Thailand drops pre-departure RT-PCR tests for overseas arrivals, allows Songkran celebrations

[snoop1130]

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The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has agreed to cancel the requirement for pre-departure RT-PCR tests for international arrivals, effective from April 1st, and is to allow some celebrations to take place during the Songkran festival in mid-April, according to CCSA Spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin.

 

The move is part of the gradual easing of restrictions in an attempt to revive the country’s vital tourism sector, although the CCSA also decided to extend the enforcement of the emergency situation announcement for the 17th time, from April 1st until May 31st.

 

The CCSA has decided to do away with the requirement for all travellers to Thailand, under the “Test and Go” program, to take an RT-PCR test in the 72 hours before their departure, by land, air, or sea. They still have to take the test upon arrival and self-administer and antigen test on the 5th day of their stay in the country.

 

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Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-drops-pre-departure-rt-pcr-tests-for-overseas-arrivals-allows-songkran-celebrations/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-18

 

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[RandiRona]

Hahaha.....more people will come without knowing if they are infected and will be declared infected once they are here...hence more money with Hospital/tel scam.....Wrong diagnosis and wrong prescription.

[internationalism]

also they reduced sandbox to 5 days.

[DezLez]

25 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The CCSA has decided to do away with the requirement for all travellers to Thailand, under the “Test and Go” program, to take an RT-PCR test in the 72 hours before their departure, by land, air, or sea. They still have to take the test upon arrival

This is back to front. 

Keep the pre departure test so you know you are fit to travel and scrap the arrival test so you are not concerned with a false positive ruining everything.

[EVENKEEL]

It's astounding how stupid and backwards these people are. 

[86Tiger]

11 minutes ago, DezLez said:

This is back to front. 

Keep the pre departure test so you know you are fit to travel and scrap the arrival test so you are not concerned with a false positive ruining everything.

There is no profit in that scheme.....

[darksidedog]

Well, its good news if you want to come here next month, assuming of course that you don't book and pay for a flight and hotel, only for the rules to change again just before you are due to board. That couldn't happen here though right?

 

 

[Klonko]

In addition to a voluntarily pre-flight Covid test I would also voluntarily wear a FFP2-mask if the next passenger is sitting with less than 1½m distance to me.

[Onerak]

53 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

will be declared infected once they are here...hence more money with Hospital/tel scam.....Wrong diagnosis and wrong prescription.

Is not insurance going to pay if they are declared infected? Insurance still remains. I don't think insurance companies agree to that

[Pib]

Until they drop the COVID arrival tests and insurance requirements (especially the arrival test) tourist numbers will remain very low compared to pre-COVID.   Would have been better to keep the pre-departure test in lieu of keeping the upon arrival and 5th day tests.   I think most people would trust their home country test results over Thailand test results.

 

Tourists just don't want to take the chance of leaving the home country with a clean bill of COVID health but once arriving Thailand they are told they have COVID and must quarantine at selected hotels or hospitals which results in a large bill. 

[Onerak]

I like it. I get the Thailand pass and now I can board the plane. No more stupid RT-PCR test before flights. Hopefully they will resort to only Antigen test by the time I go in July. At least a step in the right direction. 

Edited March 18, 2022 by Onerak

[DezLez]

3 minutes ago, Onerak said:

I like it. I get the Thailand pass and now I can board the plane. No more stupid RT-PCR test before flights. 

And get sent to hospital on arrival after a false positive, the costs of which your insurance will probably not cover.

[Onerak]

13 minutes ago, DezLez said:

And get sent to hospital on arrival after a false positive, the costs of which your insurance will probably not cover.

That can happen irrespective of there is a pre flight RT-PCR test or not. Pre flight RT-PCR test would not exclude that possibility. Pre flight RT-PCR test is another burden before boarding. Glad it was removed. 

[Onerak]

15 minutes ago, DezLez said:

the costs of which your insurance will probably not cover.

Why it won't cover. And if not covered why I would buy the insurance. I will simply refuse to pay telling them I have insurance, approved by the government, and I don't have money.

[garyk]

RIP Thai tourism. It was fun. Thanks for the memories.

[MaiDong]

4 minutes ago, Onerak said:

Why it won't cover. And if not covered why I would buy the insurance. I will simply refuse to pay telling them I have insurance, approved by the government, and I don't have money.

Your policy sounds bullet-proof, who provides it?...

[RichardColeman]

Look, I'm all for dropping some of this PCR nonsense for departures AND arrivals , but lets just change to lateral flows for departure AND arrivals for a little while. Absolutely no reason the deserted airport cannot put out a few chairs and supervise you doing the test - they've nothing else to do !

[Onerak]

5 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Look, I'm all for dropping some of this PCR nonsense for departures AND arrivals , but lets just change to lateral flows for departure AND arrivals for a little while. Absolutely no reason the deserted airport cannot put out a few chairs and supervise you doing the test - they've nothing else to do !

I read they have plant to switch to Antigen only on arrival from July 1. One thing at a time. This is a the first step in the right direction for my arrival after july 1. Glad to see this good news in the morning. 

Edited March 18, 2022 by Onerak

[grego49]

The test and go scam continues,Bali,Vietnam and the Phillipines are all open and enjoying the tourist dollars that used to be spent in Thailand,

[EVENKEEL]

Well, it's a baby step in the right direction I guess. Though I'm sure most travelers to Thailand will self test before flying.

[Polar Bear]

Are they also dropping punitive quarantine for anyone unfortunate enough to have sat next to someone on the plane who tests positive on arrival?

[Enzian]

But won't one's airline of choice require some kind of test result in order to get a boarding pass? And won't airlines differ in this regard depending on where one is coming from and where one is going? And which airline.

[GrandPapillon]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's astounding how stupid and backwards these people are. 

no it's not, when you have lived here long enough ????

[ikke1959]

It seems that Thailand does not want foreigners to come anymore, with all restriction, rules, entrance fee, and alcohol bans, Thailand Pass, the new super elite visa and many more... It becomes more and more unattractive to visit.. It looks that they are doing everything to get the tourists back, but the act the opposite

[CG1 Blue]

8 minutes ago, Enzian said:

But won't one's airline of choice require some kind of test result in order to get a boarding pass? And won't airlines differ in this regard depending on where one is coming from and where one is going? And which airline.

I don't think the airlines require testing. Proof of vaccination maybe, but not tests. Why would they put barriers in the way of reviving their battered businesses? 

If the destination country requires proof of a test the airline ground staff might check that you have the necessary proof. 

[CG1 Blue]

1 hour ago, Onerak said:

Is not insurance going to pay if they are declared infected? Insurance still remains. I don't think insurance companies agree to that

Insurance might (or might not) cover the cost. But insurance won't stop your long awaited holiday from being ruined by forced quarantine.

Unless you like being banged up in a hospital for most of your holiday...

[smedly]

yes nab them when they get here then scam them out of thousands 

 

 

I hope people realise what will happen to them when they step off that plane - quarantine still waits 

 

either open up or don't - people are not stupid 

[Danderman123]

Arrival on or after April 1 does not require a test, or departure to Thailand on or after April 1 does not require a test? 

 

 

[TooMuchTime]

I am literally shaking.  Please someone tell me everything will be alright!!  We need more testing and cannot drop this pre flight test.  WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC PEOPLE.  GAZILLION of people are dying!

 

We need a lockdown immediately.

[daveAustin]

50 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

I am literally shaking.  Please someone tell me everything will be alright!!  We need more testing and cannot drop this pre flight test.  WE ARE IN A PANDEMIC PEOPLE.  GAZILLION of people are dying!

 

We need a lockdown immediately.

Any chance you could troll another forum?