Thai ministry of health seeks end to pre-departure RT-PCR tests for international arrivals

[snoop1130]

 

The Ministry of Public Health will propose that the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) further ease COVID-19 restrictions, by doing away with the requirement for arrivals from overseas to take an RT-PCR test 72 hours before departure.

 

It will also ask the CCSA to cut the required miminum insurance coverage, from US$20,000 to US$10,000, according to Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiattibhoom Vongrachit.

 

He explained that the proposed substantial cut in insurance coverage is due to the Omicron variant being less potent and the treatment costs have dropped substantially.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-ministry-of-health-seeks-end-to-pre-departure-rt-pcr-tests-for-international-arrivals/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-17

 

- 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

[grego49]

But they still kept their scam test and go booking and pcr test in thailand,

[ThailandRyan]

12 minutes ago, grego49 said:

But they still kept their scam test and go booking and pcr test in thailand,

Wouldn't want them to throw away a cash cow now would we....

[SoilSpoil]

Does anyone know whether I can use my Thai social security card to meet the insurance requirements? Or has this changed as well?

[Ohyesuare]

21 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

Does anyone know whether I can use my Thai social security card to meet the insurance requirements? Or has this changed as well?

Yes you can. Why would it change when they are decreasing the $ requirements due to less serious cases?

[smedly]

it is so obvious that everything this government does is to scam tourists - the test that should remain and makes sense is the pre-departure test otherwise scap them all, the 5 day test was to allow tourists to go out and mingle and them the biggest chance of catching covid then bang them up at huge personal expense - do they honestly think that tourists are this stupid .......................... SCRAP ALL THE TESTS PERIOD and stop this stupid nonsense 

[internationalism]

If I hadn't got my recovery certificate I would still do pre-departure e37 pcr test, when positive claim e100 per day from my travel insurance and have 2 weeks free holiday in europe. 

At all cost I would try to avoid 10 days at thai hospitel in a locked room, for which I would have to fork out $1-2k

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by internationalism

[tomyami]

Thai's are as much in denial about the Thai Pass as Russians are about the war, came through the airport today its a freak show not many travelers that extra piece of paperwork to be fill in with the harder to read TM card seems to be a new special document they even want it in the hotel

Glad to say its going to be quite till at least till year end high season

[Bobtheblob]

Completely pointless it's not the pre-departure test that is the problem. Its the prospect of being put in covid prison from the post flight test that's the problem. 

[mran66]

... Seems their trap did not get enough prey if they think like this.

 

If indeed they remove the pre test but keep the 2x here, will get more catch for hospitals. 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by mran66

[CartagenaWarlock]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

it is so obvious that everything this government does is to scam tourists - the test that should remain and makes sense is the pre-departure test otherwise scap them all, the 5 day test was to allow tourists to go out and mingle and them the biggest chance of catching covid then bang them up at huge personal expense - do they honestly think that tourists are this stupid .......................... SCRAP ALL THE TESTS PERIOD and stop this stupid nonsense 

THey are planning for a single antigen test on arrival in the final phase of lifting restrictions around July. 

[tomyami]

I am awaiting results tomorrow if positive i will ask for a retest in a hospital

[mran66]

5 minutes ago, Bobtheblob said:

Completely pointless it's not the pre-departure test that is the problem. Its the prospect of being put in covid prison from the post flight test that's the problem. 

 

Depends on what you are after... If after hospital revenue, this will help for sure as some people want to save by skipping the pre test.

[welshguy]

Sorry chums.

 

Your latest "brainwave", still wont bring the tourists back.

 

Its being tested in Thailand, which is the main things tourists object to (along with lots of other nonsense of course!).

 

Try again.

[ThailandRyan]

13 minutes ago, tomyami said:

I am awaiting results tomorrow if positive i will ask for a retest in a hospital

Wishing you the best.  I returned to BKK 19 days ago and was negative on both my 1st day test and then my 5th day test.  My GF who had returned 10 days prior to me was also negative on both tests, however on Monday of this week she started getting sick, and she tested at home she was positive.  Her friends firmly believe that I infected her since I had just returned from the US, yet here I am still negative with no symptoms and I have had a booster unlike her plus the pre flight negative test and the two others here.....  Funny how folks want to believe that returnees carry the virus and there is no way she could have picked it up in Thailand, yet on Saturday we spent half of the day at a hospital where she needed to do an ATK test and then have her WP physical, and she was negative on that test as well. 

 

2 and a half days later she was positive and is just now getting better.  One of the 1k plus migrant workers who were queued at the hospital on Saturday no doubt was ill and as usual no social distancing was being practiced especially when they handed some water and medicines out.  Those that tested positive were moved into a holding location separate from the others.  Yes everyone wore masks, yet the mask were removed for certain medical stations.  It truly is anyone's guess as to where she picked it up.  Luckily we were stocked up and have been isolating.  Stay safe.

Edited March 17, 2022 by ThailandRyan

[billd766]

16 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

THey are planning for a single antigen test on arrival in the final phase of lifting restrictions around July. 

Do you have any links or proof of that?

[nattaya09]

Taking a pre-flight test while I am still at home would count as the least of my concerns. Taking one or two as a captive traveler already halfway around the world in Thailand is where all the risk lies

[Petey11]

End the test and go and day 5 test if you want to boost tourism. Obvious now that it's all about trying to keep the COVID hotels/hospital going. PCR before arrival is not a problem for most as you can normally reschedule flights/acommodation. Test positive in Thailand and then you have a problem.

[Will B Good]

This must have been suggested already......how about insisting on the pre-departure test, but no tests on arrival.

 

That means you know before you set off your holiday is 'safe'.

[tomyami]

They ended 5 day on 1th march its the asian craziness saw a couple queuing in immigration today wearing complete hazmat suits

Having traveled a doz airports over the past year swampy is barely open the thai airways planes pain work is fading they sitting so long.

some eu/uk airlines are removing mask mandate

[Puccini]

2 hours ago, internationalism said:

If I hadn't got my recovery certificate I would still do pre-departure e37 pcr test, when positive claim e100 per day from my travel insurance and have 2 weeks free holiday in europe. 

At all cost I would try to avoid 10 days at thai hospitel in a locked room, for which I would have to fork out $1-2k

 

What do mean with e37 and e100?

[Puccini]

Just now, Puccini said:

...fork out $1-2k

Dollar of what country? Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, etc?

[mlkik]

38 minutes ago, Puccini said:

What do mean with e37 and e100?

I think they are food additives . Not sure though.

[realfunster]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

it is so obvious that everything this government does is to scam tourists - the test that should remain and makes sense is the pre-departure test otherwise scap them all, the 5 day test was to allow tourists to go out and mingle and them the biggest chance of catching covid then bang them up at huge personal expense - do they honestly think that tourists are this stupid .......................... SCRAP ALL THE TESTS PERIOD and stop this stupid nonsense 

I see your point but I feel a next logical downgrading is removing the on-arrival test.

I think that would be very logical.

 

Passengers can then travel with a pre-departure test with little fear and Thailand, when receiving guests, can have some comfort that arrivals are COVID free. Of course, as is standard these days, such guests will be at least double vaxxed as well.

 

The proposed softening of no pre-flight tests but tests on arrival reeks of illogical thinking and milking the insurance/hospital/hospitel cow. It leaves passengers still at risk of getting dragged into the Thai quarantine system upon arrival, with the associated costs. Unbelievably ill conceived and let’s face it, idiotic. 

 

We see here the idiosyncratic Thai culture at play. Unwilling to make bold but sensible decisions based on voluminous global data on Omicron for fear of upsetting higher ups. or heaven forbid, making a marginal mistake. The result is, if being generous, complete mediocrity. 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Puccini said:

What do mean with e37 and e100?

Reading the context I think he means the Euro currency.

 

€        Euro 

Edited March 17, 2022 by billd766
Bad spelling

[CartagenaWarlock]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

Do you have any links or proof of that?

I read in Bangkok Post today

[connda]

6 hours ago, grego49 said:

But they still kept their scam test and go booking and pcr test in thailand,

They were hoping no one would notice.

[soi3eddie]

7 hours ago, Bobtheblob said:

Completely pointless it's not the pre-departure test that is the problem. Its the prospect of being put in covid prison from the post flight test that's the problem. 

Maybe that's what they are hoping for. Catch more positives on arrival if people arrive with Covid after no pre-departure test. Ka-Ching!

 

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ministry of Public Health will propose that the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) further ease COVID-19 restrictions, by doing away with the requirement for arrivals from overseas to take an RT-PCR test 72 hours before departure.

But not the post arrival test that snares so many?

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It will also ask the CCSA to cut the required miminum insurance coverage, from US$20,000 to US$10,000, according to Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiattibhoom Vongrachit.

Does the 300 baht per head not cover insurance?