No surprise Thailand is the most xenophobic country in the world as the horrible racism starts at the top.

 

 

 

 

[terryofcrete]

1 hour ago, charmonman said:

This should serve as a reminder to everyone of what idiots the Pheua Thai are. The idea that covid-19 positive incoming tourists could contribute anything more than a drop in the bucket compared to local transmissions does not stand up to any logical examination. Her brain must move very slowly

And here was I thinking that if they got rid of the current regime most of the silly racist stuff would disappear ...the devil you know etc....might be the case..

[ChrisY1]

"this allows incoming travellers to spread the disease around the kingdom before a second test result."

The 5 days between the initial vaccination and the second, allow people to travel anywhere......the virus if contracted during this period would have been via contact with Thais...markets, bars, restaurants and etc.....IMO, this is really dodgy, hoping tourists DO get infected and hotel or hospital quarantine is required...!

Testing among Thais is quite sparse nowadays......

[thailand49]

No guessing as to how these two got their positions!   The spread and how it continues comes from within their own and surrounding borders. Just look in the mirror and the answer is right there!????

[robblok]

59 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

That's correct, it's purely political no matter the science or common sense. Pheu Thai is searching for more popular support by riding the fear wave, the same tactic the government has used many times. This shows of course that Pheu Thai is perfectly suited to govern (sarcasm emoji is needed)

I wonder how this will affect the expats view of how much better the Pheu Thai is. Seems they have the same racist idea's as the rest. I said it before and will say it again. It does not really matter who is in power in Thailand they are all corrupt and incompetent. 

 

Now by riding the fear wave and blaming an outside source they want to become bigger. Once they are in power you will see little change as they will take good care of their own pockets.

 

Besides future forward there are not many parties in Thailand that are "good" they all just want to be in power. Last time I saw the PTP doing exactly the same the current government is doing. Just doing as they please ignoring the press the people and when corruption cases surface they like the current MOB just hide it and make sure that investigations go their way.

 

The only difference is who gets rich of being in government. Thailand has a long way to go and with people like this fighting for power it wont progress much.