Foreigners infected with COVID-19 can visit Thailand

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Policy here always seems to bounce from one extreme tto the other. Bouncing from punitive and highly selective shutdown of businesses, that resulted in a devastated economy, rising suicides, life savings lost by many trying to sustain a life long business, and increased homelessness. A total shutdown of tourism, resulting in the possibility that the industry has been permanently damaged, curfews, mandatory mask wearing outside, etc. And now, anyone can come. 

 

Perhaps they now realize Thailand is NOT the center of the known universe, the nation needs tourists 50X more than tourists need Thailand, and when you open your doors and relax crazy restrictions after 27 months, tourists will not just come flooding in. 

 

 

The mindset has also changed, as people actually think for themselves.

 

From 'death floating in the air' ... to ... 'what, positive ... I had covid, and didn't even know it'.

 

Downgraded to nothing more than common cold or flu, if even having symptoms ... for healthy people.

IMHO

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Downgraded to nothing more than common cold or flu, if even having symptoms ... for healthy people.

IMHO

 

The earlier versions of COVID (original and Delta) definitely weren't anywhere close to being the same as colds or flus, as attested to by the millions who died from COVID in the earlier going.

 

But even now, Omicron isn't the same either, even for those who get off with only light symptoms during the active infection period. Long COVID symptoms continue to afflict a share of those even during the Omicron period.

 

"In a pre-print paper, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, researchers from the City University of New York sampled over 3,000 US adults between June 30 and July 2, 2022, during the Omicron BA.5 surge. They found that 17.3 percent of respondents had experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection."

...

"Most worryingly, some 21.5 percent of the respondents who caught COVID-19 reported experiencing long-COVID symptoms at least four weeks after their infection. This included symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath, and the much-dreaded "brain fog."

 

https://www.iflscience.com/a-spike-of-a-dreaded-covid-19-side-effect-may-have-hit-the-us-this-summer-65382

 

[ThailandRyan]

32 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

Thailand might be desperate to revive tourism but removing all COVID restrictions is the right thing to do regardless. As I wrote earlier - most of the world has moved on long ago.

So my post was not BS. Please retract your post above which called my post BS.

[Alldar]

4 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Considering that hospitalisation / hospitelisation hasn't been a requirement for well over a year, no, obviously.

Do you have some source for this? I was in Thailand in the beginning of this year and it was definitely required back then.

[huangnon]

5 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

Like so many others. How about 'Fortress Australia'? Forbade entry AND exit to its own citizens for more than a year, and now ...

 

From 9 September 2022, masks are no longer required on flights travelling to Australia.

From July 6 2022, the way you travel to and from Australia has changed. All travellers should be aware that:

- People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status

 

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/entering-and-leaving-australia

 

 

That's soooo 2021. The next Big Thing will be along shortly..

[BKKBike09]

29 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

 

Leaving the medical stuff to one side, there has been (unfortunately) a 'need' to be vaccinated, until very recently, in order to travel internationally with any degree of ease.

 

I just went to the US and 'being vaccinated' was mandatory and checked rigorously by the airline here at check-in (but not, of course, on arrival in the US). Of course, the fact that my vaccination was a year ago and so unlikely to be of any use to anyone was irrelevant as far as the CDC criteria are concerned.

 

[onthedarkside]

A COVID vaccines misinformation post has been removed, along with several ensuing replies.

 

[4MyEgo]

7 hours ago, Falcon said:

What desperation for the almighty tourist $ will do to a countries entry rules!! Rediculous. Now we have gone full circle and gone from shutting down the country to allowing anyone with the virus in. After 27 years here you’d think there was nothing that would surprise me about thailand anymore but I was obviously wrong. Greed without exception!!!

Umm, in case you haven't heard, the pandemic is over and Thailand is joining the ranks of other countries, so I wouldn't call it greed, it is timing more than anything.

 

Lets all move along now, nothing to see here.

[rattlesnake]

24 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

Leaving the medical stuff to one side, there has been (unfortunately) a 'need' to be vaccinated, until very recently, in order to travel internationally with any degree of ease.

 

I just went to the US and 'being vaccinated' was mandatory and checked rigorously by the airline here at check-in (but not, of course, on arrival in the US). Of course, the fact that my vaccination was a year ago and so unlikely to be of any use to anyone was irrelevant as far as the CDC criteria are concerned.

 

The comment I replied to (which I am pasting below) referred to Suvarnabhumi:

 

"Question is whether Thailand will also do away with the need to be vaccinated. I was asked to show proof of vaccination at Suvarnabhumi when returning last week."

 

 I travelled from Bangkok to Europe and back in 2021 and 2022 and was never asked to show proof of vaccination.

 

I challenge anyone to prove vaccination was ever required to travel from Suvarnabhumi. It was not.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

the pandemic is over

The various government declared "pandemic" declarations of COVID may be ending in various places by various agencies. And yes, treatments are getting better and Omicron has generally been milder.

 

But that doesn't mean COVID the virus and disease is over and done, because it's not and there's no sign it's going to vanish off the health landscape any time soon.

 

It may be just a matter of waiting for the next wave or a next variant of the virus that causes a different kind or level of health problems.

 

COVID: EU warns 'completely new' strains possible this winter

 

Amid concerns about a new wave of infections this fall and winter, the European Commission urged member-states to start rolling out COVID booster shots as soon as possible.

 

https://www.dw.com/en/covid-eu-warns-completely-new-strains-possible-this-winter/a-63006769

 

Is a Fall COVID-19 Surge Coming to the U.S.?

 

"The combination of waning COVID-19 immunity and colder weather on the horizon that will see more people heading indoors could send infections right back up, with the trend reversing as soon as next month.

“We are expecting a rise,” says Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

 

“The rise will be in reported cases. There'll be a rise in hospitalization and mortality but not as high proportionally to the rise in cases simply because many of us – the majority of Americans right now – have been either infected or vaccinated or both, so we have some immunity.”

 

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2022-09-02/is-a-fall-covid-19-surge-coming-to-the-u-s

 

[rattlesnake]

7 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

Like so many others. How about 'Fortress Australia'? Forbade entry AND exit to its own citizens for more than a year, and now ...

 

From 9 September 2022, masks are no longer required on flights travelling to Australia.

From July 6 2022, the way you travel to and from Australia has changed. All travellers should be aware that:

- People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status

 

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/entering-and-leaving-australia

 

Question is whether Thailand will also do away with the need to be vaccinated. I was asked to show proof of vaccination at Suvarnabhumi when returning last week. 

There is no need to show proof of vaccination at Suvarnabhumi airport and never was.

[rattlesnake]

12 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The various government declared "pandemic" declarations of COVID may be ending in various places by various agencies. And yes, treatments are getting better and Omicron has generally been milder.

 

But that doesn't mean COVID the virus and disease is over and done, because it's not and there's no sign it's going to vanish off the health landscape any time soon.

 

It may be just a matter of waiting for the next wave or a next variant of the virus that causes a different kind or level of health problems.

 

COVID: EU warns 'completely new' strains possible this winter

 

Amid concerns about a new wave of infections this fall and winter, the European Commission urged member-states to start rolling out COVID booster shots as soon as possible.

 

https://www.dw.com/en/covid-eu-warns-completely-new-strains-possible-this-winter/a-63006769

 

Is a Fall COVID-19 Surge Coming to the U.S.?

 

"The combination of waning COVID-19 immunity and colder weather on the horizon that will see more people heading indoors could send infections right back up, with the trend reversing as soon as next month.

“We are expecting a rise,” says Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

 

“The rise will be in reported cases. There'll be a rise in hospitalization and mortality but not as high proportionally to the rise in cases simply because many of us – the majority of Americans right now – have been either infected or vaccinated or both, so we have some immunity.”

 

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2022-09-02/is-a-fall-covid-19-surge-coming-to-the-u-s

 

Right, so what can we do do fight this new surge then? A fifth booster? Or is it sixth now? I lost count.

[4MyEgo]

11 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

But that doesn't mean COVID the virus and disease is over and done, because it's not and there's no sign it's going to vanish off the health landscape any time soon.

Covid will be around just like the cold and flu, and will also have many variants which will be tracked, same as the flu.

 

People, older people and immunocompromised people would be wise to get their annual jabs, like the flu.

 

I can't see a variant kicking up like it was before, as they usually start off lethal and then wane, but on the rare chance, can become deadly again, that said, while the sun is shining, we should make hay of it.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

20 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

I can't see a variant kicking up like it was before, as they usually start off lethal and then wane, but on the rare chance, can become deadly again, that said, while the sun is shining, we should make hay of it.

 

I believe some people have claimed here before, I believe without any credible proof, that virus mutations always become less virulent with time.

 

From what I've read, there's little to no scientific evidence that that's always the case... may be sometimes... may not be other times.

 

IMHO, best to stay up-to-date with COVID vaccinations and follow basic, common sense health precautions against COVID -- unless someone wants to end up being a COVID guinea pig for whatever variant comes next.

 

Fact check: Yes, viruses can mutate to become more deadly

 

The claim: Viruses never mutate to become more lethal

...

" Experts say viral mutation is a complex calculus but there are several instances where viruses have evolved into more lethal strains."

 

"Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that viruses never mutate to become more lethal. Ebola, the West Nile virus and the Spanish flu from the 1918 pandemic are all examples of viruses that became more lethal after mutating, experts say."

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/07/14/fact-check-viruses-can-mutate-become-more-deadly/7839167002/

 

[Bkk Brian]

4 minutes ago, rattlesnake said:

Right, so what can we do do fight this new surge then? A fifth booster? Or is it sixth now? I lost count.

Or you could just do what at risk people do and take a yearly booster the same as with the flu. I don't think anyone is contemplating counting how many shots you take altogether apart from you.

[onthedarkside]

A post with unsourced and unsubstantiated claims has been removed.

 

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, Alldar said:

Do you have some source for this? I was in Thailand in the beginning of this year and it was definitely required back then.

Here the government advice in July 2021 about how to self isolate at home if you have Covid.  

 

And (anecdotal I know) my friend tested positive for Covid in the Phuket sandbox in November 2021 and they were allowed to isolate in their room until they tested negative.  No hospital, no hospitel.  Honestly, they dropped that thing long ago.

 

 

[John Drake]

19 hours ago, Padthaigoong said:

" Foreigners who are afflicted with chronic alcoholism will be forbidden from taking residence in the country "

 

Ahem.

I wish.

[ed strong]

27 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Or you could just do what at risk people do and take a yearly booster the same as with the flu. I don't think anyone is contemplating counting how many shots you take altogether apart from you.

The covid jabs only provide for upto 3 months, thats why people are on their 4th or even 5th in some cases.

A yearly jab is not nearly as profitable as something that needs 3 or 4 per year.

 

Anyway as we can see the world is moving on, the people that didn't get vaccinated have not all died and have they have not caused a mad rush at the hopsitals as previously predicted by some.

 

if your old or pretty ill then perhaps consider taking the jab.

 

Edited September 21, 2022 by onthedarkside
unsourced and unsubstantiated claims removed

[Alldar]

11 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Here the government advice in July 2021 about how to self isolate at home if you have Covid.  

 

And (anecdotal I know) my friend tested positive for Covid in the Phuket sandbox in November 2021 and they were allowed to isolate in their room until they tested negative.  No hospital, no hospitel.  Honestly, they dropped that thing long ago.

As far as I know the home isolation was allowed only on some places (e.g. Bangkok) only because there were not enough beds in hospitals. It wasn't your choice if you can do it or not. Secondly, there was always double standard and foreigners were treated differently than Thais. I had friend who was taken into hospital in January this year.

I just hope this ended by now.

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, ed strong said:

The covid jabs only provide for upto 3 months, thats why people are on their 4th or even 5th in some cases.

A yearly jab is not nearly as profitable as something that needs 3 or 4 per year.

 

Anyway as we can see the world is moving on, the people that didn't get vaccinated have not all died and have they have not caused a mad rush at the hopsitals as previously predicted by some.

 

if your old or pretty ill then perhaps consider taking the jab.

 

Oh its about money according to you. If that was the case then flu jabs would also be more than yearly.

[Eleftheros]

36 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Or you could just do what at risk people do and take a yearly booster the same as with the flu.

There seem to be a large number of people, especially in bureaucracies. ready to tell us that "Covid is not the same as flu", and in the next breath tell us to get yearly vaccine boosters, the same as with the flu.

 

Curious, to say the least.

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Eleftheros said:

There seem to be a large number of people, especially in bureaucracies. ready to tell us that "Covid is not the same as flu", and in the next breath tell us to get yearly vaccine boosters, the same as with the flu.

 

Curious, to say the least.

Covid's not the same as the flu, just because I gave a comparison to a yearly shot does not make it the same. Whats curious?

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, rattlesnake said:

There is no need to show proof of vaccination at Suvarnabhumi airport and never was.

Wrong on that one.  When I returned here in March I had to show proof of vaccination.  It possibly ended when the Thai Pass ended in July

[onthedarkside]

A conspiracy theory post has been removed.

 

[ed strong]

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Oh its about money according to you. If that was the case then flu jabs would also be more than yearly.

Do you recall the 2010 swine flu pandemic, outrage at scientists and pharma but seems along time forgotten.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jun/04/swine-flu-experts-big-pharmaceutical

 

HSBC: Biggest fine in history US 1.2b dollars, UK HSBC was fined 69m for being complicit in money laundering.

 

Apple: Fined 20m for deliberately slowing their batteries down on older models so customers would be forced to upgrade their phones when actually not needed.

 

You live In Thailand? You must see first hand the dialy corruption, imagine what you dont hear about or see? This unfortunately is how the world works / run, money and corruption.

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, ed strong said:

Do you recall the 2010 swine flu pandemic, outrage at scientists and pharma but seems along time forgotten.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jun/04/swine-flu-experts-big-pharmaceutical

 

HSBC: Biggest fine in history US 1.2b dollars, UK HSBC was fined 69m for being complicit in money laundering.

 

Apple: Fined 20m for deliberately slowing their batteries down on older models so customers would be forced to upgrade their phones when actually not needed.

 

You live In Thailand? You must see first hand the dialy corruption, imagine what you dont hear about or see? This unfortunately is how the world works / run, money and corruption.

Whats that got to do with a yearly flu jab comparison?

[rattlesnake]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wrong on that one.  When I returned here in March I had to show proof of vaccination.  It possibly ended when the Thai Pass ended in July

They probably asked you because they just assumed you were vaxxed as most people are. There were a few days of quarantine for unvaxxed travellers until May but it was never a requirement to be vaxxed to enter Thailand (or Europe), this is just misinformation which was widely spread by pro-pharmists.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, rattlesnake said:

They probably asked you because they just assumed you were vaxxed as most people are. There were a few days of quarantine for unvaxxed travellers until May but it was never a requirement to be vaxxed to enter Thailand (or Europe), this is just misinformation which was widely spread by pro-pharmists.

Wrong again.....

[rattlesnake]

23 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wrong again.....

Please post an official publication stating that vaccination against Covid was ever required to enter Thailand or the EU.

Edited September 21, 2022 by rattlesnake