Government Urged to Relax Travel Restrictions

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Private sectors have urged the government to further relax regulations for visitors to attract more foreign visitors and stimulate the tourism sector.

 

According to Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Supant Mongkolsuthree, Thailand should suspend restrictions such as the Test & Go scheme and RT-PCR testing and allow tourists who have previously received two doses of vaccines to enter the country without screening regulations.

 

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The FTI chairman recommended the government lift these restrictions in order for the tourism industry to benefit during the peak season, which will last until April. Visitors should only be required to present their vaccine passports when they arrive in the country. Only RT-PCR testing and antigen self-testing on Day 5 should be mandatory, while insurance health coverage should be lowered to attract more visitors.

 

Meanwhile, Public Health Permanent Secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit stated that the Ministry of Public Health will suggest relaxing pre-travel procedures at the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting on Friday.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-18

 

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[Mavideol]

money talks, citizens life not that important even if the numbers tell otherwise

 

https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/thailand/

Thailand

At peak

235 infections per 100K people reported last 7 days

Updated 5:15 PM IT

The average number of new infections reported in Thailand has been increasing for 7 days straight

COVID-19 infections in Thailand are at their peak — the highest daily average reported — now at 23,463 new infections reported each day.

There have been 3,276,098 infections and 23,995 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.

 

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/thailand/

 

Updates

• 25,456 new cases and 77 new deaths in Thailand [source]

 

Edited March 18, 2022 by Mavideol

[Sheryl]

It has been announced from today's meeting that test & Go will continue. "Might" stop the pre-departure testing and "might" shorten the quarantine duration for then on-vaccinated.

 

 

 

 

[Mike Teavee]

Am due to do my pre-departure PCR test in the UK next Thursday (flying on Saturday/landing on Sunday) so following this topic with interest... 

 

 

[Karma80]

49 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

money talks, citizens life not that important even if the numbers tell otherwise

Pointless to quote covid numbers here in Thailand.

We have limited testing and policy actively works to discourage it in cost, convenience and availability. 
Most people I know who are testing positive are just rapid testing at home and, if positive, staying home for a while. Rapid tests are not included in the figures reported anyway.

Everyone I know, Thai and foreigner, thinks the number of cases is probably 2-5 times higher in reality. Especially here in Phuket.

 

I think that Thailand is leveraging the controlled declared numbers to attempt to remain on low/medium risk country lists from other Asian countries working toward reopening. Reality is, covid is speading fast, people are exhausted in trying to keep the pretence of covid controls.

 

It's not about facts, nor was it ever really here, just the presentation of them.

Not really sure why we are bothering at all at this point with PCR tests for travel.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Karma80

[SheikYabodyline]

In Thailand it's all about the perception, rarely about the science.

[Greenwich Boy]

The pre departure test is not the issue. I can see the logic to it. It is the test on arrival and the risks involved if testing positive that is the game stopper. Testing again at day 5 is just dumb 

[internationalism]

22 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Am due to do my pre-departure PCR test in the UK next Thursday (flying on Saturday/landing on Sunday) so following this topic with interest... 

 

 

if they cancel pre departure pcr it would be from 1st April.

If fact some news reported that it's already cancelled. I think that would be very likely

Edited March 18, 2022 by internationalism

[popabear]

Very hard for well over seventy fives like myself , with all their hoops to jump through to get a Visa and with the added risk on arrival of being thrown into quarantine after a long flight at my age is just to much , along with the added cost and a ruined holiday . Also the added problems of getting health/covid  insurance at my age and along with all the rest of the <deleted> you have to get ready to get a visa before one leaves ,they seem to think we really need Thailand, when in reality they need us, no thanks , I will go to Bali instead . Regards Popa

[zzaa09]

50 minutes ago, internationalism said:

if they cancel pre departure pcr it would be from 1st April.

If fact some news reported that it's already cancelled. I think that would be very likely

That's what I'm hearing and reading as well.

Expect the TP entry package to be scraped by mid-April. 

 

Even they can see that there's little to gain [criminal profit margin] from continuing with the nonsense.

[StayinThailand2much]

Get rid of the insurance!

[RandiRona]

Get rid of Thai Pass forced quarantine scam. Covid here is not going to be any more worse due to tourists. Anyone who want to take the risk of visiting Thailand is doing Thailand a favor. 

Edited March 18, 2022 by RandiRona

[bkk6060]

The pre-departure test should be 24 hours I believe.

And, why get rid of it at least some peace of mind while flying.  Maybe a good way to catch more people positive when they arrive and force them into quarantine?  Seems all odd and backwards, but whats new..  

[Paul Henry]

Thailand really needs good leadership. Get the priorities right and put the people before the politicians and personal profit. Hopefully a legitimate elction may bring in some sensible, honest leaders who will put people first. 

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, Greenwich Boy said:

The pre departure test is not the issue. I can see the logic to it. It is the test on arrival and the risks involved if testing positive that is the game stopper. Testing again at day 5 is just dumb 

You have to recall the history behind it, and the paranoia supposedly a well tested person, being allowed free run in the country, (departure and arrival tests were clear)....then being positive caused. They had just got away from quarantine on arrival, (albeit to a 24 hour one), and a return to a longer period, was not wanted. 

Edited March 18, 2022 by jacko45k

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Private sectors have urged the government to further relax regulations for visitors to attract more foreign visitors and stimulate the tourism sector.

Time to drop all the entry regulations.

[TheFishman1]

Drop the Thai Pass

[tonray]

Drop the requirement to find and buy a suitable insurance policy. Enough already. Just add a small fee at arrival (I know already doing that !)...and use that as an insurance pool for COvid only. Highly improbable that more than 10% of arrivals will require any medical treatment for Covid infection for their 2 weeks to 60 days here. Make it simpler not just different.

 

Takae care of testing at arrival, take care of insurance, get rid of Thai Pass, Vaccinated on arrival walk free after test, unvaccinated or  positive test get quarantine...sorry...have to be some restrictions.

Edited March 19, 2022 by tonray

[Stargeezr]

On the news tonight, I heard of spikes in cases and deaths, in China, in Hong Kong, and in Africa.

  Maybe they are still battling the first 3 variants of COVID, but there are still some people dying from omicron

as well. Those who have had their 3 jabs should feel fortunate, I certainly am. I am also glad to be safe in

my own home and am staying cautious for a while longer, as there are new cases every day where I live

as well. I do hope that this pandemic is over during the Summer months, and that we can travel easier

after September or October. 

[Harveyboy]

16 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The pre-departure test should be 24 hours I believe.

And, why get rid of it at least some peace of mind while flying.  Maybe a good way to catch more people positive when they arrive and force them into quarantine?  Seems all odd and backwards, but whats new..  

its a cunning plan

[internationalism]

on top of cancelling pre-departure pcr, also sandbox was shortened to 5 days.

That's from 1st April.

Further easing planned from 1st May. That might mean dropping on arrival pcr and 1 night quarantine and replacing it with ATK at the airport. Insurance lowered to $10k,

But Thailand Pass will remain till 1st July, even probably beyond that.

 

Still, much depends how the sub-variant BA 2.2 will develop in Hong Kong, China and now already in Cambodia.

There were some 4 cases in Thailand, but contained and cleared. 

That article has same mistakes, but gives an overall picture

https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/new-covid-variant-found-in-india-uk-israel-hong-kong-thailand-and-cambodia-all-you-need-to-know-1.1647617736390 

Edited March 19, 2022 by internationalism

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

Just add a small fee at arrival (I know already doing that !)...and use that as an insurance pool for COvid only.

An issue I see with that is the money initially is in the hands of immigration.... and really needs to get into the hands of the hospitals, hospitels whatever.....I suspect too many commissions.

[Watchit]

Too many people being told their test was positive despite being vaccinated and symptom free.

 

 

[popabear]

59 minutes ago, Watchit said:

Too many people being told their test was positive despite being vaccinated and symptom free.

Yes, how true, yet there are still plenty taking the risk , which is really hard to believe , even with my long love of Thailand and a big urge to return , I would  definitely not take that risk, plus even after they drop all there rules of entry , I would still be waiting for the unexpected... Regards Popa

[internationalism]

11 minutes ago, Edwin Cameron said:

There are thousands of people all over the world wanting to come to Thailand but can't because they haven't been vaccinated and like myself wont change that fact. So you have potentially millions of dollars that you are missing out of by not letting them in and been vaccinated doesn't make any difference. Your choice Thailand

you can enter on 10 days quarantine, around 30k.

Before vax time people were entering, that since august 2020 

[tonray]

38 minutes ago, Edwin Cameron said:

been vaccinated doesn't make any difference.

Actually it does make a difference. Unvaccinated people are far more likely to present with severe symptoms requiring hospitalization vs vaccinated travelers.

[jacko45k]

18 hours ago, Watchit said:

Too many people being told their test was positive despite being vaccinated and symptom free.

 

 

Are you saying that is not possible, because you would be wrong. 

[charmonman]

On 3/19/2022 at 8:07 AM, LukKrueng said:

Might have made sense at the time vaccines were introduced over a year ago with promises that the vaccines prevent getting infected and infecting others by very high %.

But at it is now well known that vaxed people can get infected and infect other pretty much as non vaccinated and the only advantage is (doubtly) reducing the risk for serious illness and death, it has no effect on the pandemic at all

Serious studies that have been peer reviewed and published in reputable medical journals indicate that, in vaccinated people who become infected, their viral load is lower and the infection is cleared more rapidly than in unvaccinated people.

[LukKrueng]

55 minutes ago, charmonman said:

Serious studies that have been peer reviewed and published in reputable medical journals indicate that, in vaccinated people who become infected, their viral load is lower and the infection is cleared more rapidly than in unvaccinated people.

BTW - a quick search for this issue shows many researchers that day the opposite. Here's 1 for example

 

https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/covid-19/news/viral-loads-similar-between-vaccinated-and-unvaccinated-people

 

[charmonman]

On 3/20/2022 at 1:52 PM, LukKrueng said:

BTW - a quick search for this issue shows many researchers that day the opposite. Here's 1 for example

 

https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/covid-19/news/viral-loads-similar-between-vaccinated-and-unvaccinated-people

 

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/12/vaccinated-who-get-breakthrough-infections-less-contagious/