Flip flop, flippity flopflop.  What else is new?

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

The world hub of U Turns and I don't mean on the roads...

No but very similar, travel down a bumpy pot holed road, then have to do a U turn.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

has cancelled the requirement for foreign arrivals, from countries which require PCR tests on return,

So what about if you don't require a PCR test on return ?

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

The science says .............

Largest COVID virus size = 500nm

Mask gap size = 55,000nm

 

"A recent trial in Bangladesh found that people issued with surgical masks were 11% less likely to be infected with Covid-19. The results suggested cloth masks also reduce risk but the results were not statistically significant."

https://fullfact.org/health/face-masks-covid-holes/

 

That's an 11% reduction in transmission if everyone wears a surgical mask.

So the question is, would you buy an insurance policy that only paid out on 11% of claims?

Dear god, why are people like you still trying to convince others that masks don’t work? 
you need to be banned for good for spouting this BS.

The N94 masks most people wear in Thailand and else where do exactly what they say, stop 94% of particles up to 500nm and 99.5% of those up to 750nm.

1 minute ago, brianthainess said:

So what about if you don't require a PCR test on return ?

no covid insurance requirement.

It was addressed to Indian travellers to Thailand. India introduced PCR testing before departure for Thailand, because they would like to stop Chinese travellers transiting through Thailand

3 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

Dear god, why are people like you still trying to convince others that masks don’t work? 
you need to be banned for good for spouting this BS.

The N94 masks most people wear in Thailand and else where do exactly what they say, stop 94% of particles up to 500nm and 99.5% of those up to 750nm.

But no one wears proper N95 masks in Thailand - I doubt they can afford them!  The cheap flimsy "surgical" masks that most wear are not much defence against viruses.
 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

The science says .............

Largest COVID virus size = 500nm

Mask gap size = 55,000nm

Another silly comment we keep hearing, not going to bring up the laughable mosquito and chicken wire fence analogy? I am not going to explain why hospitals wear masks for operations etc.... I would then also be foolish for repeating myself to a troll. 

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

But no one wears proper N95 masks in Thailand - I doubt they can afford them!  The cheap flimsy "surgical" masks that most wear are not much defence against viruses.
 

The KF94 masks that are 10bt for 10 are sold everywhere and very common. KF94 is the Korean version of N95 but 94% effective 

surgical masks do not do much but still stop transmission by stopping particles being expelled in coughs etc

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

But no one wears proper N95 masks in Thailand - I doubt they can afford them!  The cheap flimsy "surgical" masks that most wear are not much defence against viruses.
 

No one... ? Have you seen everyone? The ones I wear seem to be the same as worn in the hospital, 3 ply 2.5. They are cheap to buy. 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Passengers who do not have health insurance coverage will be allowed to board the plane, but Thai officials at health quarantine checkpoints will conduct random checks for health insurance coverage. Passengers who do not have any will be advised, before entering the country, how they can get coverage.

 

Well this will be interesting as my Thai wife and I will be flying out in February and returning in March. I have been living here permanently for 10 years without any insurance. So my wife will be okay but what will they require me to do.

15 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

What seems to have escaped your understanding is those measures are not related to entry restrictions (as Thailand was trying to do)

If you want to believe distorted media articles that is entirely up to you.

As for knee jerking, you need to broaden your horizons.

8 minutes ago, sandyf said:

If you want to believe distorted media articles that is entirely up to you.

As for knee jerking, you need to broaden your horizons.

Ah,so you only agree with those articles which might support your narrative. In any case they’re not opinion piece articles but quoted government sources. 
Your final sentence is incoherent.

No  vaccination required to enter Vietnam or insurance let alone have return airline ticket only ask what day you depart its on your visa form for immigration just ask To be honest not that Cambodia next door leave by land 100% not interested if vaccinated or unvaccinated all welcome. No need show vaccination book hotel or any other place you stay no house  registration bs forms + + , my only issue  monthly  tourist visa runs to Cambodia border via mini van can do multiple times times as you like ! Can be pain in as_ but HCMC  / Saigon 2 hour there and back approx hour inside Cambodia immigration max enter then go exit via immigration Cambodia & renter Vietnam immigration go through back to Vietnam / Saigon !!  Big talk only only Talk of reintroduction of 3 monthly visas ???? foods great people friendly very affordable rent + hotels l'm renting  here , no big deal & this is communist country if you look at Thailand makes you wonder why expats stay no wonder Philippines is packed with expats on long term tourist visa up to 3 years you renew inside Philippines cost approx = US $30 Per month first month free apply for extension inside Philippines for 2 months then move onto 6 month receive Philippines  id card passport number chip dont need carry passport its all on the card  quick easy at local Philippine  only issue proof of vaccination still required to enter Philippines + rtn ticket out buy throw away cheap airlines ticket and renew visa extension inside before due date of expire no hassle ! l recently stayed 7 + months ! may rtn if Vietnam does not bring back 3 month visas shortly bonus of Viet cost of living  Vietnam food cheap wifi utilities rent , infrastructure great compared Philippines " Philippines  Vietnam don't care how much your pension is if your a retiree or back packer let alone ask you. ! As far as Thailand all damn annoying paper work just to stay on tourist visa long term flip flop = minimum 65,000 baht  pension monthly ! Not every country has US equivalent example Australian pension $ terms approx 45000 baht so long term 1 year visa is out !!  l have no desire  put my money in Thai bank just to stay !! Go where l'm welcomed and affordable with Thailand over complicated  rules can change like the wind . Its nanny state of full blown  bureaucracy & red tape anti foreigner .. its tourist country if retire want stay let them stay stop comparing US Pension or social security to other countries would be good start. Philippines or Vietnam my opinion are more accomadating and open minded. 

2 hours ago, Dukeleto said:

if they find that you don’t have health insurance you are pointed towards the desk that has coverage at 5000% higher rates than any other normal health insurance or you are refused entry!!!

 

So the restriction has NOT been lifted

Where does it say anything about being REQUIRED to buy, or being refused entry?

All this continues to give me hope that fewer people (aka tourists) will be coming. If they screw up just a few more times maybe most of the world will scratch LOS off their bucket lists. Then I'll have the place to myself, such as it is--all mine! all mine! Living in this madhouse that's all I care about any more, economy be damned.

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The science says .............

Largest COVID virus size = 500nm

Mask gap size = 55,000nm

 

"A recent trial in Bangladesh found that people issued with surgical masks were 11% less likely to be infected with Covid-19. The results suggested cloth masks also reduce risk but the results were not statistically significant."

https://fullfact.org/health/face-masks-covid-holes/

 

That's an 11% reduction in transmission if everyone wears a surgical mask.

So the question is, would you buy an insurance policy that only paid out on 11% of claims?

I usually agree with most of what you post, but on this one....

 

The virus size may well be smaller than the gaps in the mask, but the droplets of human snot / saliva / smegma that much of the virus would be encapsulated in would be significantly bigger. Symptoms from COVID seem to me mostly consistent with the initial viral load, so if a mask stops even 10% of that load you'd be better off.

 

As for the insurance policy, if I could get one that reduced my chance of a serious illness by even 5% that involved me doing not much at all and spending no $$$, then please sign me up.

3 hours ago, nchuckle said:

Ah,so you only agree with those articles which might support your narrative. In any case they’re not opinion piece articles but quoted government sources. 
Your final sentence is incoherent.

Compulsory health insurance now not required

A deliberate distortion to imply everyone, which you obviously want to support.

Have to admit the recycled media articles on here are pretty good at winding people up.

An unattributed conspiracy troll post and replies removed

There was talk of a 300 Baht fee to be added to plane tickets to cover such scenarios. Sensible idea, too, considering Thailand is the road accident capital of the world.

 

Many retirees are over 70 which makes medical insurance unobtainable. Govt should have a health plan which covers everybody at reasonable cost.

 

If they want our bucks, we should be protected...

One of the many demonstrations for lack of using brains before making decisions. 

1 hour ago, ourmanflint said:

The N94 masks most people wear in Thailand and else where do exactly what they say, stop 94% of particles up to 500nm and 99.5% of those up to 750nm.

Covid virus size varies from 500nm to 20nm.

3 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Wonder what sort of diplomacy stopped them from becoming a colony?

French and British diplomacy.

 

4 hours ago, Regyai said:

I suppose the burning question is

 

Does anyone in authority in Thailand bear sufficient control of their synapses to exert a scintilla of cogent thought before opening their mouth to spout impulsive proclamations every time their knee jerks?

 

Ah Thailand. 

Mouths in gear before brains...

Head injury governance

One thing we do know and that is the international airline industry are furious with all the chopping and constant changing and who can blame them?

3 hours ago, RandiRona said:

Thailand is a gift the keeps on giving. They give tough competition to Malays when it comes to dumb decisions. Wonder what sort of diplomacy stopped them from becoming a colony?

What sort of diplomacy? Forget about all the propaganda (foreigner as well as Thai sources). In the 19th century, like it or not, no country could resist the aggression of a western country. The first non-western country that did, if I remember correctly, was Japan in the war against Russia 1904-1905 .... and that raises the question whether Russia was a real "western country"....

 

But I digress... A key factor of international politics in the 19th century was that France and Great Britain had at last learnt an important lesson at the end of the Napoleonic wars : that they had nothing to gain by continuing fighting head on against each other. So they started making agreements around the planet to avoid any new direct confrontation. In Asia, they agreed to keep a neutral zone between their "possessions" : Indochina (France) and India - Malay states - Burma (Great Britain). That was the luck of Siam. But not to forget that in the process, Siam lost its suzerainty over Cambodia and Laos (to France) and had to sign off to GB : Kedah and Kelantan (joining the Malay States) as well as the Shan State (joining Burma).

 

That's hard reality. The rest is propaganda and face-saving.

1 hour ago, tai4de2 said:

Where does it say anything about being REQUIRED to buy, or being refused entry?

It doesn't, but the wording "before entering the country" is hardly comforting ! 

Presumably they'll just suggest and provide a list of "reputable" brokers and then up to you . 

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

Compulsory health insurance now not required

A deliberate distortion to imply everyone, which you obviously want to support.

Have to admit the recycled media articles on here are pretty good at winding people up.

If you can post something coherent illustrating whatever point you're trying to make then I could respond 

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Well this will be interesting as my Thai wife and I will be flying out in February and returning in March. I have been living here permanently for 10 years without any insurance. So my wife will be okay but what will they require me to do.

Well, nothing's mentioned about having to have a Thai translation of any insurance policy, so if it's a concern, just get and print a quote and bluff it !  

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai officials at health quarantine checkpoints will conduct random checks for health insurance coverage. Passengers who do not have any will be advised, before entering the country, how they can get coverage.

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