CCSA says major meeting this Friday will discuss legal reopening of bars and nightlife, mask mandates, Test and Go, Songkran

[webfact]

 

By Nop Meechukhun

 

Bangkok – The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is scheduled to discuss the ease of immigration measures, like Thailand Pass and Test and Go, Songkran, mask mandates, and the reopening of entertainment venues in the upcoming general meeting this Friday, March 18th.

 

According to the reports of the Government House, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha, as the CCSA director, would participate in the meeting on Friday to update the general Covid-19 situation as well as to discuss and consider the easing of additional measures, including immigration relaxation for tourists, as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health.

 

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The Public Health Ministry would also finalize the plan of the Covid-19 pandemic to an endemic transition on Thursday before introducing it to the CCSA at the meeting. The approval was likely possible as the National Communicable Disease Committee had previously voted in favor of the resolution, according to the Ministry.

 

Regarding the relaxing measures of legally opening entertainment venues, including pubs, bars, nightclubs, and karaoke lounges, such a proposal was in the process of conclusion and would be discussed with a CCSA sub-panel before proposing to the CCSA this Friday, the report stated.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/03/16/thai-covid-19-center-says-major-meeting-this-friday-will-discuss-legal-reopening-of-bars-and-nightlife-mask-mandates-test-and-go-songkran-and-more/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-03-17

 

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[Soikhaonoiken]

It is time Thailand moved like the rest of the World is, 

The World has got to live with Covid.

[Thaiwrath]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

ease of immigration measures, like Thailand Pass and Test and Go, Songkran, mask mandates, and the reopening of entertainment venues

drop the State of emergency ?

Nah, thought not, got to keep control of the peasants and possible protestors !

[Daithi85]

35 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

drop the State of emergency ?

Nah, thought not, got to keep control of the peasants and possible protestors !

It's a step in the right direction. Good news. 

[TooMuchTime]

Drop all covid related measures except for the western "tourists".

[TheFishman1]

Get rid of Thai Pass

[bristolgeoff]

Ease  the travel restrictions and accept travel and visa,s are lifting.People will come back to thailand in the many

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

It is time Thailand moved like the rest of the World is, 

The World has got to live with Covid.

Well far from all of it!

[kiwikeith]

3 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

It is time Thailand moved like the rest of the World is, 

The World has got to live with Covid.

Sounds encouraging , France has lifted mandates, Hungary, many following, it's all over rover, but there are a few slug countries out there including mine, NZ.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is scheduled to discuss the ease of immigration measures, like Thailand Pass and Test and Go, Songkran, mask mandates, and the reopening of entertainment venues in the upcoming general meeting this Friday, March 18th.

About time too....

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

discuss and consider the easing of additional measures, including immigration relaxation for tourists, as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health.

Very little point in having one without the other. 

 

Not dropping the immigration nonsense = no genuine mass tourism.

Not opening all bars, restaurants, clubs = no genuine mass tourism.

Dropping the immigration nonsense and opening up = relatively upwards tourism.

 

Simple maths equation in my book, but the TAT and others are incredibly bad with numbers and calculators

 

 

 

[Karma80]

I'm sure we can all look forward to this weeks half measure, series of conflicting announcements and resulting flow charts complete with TAT lottery numbers.

[Andycoops]

It will be a last resort for the Muppets to suspend the emergency decree, as it's been used as a suppression tool against any form of government criticism.

 

Let's hope the ridiculous alcohol ban is history and immigration access goes back to its pre covid time. 2 years of nonsense needs to be ended.

[realfunster]

I see the usual Thai logic at work.

I think of all the tests, the pre-departure PCR is probably the one which is the most useful as it gives a tourist a go/no go sign and ultimately reduces chances for host country of receiving an infected guest.

 

However, 

Additionally, the TCC urged the government to relax the “Test&Go” scheme by revoking the RT-PCR testing within 72 hours before entering the country and only doing the test on the day of arrival.

 

Great. So you don’t do a pre-departure test and then still have the Day 1 risk to get snagged in the Thai COVID healthcare system…

 

More logical phased relaxation of requirements : request pre-departure PCR and remove any PCR requirement on arrival. Then people can book and travel with some confidence.

[thailand49]

I had to check the date April 1st.?

Certainly this is the right step but I wonder will the possibility of allowing clubs to open just be the perfect excuse to shut them all down if there is an outbreak during and after Songkran. Timing is there any wonder China has an outbreak right after the O event? 

Don't getting me wrong I'm not against opening I will be the first to swap split when they do! ????

[Destiny1990]

Maybe for this month they decide if walk alone in a park then a face mask isn’t mandatory anymore but it’s still recommended. So and next month they will proceed to ease something else. ????

[herfiehandbag]

23 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Simple maths equation in my book, but the TAT and others are incredibly bad with numbers and calculators

Oh I would say that "TAT and others" are quite phenomenal with numbers and calculators. They manage to produce the most remarkable (and entertaining) forecasts and predictions from the most dismal of statistics!

[Captain Monday]

As prior to Omicron get ready for large vinyl boards describing the 24 rules to order a drink at a nightclub.  Before arrival QR code to prove  triple vaccine and ATK test within 24 hours. 

[Canadian Snowbird]

They're just not getting it. Do they honestly think that reducing the added insurance requirement from $20,000 to $10,000 is going to make any difference? There won't be any insurance companies willing to cover that amount because they won't be able to charge enough to cover the time it takes to do the paper work. Come on Thailand, get with the program and quick playing around with the ridiculous extra requirements.

[sambum]

57 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Very little point in having one without the other. 

 

Not dropping the immigration nonsense = no genuine mass tourism.

Not opening all bars, restaurants, clubs = no genuine mass tourism.

Dropping the immigration nonsense and opening up = relatively upwards tourism.

 

Simple maths equation in my book, but the TAT and others are incredibly bad with numbers and calculators

 

 

 

Yes, any problem they have with figures not being up to requirements usually means just adding 2 or 3 zeros - simples!

[Sqoop]

1 hour ago, kiwikeith said:

Sounds encouraging , France has lifted mandates, Hungary, many following, it's all over rover, but there are a few slug countries out there including mine, NZ.

Yes life in Thailand bests Auckland hands down. 

[mnomad]

Love to see the mask mandate dropped, or at least out doors.

 

Comical to see the dirty looks Thai's give you when unmasked outdoors - several metres from anyone - as they continue their day double masked.

 

In some related good news the BA and Virgin Atlantic have dropped mask on-board requirements where not a legal requirements for inbound airlines, not the best airline, but if it applies to BA BKK-LHR route then they will be getting my business

Edited March 17, 2022 by mnomad

[sambum]

52 minutes ago, realfunster said:

I see the usual Thai logic at work.

I think of all the tests, the pre-departure PCR is probably the one which is the most useful as it gives a tourist a go/no go sign and ultimately reduces chances for host country of receiving an infected guest.

 

However, 

Additionally, the TCC urged the government to relax the “Test&Go” scheme by revoking the RT-PCR testing within 72 hours before entering the country and only doing the test on the day of arrival.

 

Great. So you don’t do a pre-departure test and then still have the Day 1 risk to get snagged in the Thai COVID healthcare system…

 

More logical phased relaxation of requirements : request pre-departure PCR and remove any PCR requirement on arrival. Then people can book and travel with some confidence.

One of the main stumbling blocks to attracting more tourists is this testing on arrival nonsense. People are not going to travel with a Covid free result, only to arrive in the destination country and possibly get a "false positive" test result, and then get whisked off to a hospital or hotel, (which is at great expense to themselves) for the greater part of their holiday - I know of at least half a dozen cases to which this applies.

[Henryford]

25,000 cases today, they will do nothing.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, sambum said:

One of the main stumbling blocks to attracting more tourists is this testing on arrival nonsense. People are not going to travel with a Covid free result, only to arrive in the destination country and possibly get a "false positive" test result, and then get whisked off to a hospital or hotel, (which is at great expense to themselves) for the greater part of their holiday - I know of at least half a dozen cases to which this applies.

There were a few reports of something like this happening some months ago, but I have not heard any more recently. While it may be a concern, is it really a reality, or simple fear mongering? You know of 6 or so personally? 

[Thailand]

Boring, but simply revert to pre Covid restrictions if they want tourists back and businesses on the mend..

[swm59nj]

Seems like the bar issue is the major focus all the time.  Major activity in Thailand.  Guess that’s why it attracts so many quality people .

[Gentleman Roy]

Lets see what happens

[Darkside Gray]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

About time too....

Nothing will happen there is 2 much control of the people by Cha Cha and the rest of his HiSo's

[wwest5829]

5 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

It is time Thailand moved like the rest of the World is, 

The World has got to live with Covid.

Agreed but ... live or die with Covid (and long tern affects).