Covid-19 News & Updates

[buksida]

More confusion in the land of confusion ...

GOV’T RULES HINT AT MORE QUARANTINE AFTER NOV. 1 REOPENING
The upcoming launch of the “quarantine-free” reopening for tourists on Nov. 1 may still require travelers to quarantine at least for a night after all, according to a guideline published by a public health agency.

There are only 10 days to go before the date where fully vaccinated tourists from 10 countries designated as “low risk” would be allowed to enter the country without any quarantine, as announced by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. The travelers would need to take a coronavirus test once before arriving in Thailand, and another upon their arrival.

But the government has yet to clarify on many issues related to the supposed reopening, including the list of the 10 countries deemed to be low-risk of infection. So far, Prayut has only named five of them: the US, UK, China, Germany, and Singapore.

The government also has not communicated whether vaccinated adults travelling with unvaccinated children, and where the tourists who arrive at the airport would be staying until the result of their coronavirus test comes back.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... reopening/

There is still a long list of requirements that is likely to deter 95% of holidaymakers. It seems to be only a trickle of expats and long-termers that are returning at the moment regardless of TAT's BS figures.

[PeteC]

Vaccinated Holiday makers should be most concerned about catching Covid from un-vaccinated locals here.

[Groodman]

With the Health Minister Sajid Javid stating that there could be up to 100,000 infections a day I cannot see the UK staying on the Safe List for long.

[Big Boy]

That obviously doesn't apply to Hua Hin - they won't be able to find any un-vaccinated locals

[PeteC]

There's a wild card unfortunately in all of this, as explained by HHTel months ago. If someone had Covid and traces of the dead virus are still in their system, do these "rapid tests" pick that up? I'm sure fully vaccinated, Covid recovered people will be in the mix of arrivals and for sure they may lose half of their holiday wrapped up in red tape, blood tests, wait time and quarantine.

[joelle]

Sorry couldn't get any other information today and could not do another layout to be readable.
Each province's daily domestic COVID-19 cases update in Thailand on Thursday October 21st.

[PeteC]

Thanks Joelle, and don't spend too much time on any of the Covid info any longer if it's not readily available. I can see as the disease winds down (hopefully) government reporting and charts will become less available or timely.

A few times a week or even less is probably the direction things will go in as we approach the New Year.

Edit: When new cases hit 2,000 or less, the daily report I do will go to 3 times a week only.

[joelle]

Thanks Joelle, and don't spend too much time on any of the Covid info any longer if it's not readily available. I can see as the disease winds down (hopefully) government reporting and charts will become less available or timely.

A few times a week or even less is probably the direction things will go in as we approach the New Year.

Yes that's what I am thinking too, like I do for Cha Am area, I cumulate the data, translate and publish once a week

[PeteC]

Thailand welcomes visitors from 46 countries from Nov 1

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... from-nov-1

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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand will open the country to visitors from 46 countries instead of only 10 Covid-19 low-risk countries announced earlier, starting from Nov 1.

He did not name the countries in the post on his Facebook page on Thursday evening, but wrote it was now necessary to speed up the opening.

"If we wait until everything is fully ready, we'll be too late. Besides, tourists may choose to go elsewhere," read the post.

He added that he was aware the acceleration brought with it the risk of more local infections.

"But this is a risk we must take. I think, like other countries, Thailand is now better equipped to deal with the risk. And we need to learn to live with it."

Visitors from the 46 countries, described as the first low-risk group, may enter Thailand by air without quarantine, provided they have been fully vaccinated and have evidence of pre-flight negative test results. They must also agree to take another test upon arrival.

Gen Prayut added that in the meantime the Public Health Ministry would speed up vaccinations locally.

He urged people to adhere to the prescribed Covid-19 health measures — wearing masks, cleaning hands frequently and observing social distancing.

"I hope we can hear some good news from the upcoming long holidays," he concluded.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the names of the 45 countries and a territory shortly after the prime minister's announcement.

On Oct 11, the prime minister said tourists from around 10 countries would be allowed to visit Thailand starting Nov 1 without quarantine under the same conditions.

According to the information at the time, they can visit 17 places. It is unclear whether the list still applies after the expanded reopening. The 17 places are:

Phuket
Surat Thani
Bangkok
Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi airport)
Krabi
Phangnga
Prachuap Khiri Khan (Nong Kae, Hua Hin)
Phetchaburi (Cha-am)
Chon Buri (Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Jomtien, Bang Sare, Koh Sichang, Si Racha)
Ranong (Koh Payam)
Chiang Mai (Muang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Doi Tao)
Loei (Chiang Khan)
Buri Ram (Muang)
Nong Khai (Muang, Si Chiang Mai, Tha Bo, Sangkhom)
Udon Thani (Muang, Na Yoong, Nong Han, Kumphawapi, Ban Dung)
Rayong (Koh Samet)
Trat (Koh Chang)

[joelle]

Schemes for entering Thailand by air travel

[PeteC]

https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/

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[PeteC]

Note: The below link will lead to the full, updated story sometime around 1500 hours this afternoon.

9,810 new Covid cases, 66 more deaths

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ore-deaths

[buksida]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand will open the country to visitors from 46 countries instead of only 10 Covid-19 low-risk countries announced earlier, starting from Nov 1.

Prime Minister Pumpkinhead is lying through his teeth. I know at least three people arriving in November and all have to quarantine - on many occasions, the CoE will not be issued without proof that quarantine hotels are booked and paid for.

[hhinner]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says Thailand will open the country to visitors from 46 countries instead of only 10 Covid-19 low-risk countries announced earlier, starting from Nov 1.

Prime Minister Pumpkinhead is lying through his teeth. I know at least three people arriving in November and all have to quarantine - on many occasions, the CoE will not be issued without proof that quarantine hotels are booked and paid for.

The rules were only formalized yesterday and your 3 people must have booked before. In any case there is quarantine for everyone if the one night waiting for PCR test result is counted.

With a week to go still plenty of time for changes.

[buksida]

True, but when they say "no quarantine in November" as they did last week, they're still lying as people still have to do it (a week, not a day). Thailand is still effectively closed.

As you say, nine days left this month, can fit a fair few u-turns in there.