Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Can I avoid the 14 day quarantine in Thailand if I’ve been vaccinated?
Now that the Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out in some countries, the next question relevant to Thailand is… if I’ve had a vaccine for Covid-19, can I come back without doing the 14 (or 15 in some cases) days of quarantine?
The Public Health Ministry has issued a statement stating that, in the short to medium term, “everyone entering Thailand has to do at least a 14 day quarantine”.
“The quarantine will apply, even those people who have been vaccinated.”
The Public Health Ministry says the reason is because the vaccination process has only just begun in some countries around the world.
“There is no agreement or study on how effective the vaccine is in a real life environment.”
At this stage the World Health Organisation has not made an official statement about the situation.
For now, if you come to Thailand, under any visa, vaccinated or not, you will still need to do the mandatory 14 day quarantine period, at your expense, at an ASQ facility.
The Thaiger will continue to update this situation as additional statements are made on the matter.
SOURCE: ชาวต่างชาติที่ได้รับฉีดวัคซีนแล้ว หากเดินทางเข้ามาในประเทศไทย ต้องกักตัว 14 วันหรือไม่
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Hong Kong’s government is forcing a partial lockdown until 10,000 residents of an area in the Kowloon peninsula, complete a Covid-19 test. The 2 day lockdown in the city’s poorest neighbourhood of Jordan, comes after a new strain of the coronavirus was identified, making it the 1st lockdown that the city has seen.
The area, which features many deteriorating buildings and 150 stacked housing blocks, has confirmed 162 confirmed cases of Covid-19 this month, with the ratio of virus detected in sewage samples from buildings there was higher than that of other areas.
Over the last 2 months the city has been hit by a 4th wave of infections with authorities struggling to bring the daily numbers down. Such clusters have hit the low-income neighbourhoods the most, which are notorious for cramped conditions in districts such as Yau Tsim Mong.
In recent days, health officials began mandatory testing in some 70 buildings in the area but the government has now decided to test everyone much to the confusion of local residents. As rumours of a lockdown were leaked to the local media, the government didn’t officially announce the measure until this morning. The area is also home to many ethnic minorities, mainly South Asian Hong Kongers, a community that often faces discrimination and poverty.
Earlier in the week a senior health official was criticised when he suggested ethnic minority residents might be spreading the virus more readily because “they like to share food, smoke, drink alcohol and chat together.”
The health official’s comments also came as a video was released of predominantly white migrants dancing at a packed brunch on the more affluent Hong Kong Island. But those who agreed with the health official pointed to cramped conditions, not race or culture, as being the cause of the virus spreading more easily.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Phuket’s tourism representatives are calling for an end to the mandatory quarantine levied at tourists arriving to the province from Bangkok. The tourism delegation have also told Phuket’s provincial government to be prepared to start receiving international tourists starting in October.
According to The Phuket News, such a plan would include a requirement for all international travellers to Thailand to have the Covid-19 vaccine. By that time, it is expected that Phuket will have 70% of its population vaccinated, with the timeline possibly being sped up by the province planning to buy the vaccines with its own funds. Such a move would bypass the national government’s timeline with the hopes of innoculating registered residents quicker. Governor Narong says such quarantine measures in place currently are preventing the province from profitting off domestic tourism.
“Phuket has been hit hard by the 2nd epidemic. Thai tourists do not come because they do not want to quarantine and follow the difficult steps to enter the province, not to mention there are no foreign tourists at this time.”
In a meeting, the PTA President Bhummikitti, said the Covid-19 vaccine was “the last ticket and the last hope” for Phuket tourism, “because Phuket tourism has no way out at this time.”
“Thai people are unable to travel due to the second outbreak, and foreign tourists are not to be mentioned at all. Vaccines are the hope of the Phuket tourism sector.”
“The private sector wants to get clarity from the government whether we can follow this plan or not, because if it is left like this – open, close, lockdown and so on, as in the past – local businesses are all dead.”
Bhummikitti pointed out that the government had promised to work with local industry on all matters related to Covid-19 and keeping the local economy alive. He said that the move would “allow tourism and the Phuket economy to be able to walk once more from having fewer Thai tourists.”
Governor Narong said tracking systems will be in place when tourists do come back to the province.
“In order to ensure tourists that Phuket citizens as well as incoming tourists are safe from the Covid-19 virus, there will be a tracking system, and a fund established to be used as a remedy [sic] to help those affected if there is an infection from incoming tourists.”
SOURCE: The Phuket News
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Eastern provinces growing impatient with safety measures as Covid cases decrease
Thailand’s eastern provinces are growing impatient as local businesses and residents await a relaxation in Covid-19 safety measures after seeing a drop in cases. Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Trat and Rayong are under a “highly controlled” status set by the CCSA (Samut Sakhon, south west of Bangkok, also falls into the same category at this time). These provinces, along with Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakarn, are under the strictest control measures in the country.
The cause of such tough measures levied upon the provinces was due to a spike in Covid cases after illegal gambling operations in Rayong and Chonburi were found to feature participants with the Covid-19 virus. But now, those areas are reporting very few cases of the virus leaving residents frustrated as they are unable to make a living or travel.
There has been only 1 case in the past 2 days in all 4 of the Eastern provinces. That case was in Rayong, with all other cases being in the low single digits. On top of the low cases, any new cases have been promptly dealt with by requiring contact-tracing, tracking and quarantine. But any hopes of the measures relaxing has been pushed back to the end of the month, with many questioning such a delay.
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Kanchanaburi police officer’s twin sons arrested for trafficking methamphetamines
Phuket lifts mandatory quarantine restrictions for ‘high risk’ arrivals. But were they ever applied?
More than a third of Thai tourism-related businesses closed down
Ring road collapses leaving at least 10 injured in Nakhon Ratchasima
Phuket national park officer fired over peeping Tom incident
Hong Kong partially locks down, forcing thousands to undergo Covid screening
Border districts screening cars for smuggling illegal migrants
Phuket wants Bangkok arrivals to skip quarantine to help tourism revenue
Eastern provinces growing impatient with safety measures as Covid cases decrease
Opposition to provide evidence against government in upcoming debate
198 new infections, 1 death – Thailand’s Covid-19 update
Thai PM is ready to work closely with the US President
Wuhan remembers Covid-19 lockdown on 1 year anniversary
Patong, Phuket Town, Chalong to fund residents’ vaccination
ASQ + Vaccine in Thailand proposal gets the thumbs down
Australian man wanted for allegedly sexually abusing children in Thailand
Thailand’s PM says he won’t let Thais become vaccine “guinea pigs”
Police raid Bangkok restaurant, more than 80 people face charges for violating Emergency Decree
Thailand News Today | Covid testing for visas, Business impact, Vaccine approval | January 19
UPDATE: Confusion over Covid-19 tests for visa extensions
Police say at least 2 people to be arrested in Bangkok bomb attack – UPDATE
Record number of tourism firms quitting Covid-ravaged sector for good
Covid-19 test NOT required for visa extensions (at least not today)
Man arrested for allegedly overstaying 60 day tourist visa by 7 years
Thailand News Today | Weekend Bangkok bombs, Thailand fires, Covid update | January 18
Security guard slaps student for displaying protest sign at Bangkok mall – VIDEO
Thailand’s tourism in the Covid 2021 era
AstraZeneca vaccine could be approved for emergency use in Thailand this week
Disease control measures ease up in Samut Sakhon
Australia might keep borders closed throughout 2021
Thailand News Today | Gambling crackdown, Seafood market to reopen, Vlogger challenge | Jan 21
Thailand News Today | Covid testing for visas, Business impact, Vaccine approval | January 19
Thailand News Today | Weekend Bangkok bombs, Thailand fires, Covid update | January 18
Thailand News Today | Stray car on runway, Indonesian quake, 300 baht tourist fee | January 15
Thailand News Today | Governor off respirator, sex-trafficking arrest, condo prices falling | January 14
Thailand News Today | Chinese vaccine, Thailand ‘drug hub’, Covid update | January 13
Thailand News Today | Bangkok may ease restrictions, Phuket bar curfew, Vaccine roll out | January 12
Thailand News Today | Covid latest, Cockfights closed down, Bryde’s Whale beached | January 11
Thailand News Today | Southern floods, Face mask fines, Thai Air Asia woes | January 8
Thailand News Today | 305 infections, No happy ending for massages, Phuket quarantine mooted | Jan 7
Thailand News Today | 10,000 schools closed, 900 new migrant infections, Gambling crackdown | January 6
Thailand News Today | PM reverses lockdown, Southern P.D.A. crackdown, Covid update | Jan 5
Thailand News Today | Record daily infections, Covid restrictions, British arrivals ‘on hold’ | Jan 4
Thailand News Today | Pattaya restrictions, 2021’s extra holidays, Covid update | December 30
Thailand News Today | Covid update, Bangkok restrictions, Gold rush | December 29
Coronavirus (Covid-19)4 days agoCCSA Update: 59 new Covid-19 cases and 1 death
- Politics3 days ago
US Ambassador to Thailand quits after Biden inaugurated
- Bangkok3 days ago
13 Bangkok businesses allowed to reopen tomorrow
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
Pattaya hotels take food to the streets in bid to survive
- Pattaya3 days ago
Pattaya cleaning up its Walking Street act in time for Chinese New Year
- Air Pollution3 days ago
Air pollution in Bangkok expected to get worse due to “cold spell”
- Coronavirus (Covid-19)3 days ago
50,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to arrive in Thailand in early February, more ahead
- Economy3 days ago
210 billion baht stimulus confirmed for “Rao Chana”
Wayne the geezer
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:17 pm
This 14 day’s quaintine is just to get more money from a tourist I only wish to go visit my wife but can’t afford the 64,000 bht minimum charge also have a blood test every week here at work.
Issan John
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:52 pm
It’s not “64,000 baht minimum” for ASQ. IIRC it was closer to 25k.
She could always go to see you 🙂
Toby Andrews
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:18 pm
I am seeing at least B28000 with out the extras. The agent will want b10.000.
The Thais are not going to give up this lucrative scam just because a foreigner has had an vaccine and has no sign of having covid.
They are going to milk it to the limit. They want 16 days, not 14 to start with.
Plus any chance they can find they will declare the ferang contagious and transfer the ferang to hospital, where the Thailand insurance will not pay!
colin
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:46 am
don’t be so negative the Thais have done a great job and it is only right that any person coming need to do a 14-day quarantine. They sure don’t know after you were on a plane for 10 hours if you are contagious or not, your country is not doing such a great job so stop criticizing the Thais.Thay are not doing it for the money you idiot.
Alte Ledertasche
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:59 am
Thais are doing everything for money you idiot
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:02 am
Precisely.
The idea that the quarantine is a big conspiracy designed to make money out of foreigners for a few hotels and hospitals at the expense of all the other hotels and the entire Thai tourist industry is way beyond moronic – particularly when returning Thais have to quarantine as well, paying the same charges to stay in the same hotels unless they opt for a stay with the military which apparently very few do.
Simply moronic, unjustifiable Thai-bashing at its worst.
Yogi
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 5:40 pm
Of course it’s for the money. We are talking about Thailand and falangs here.
preesy chepuce
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:48 pm
Most are 40,000+, and then you have to pay about the same again for health insurance, after flights and cars and tests and all the rest, adds up to closer to £3,000, and no, they won’t let her visit, but then nobody takes “Issan John”‘s drivel seriously any more.
Andy
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2:55 am
Yeah something wrong with this guy IJ, sitting day and night on theTiger and posting anti-everything! comments.
RC
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:49 am
Agreed!!!!
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:20 am
Not “anti-everything” – just anti rubbish, which is sadly very easily verifiable as such.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:17 am
On checking, 28,000 is readily available (so rather “closer to 25,000” than 64,000), with no “extras” required and no “10,000 baht” for an agent.
Approved health insurance is available from 1,600 baht through the TAT website, so rather less than “the same again” (supposedly 40,000 baht).
… and who “won’t let her visit”?
Pure, wildly inaccurate drivel, but no surprise.
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 6:29 pm
I did read it on an official Thailand agency for booking quarantines.
And other first person accounts are on the stream.
Read and learn . . .
Giacomo Poma
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 11:26 pm
Insurance is not available for over 75 years old, so I can not go back to Chiang Rai to support my wife and family, even when vaccinated.
Derek
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:36 pm
Keep the qurantine would be nice 10 days but if not prepaired to do it dont come keep Thailand safe
Mike Frenchie
Friday, January 1, 2021 at 8:49 pm
There are thousands of cases now… Climbing fast! His “safe” is this?
Eric
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:42 pm
I don’t understand where all this negativism is coming from. I for one don’t mind paying for my quarantine, which I’m in the process of completing now, if it will protect me and Thai society.
For those of you who don’t want to go through it or are unwilling to pay for it, I can only say: Stay home! Don’t come here!
Eric
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:56 pm
I find it quite reprehensible that some foreigners want to impose their concepts and moral values on a society that is willing to welcome them here. There are some conditions we need to meet in order to be able to enter Thailand in these precarious times. If you disagree with such requirements, well maybe you should look elsewhere. Otherwise, comply and and behave as responsible adults; not like cry babies. After all, no one is forcing you to come here.
Jaymasta
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 3:29 pm
That’s a ridiculous idea. Due to the quarantine, tons of tourists don’t go to Thailand at all, so Thailand loses a lot of money on these requirements.
Ozevnison
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 12:59 pm
It’s 32,000 at the Maple Bangna
John
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:18 pm
Getting vaccine is safer than getting Covid! Anyone disagree?
Thomas Janush
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2:44 am
Your statement is not correct. Check the facts. Any vaccine given would not give you protection, nor protect others.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:25 am
Could you give anything verifiable to support the “facts”?
Anything at all?
While a vaccine may not “protect others” (“may” as it’s not yet confirmed one way or the other) all the available verifiable “facts” indicate that they give those vaccinated 95% protection.
ipfunnyjohns
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:19 pm
2 words.. cycle threshold
yet_to_arrive
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 7:16 pm
Had a line chat with BRIA lab. They are using a cycle threshold of 38!
As stated by the inventor of the PCR testing method, at that CT you can detect a single nucleotide (molecule). You’d struggle to not find a single molecule of whatever you wanted in a sample.
Hence more tests = more cases.
“Above CT=35 the chances of any virus detected being replication competent are miniscule”- Dr Fauci. Yet labs are testing to 100x greater sensitivity.
CT=25 indicates a viral load that is barely transmissible.
If you “test positive”, ask for the cycle threshold.
Rasputin
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:20 pm
Medium Term? I can’t see it myself, they’re too many questions are still waiting for a definitive answer to be accepted as reliable. Maybe 2022 with a bit of luck, but then again maybe not, without significant advancements in technology.
Rick
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:44 pm
Wait, wasn’t it reported that some of these vaccines were very effective – up to 95%? But now there is no agreement on how effective they are? Not to worry as we have a foolproof PCR test! Wait, what’s that? The test is unreliable? Oh well, I guess we are stuck with a quarantine. But not to worry – if you take the vaccine you may get a lifetime quarantine – in a pine box.
Stephen Westrip
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:44 pm
Apparently this isn’t good enough for the Thai government. As they apparently have the license to manufacture the Oxford University/AstraZeneca for SE Asia it will be interesting to see how they justify foreign nationals who have had that vaccine still have to endure a 14-day ASQ. Are they saying that they doubt the data from a vaccine they are manufacturing?
Robert VAN GEND
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:29 am
Australian Government has issued a press statement stating that the vaccine is not a cure and that hotel quarantine will continue in the short term, and perhaps eventually those who have been vaccinated and returning to Aus may be able to do 14 days home isolation.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:43 am
Not sure why it would be so “interesting to see how they justify foreign nationals who have had that vaccine still have to endure a 14-day ASQ” since unless the vaccine stops transmission, and there’s no evidence or claims as yet that it does, those vaccinated will be just as likely to carry the virus as those who aren’t vaccinated.
As this point has been made many times, what part of it do you disagree with or don’t you understand?
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:36 am
“no agreement” on the effectiveness of the vaccines by who, exactly?
Just because you and others such as the anti-vaxxers disagree, that doesn’t mean the experts and those testing, verifying and approving the vaccines disagree, which they don’t.
… and the PCR test isn’t “foolproof” but as used it’s been proven repeatedly to be 93 to 97% accurate (for negatives and positives respectively), which is far from “unreliable”.
But not to worry …
Andrew Finley
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:44 pm
I’ve had to pay 45,000 baht for the privalidge, so I hope they keep it for another year,..
Frank Leboeuf
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:00 pm
As a sidenote, Indonesia has just set up a 5 day mandatory hotel quarantine in Jakarta for all arrivals (and suspended foreign entries until January 14 in response to the recent developments / new strain).
It’s 1,000,000 IDR per day in most cases.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 11:46 am
Cambodia also introduced a mandatory 14 day quarantine a few weeks ago.
James R
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:21 pm
I will give it a miss for the time being.
My Thai wife will be going there for a month soon to sell a house, but as she is Thai it only costs £850 for a return ticket with Thai Airways, the two weeks quarantine in a hotel is paid for free by the Thai government, or should I say subsidized by the farangs paying to stay in the same hotels.
Even with British passports, Thai people get the hotel for free.
It makes me laugh how things work over there, still I love spending six months a year in Thailand, but I will wait for the time after I have had our British made vaccine and this to be accepted by Thailand before I go next time.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Totally and completely untrue.
Returning Thais do NOT stay “free” in their choice of ASQ or ALSQ hotels.
That is completely untrue, they pay EXACTLY THE SAME set charges as foreigners staying in the same hotel on ASQ / ALSQ, just as your wife is paying EXACTLY THE SAME for her air fare.
The option Thais get, which foreigners don’t, is to spend their quarantine period with the Army in an Army barracks, which is “free”, and some of those have also been put in much cheaper hotels for their quarantine period.
If your wife (or you on her behalf) have opted for the free stay with the Army or in a designated cheaper hotel rather than to pay for ALQ / ALSQ in a hotel of her choice, then THAT’S HER CHOICE (or yours), but these are NOT “the same hotels”, which can cost up to a couple of hundred thousand baht.
Saying that these are “free” and “the same hotels” is COMPLETELY UNTRUE.
Jimbo
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Thais don’t pay for quarantine, I have enquired at the London Embassy, it is of a lower standard than the ASQ Hotels.
James R
Friday, January 1, 2021 at 10:02 pm
Dirty farangs do not have the same option though eh?
Just get your money out and keep quiet is the Thai attitude towards you?
But I am sure if she slips someone a few baht she could get out early just as happens with the local government officials when it comes to dealing with land and houses etc, things happen a lot quicker we have found when there is a ‘few baht’ on offer.
It is a good service though if you have money things go easily if not then get in the queue.
Mel Burn
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:38 pm
“190 Bangkok clinics and hospitals accused of corruption” does not inspire confidence in the testing and quarantine process. What exactly governments are afraid of – old people dying? Easier on pension funds. Young people are not much affected. Just politics.
Ben
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:46 pm
Thailand has been conservative in its COVID management and it’s been a good approach so far. This announcement is consistent with that approach.
Based on extensive study the vaccinated are 95%+ protected from serious illness. What’s not known is if the vaccinated can still carry the virus and infect others. That’s being studied now and we should get information on that topic in the next few months. If they determine vaccines eliminate infectiousness then I believe Thailand will begin letting people enter without quarantine, with vaccination and a negative COVID test. It’s in their best interest to start up general tourism once the risks to their population are minimal but not zero. The earliest this could happen would be the end of first quarter 2021.
Another scenario would be to allow general tourism without quarantine after the Thai population has been vaccinated. This earliest this could happen would be the end of second quarter 2021.
Lastly, entry without quarantine could occur once their neighbors in Asia allow it also. Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, etc. currently have a policy similar to Thailand. Once these countries determine it’s ok then Thailand will follow suit. They don’t want to lose market share ($) and face by being the last to recognize it’s time to open up.
It would be a mistake to let public health officials alone make this decision. COVID is here to stay, similar to the flu, and the best we can do is manage it with tools such as vaccination, treatments and testing. These tools are are now being developed and implemented and I’m sure we’ll be in a better place by mid-2021.
London Al
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 5:17 am
If the vaccinated can still carry the virus and infect others then what is the point of the vaccine?
This is complete nonsense and based on a negative what if philosophy which has no place in this crisis, what if everyone vaccinated dies in 5 years time, the scenarios are endless.
Believe in the scientists, medical experts, and regulators, if you’d had the vaccine you don’t carry the virus, simple as that.
Maverick
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:06 am
They don’t have enough evidence from initial trials to establish whether vaccinated people can still be infectious . This was not in scope because they wanted to get the vaccines out to protect the vulnerable and prevent deaths which is not unreasonable. They hope to determine in the coming months that folks once vaccinated are not infectious that will require our cooperation not unreasonable if it helps us return to some degree of normality.
Alte Ledertasche
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 8:04 am
so they basically using the world population now as guinea pigs for their product. As it was expected from the corrupt Pharma Industry.
Willem
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9:26 am
Whats wrong with you @ALte.only negative comments. You might be infected with something. Take a rest. Keep silent.
Alte Ledertasche
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9:56 am
Take you pink glases of Willem
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:50 pm
For once, Alte L, we’re in agreement.
The vaccines are still “experimental” and these are Stage 4 Tests.
Literally.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:47 pm
Exactly, Maverick.
It’s very unfortunate that they didn’t establish this during the trials, which they could have done very easily by regularly testing all the participants to see if they were carriers or not, albeit 95%+ immune, but instead they chose only to test those who were symptomatic.
This has led to a considerable amount of criticism from a number of experts who have said that it was anything but “not unreasonable”, since it wouldn’t have slowed down the roll out at all and would have produced clear, easily verifiable results with a directly comparable control group, which the experts also say will be become more difficult to do with any degree of certainty the more the vaccine is administered.
Some cynics would even say it was in the manufacturers’ interests not to know, as that could mean more demand for the vaccine, but who knows …
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Well put, and well thought through.
Sadly, completely wasted on the majority commenting here.
Joe
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 10:07 pm
Good comment Ben.
Wijnschenk
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:47 pm
We send million to help the thai after a tsunami.
We send people and money to save children from a cave.
Somebody gave his live in this rescue.
NOW thailand can do something back!!!!
Help!! Stranded farangs get back to their loved ones!!!!
Forget tuorist HELP.
I am waiting NOT to be ripped of…
John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 4:07 am
Calm down, wake up, and grow up mate.
colin
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 8:00 am
well, I know many that have returned to Thailand to see their wives and loved ones. Paul from the USA stayed at the Marriot and said he paid 60,000. Said the food was great and that included three covid tests. They allowed did not allow him from the room for 5 days and then could go to the gym and the pool after the 5 days but a very limited amount of people he said they did a great job and great service,
Ian
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 11:08 pm
Issan john it’s as hard to get visa for them to come here as it is for us to go to Thailand your so outa touch with the real world living in issan as each day goes by it shows how Thailand is ripping off farang it’s disgusting your visa is so delicate they could easily say when you go to renew NO VISA go home then you have to come back to the real world not land of scam this is reason i will never buy in Thailand just rent and keep my assetts in UK that make money not lose value as each day passes so sad for thailand because I did fall in love with it but relationships can end I’m trying to keep the love going but it seems it’s only one way as im a dirty farang
colin
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 8:06 am
I have been here for 20 years have a business a house a condo and have been married to the same wonderful lady, I love it here and could not ask for a better wife, and her family all treat me super. I also have many friends that have been married here for many years and are very happy. no complaints from me or my friends,
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9:12 am
Yes you think they are wonderful. The family treat you super. They would. You will be keeping the lot of them.
The kids probably follow you around because you give them sweets. How many sick buffalos have you paid to be treated?
Do you really believe that it is you they like and not your money?
If you do you are a mug.
Try saying I lost all my money and stop paying, then see how their adoration for you changes.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Talking from experience there, Toby?
It’s all different, of course, in Cambodia, where the young bar girls are all over you for your gorgeous, hunky body and pay you to drink wth them, and in the UK where if you marry someone and are the willing bread-winner for them and their family they don’t “treat you super”.
Of course it is … well, maybe in part about the UK … 🙂
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 6:09 pm
Yes well what I wrote about colin I guess also applies to you up there in Issan, judging by the way you write that no Thai can do wrong . .
They think you are wonderful because, let me count, you have given them one house, two cars, and how many motor bikes. You admitted it on this very forum.
They treat you well and hope for more, so you are under the same illusion as colin.
Wise up, you are paying them to pretend that they like you!
A bit like me buying a bar girl a drink really, however I know that the big smile is so I will buy them another – you do not know this up in Issan.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Not “outa touch with the real world”, Ian, as that’s EXACTLY the point I’m making!
That it’s “as hard to get visa for them to come here as it is for us to go to Thailand”.
If that’s the case, which it is, then isn’t it the height of hypocrisy for you to bash Thailand for only doing EXACTLY what your own country (which also happens to be mine) does?
Why is it so terrible for Thais to do to Brits no more than, by your own admission, EXACTLY what Brits do to Thais?
I’ve never come across so much hypocrisy, apart from when I fell off a bar stool in Pattaya while listening to it. 🙂
Bill
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:39 am
Clearly Mr. Ian has never heard of a period.
Mark Peters
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 10:34 am
Bill, what has the measurement of time or the female menstrual cycle got to do with Ian’s post? Best stick to the ‘issue at hand’, old chap!
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:19 pm
He’s British, apparently – a “period” means something else there 🙂
Remo
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:41 am
Vaccinated patients may also spread the infection, though their own symptoms will be very mild or none.
So, even if you have been vaccinated and you remain asymptomatic , the virus might replicate in your respiratory mucus membrane, which means you may infect others.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2:45 am
So the mucus membrane is excluded from your immune system response? Where did you get this information?
London Al
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 5:18 am
Utter rubbish
Ree Turner
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 5:53 am
REMO IS CORRECT, you can still be “infected” with Covid after a vaccination. The vaccine illicits an immediate immune response since the introduction of the vaccine has programmed your immune system on how to fight the virus. Because of the immediate immune response, you are much less likely to show severe symptoms or possibly any symptoms at all…. well, that the case 95% or the time… so every 100 people who arrive in Thailand and they are “fighting the virus”, 5 will become sick and potentially infect the local population. Think about it, a vaccine isn’t some star wars defense system that reaches out and kills the virus before it ever touches you. The vaccine does not even become “effective” unless covid actually lands in your lungs or sinus cavities and starts to proliferate. I’m confident that random Covid testing occurred during virus trials and many people had the virus but were “asymptomatic”. The blood tests that they took for those asymptomatic individuals were harvested and it was determined that the body was either “fighting” the virus (immune response) or still learning how to fight the virus (no immune response yet). In a double blink study, only independent analysts know who actually received the virus… but I’m confident that the lab technicians actually know who-did and who-did-not receive the virus simply from the immediate immune reaction to the virus by the persons immune system.
And yes, ASQ is also saving the hotel industry in Thailand… so that’s not going to stop anytime soon. But as it saves the hotel industry, it is also saving the overall Thai population from (airline landed) foreign re-introduction of the Virus… so it’s not ALL about greed (well, at least the greed can be justified in this case).
But wait… I can also answer the original question… when will ASQ/Quarantine stop… ASQ/Quarantine will stop after Thailand has distributed vaccine to all the citizens willing to be vaccinated. Once all Thai Citizens (actually everybody in Thailand) has been vaccinated and have a 95% chance of walking away from exposure with no complications. That’s around the beginning of high season 2021 (Oct, Nov, Dec). So if you wanna come back anytime soon, read the recent readers submissions about returning to thailand on stickmanbangkok dot com and book your ASQ soon.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Sorry, Ree Turner, but while you’re undoubtedly correct that “you can still be “infected” with Covid after a vaccination”, your assumption that only 5% may be contagious once their body’s “fighting the virus” is baseless – nobody knows, because nobody’s checked.
… I’m afraid that your “confidence” that anyone who was asymptomatic was tested is completely misplaced.
They SHOULD have been and the experts EXPECTED them to have been, but both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have stated categorically that they ONLY tested those who were symptomatic.
Ree Turner
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 3:08 pm
I’m going to have to acquiesce to Johnny on his arguments. At this point, nobody knows (for certain) if you can… or cannot spread the virus after vaccination. At this point no solid evidence exists that you can spread (or not spread) the virus if you are one of the 95% who aggressively fight the virus… or one of the 5% who become symptomatic.. or if you never caught it at all.
With no proof… either way… a vaccination buys you absolutely nothing with regards to entering Thailand. But wait !!! Just because you’re paranoid, does not mean that they’re not out to get you!!! (not you Johnny, everyone else). Everyone will be happy to know that Thai citizens who have been vaccinated and return to Thailand will be treated just as “special” as the tourists. They will get to go through “free” quarantine too. So much for the conspiracy theory that they are “targeting tourist” to undergo quarantine… Free or paid for, everybody who lands by air has to endure it. If your Thai and want an upgrade from army barracks you get to pay for it just like tourists do (albeit with a 5% discount at most hotels).
When is the last time anybody has heard about a super-spreader making it out of quarantine and infecting hundreds of people? What, one lady in Phuket, once? SQ/ASQ is working. If you think it’s a rip-off and don’t want to pay for it… Don’t. I’m not going to miss you here… and I doubt Johnny will either.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 3:17 pm
The 95% is often misinterpreted. It’s not 5% of vaccinated persons which will still become sick. It is 5% of people who would otherwise became sick without the vaccine. Assume that from 1000 infected people 20 would get sick (not light symptoms). With a vaccine only 5% from those 20 only 1 will get sick. That’s 1 out 1000 of every people.
Logic tells that vaccinated people will not have a significance virus load after a weeks and there little chance for spreading. Many countries will act on this assumption. Big pharma will not confirm this however, after it is proven which takes some time.
Ree Turner
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Interesting Ray, I bet you think your pretty smart. Well, your more informed than I am and it was great reading more about that. From NY Times
In the case of Pfizer, for example, the company recruited 43,661 volunteers and waited for 170 people to come down with symptoms of Covid-19 and then get a positive test. Out of these 170, 162 had received a placebo shot, and just eight had received the real vaccine.
8 divided by 170 is that magical 5% efficacy. It looks like half of the 43K received the vaccine and the other half received the placebo.
Also interesting was from
Of the 10 cases of severe Covid-19, nine were in the placebo group, an important finding which suggests the vaccine prevents not only mild cases, but the type of serious disease that leads patients to die or be hospitalized.
A short and painless youtube video describing efficacy can be found here
Thanks Ray !
However, sadly it does not change the reality for entry and quarantine into Thailand. Vaccinated or not, Thai citizen or Tourist. You will be going into quarantine until the vaccine is “sufficiently” distributed within Thailand to protect those on the “other side” of SQ/ASQ.
The Thaiger
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Sorry, we don’t allow links in this comments section, as per our guidelines we’ve posted in the past.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 8:12 pm
I don’t pretend to be smart. Just sharing info I got from sources that are not available to everyone on this comment section. I got my figure from a person high up in the ranks of Moderna. He gave an interview on tv and the explanation of the 5% was an answer to a question many people asked.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Watched the video on YouTube called “Pfizer Vaccine Efficacy Explained”.
It means that the efficacy is even considerably higher than 95% when not counting in the people who had a placebo. I suppose the exec from Moderna withheld this info in the interview so that his number would be on the conservative side, which makes all sense.
A lot of people assume that 95% efficacy in vaccinated people mean 5% will still get sick. That is far from the truth.
Bigsleazypappa
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:52 am
It’s all about the money guys!!! SIMPLE AS THAT!!!! If you’ve had the vaccine you should be ok to travel without quarantine. This will definitely happen in the long term so why not do it now and keep the economy moving. Very simple formula that should be executed ASAP
London Al
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 5:19 am
Quite right and not just in Thailand, every country wants tourists back
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2:34 am
I believe the general consensus is that those with no family, home or job in LOS won’t accept a quarantine. In three months I’ll expect to be vaccinated but as it looks I probably can’t skip the quarantine for another year. It is a damn shame because I would jump on the next plane available.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:39 pm
A “shame” for you, but no more than a sensible precaution for Thailand.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 4:18 pm
No, it is a shame for all those Thai who lost their jobs. Every non-authoritarian country will let in vaccinated travelers without a quarantine because logic tells there is very small chance they can spread the virus. It just hasn’t been confirmed by pharma but it is logic. Any sensible government will not harm the economy any further with unnecessary draconian measures. Unless, they have another reason.
Issan John
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 4:53 pm
“Every non-authoritarian country will let in vaccinated travelers without a quarantine because logic tells there is very small chance they can spread the virus.”
Really?
Based on what?
The same “logic” that “tells there is very small chance they can spread the virus” evgen though “it just hasn’t been confirmed by pharma” who are selling the stuff so you’d expect them to say so if it did?
Malcolm Spence
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2:56 am
Stephen Westrips comment about the Thai Government’s manufacture of the vaccine in Thailand is the most poignant common sense comment to date. Surely even the Thai Government cannot fail to see the fairness and logic in Stephens comment, without them appearing ridiculous and losing face.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:45 pm
As I pointed out to Stephen R:
“unless the vaccine stops transmission, and there’s no evidence or claims as yet that it does, those vaccinated will be just as likely to carry the virus as those who aren’t vaccinated.”
… and as I asked him:
“As this point has been made many times, what part of it do you disagree with or don’t you understand?”
Mike Frenchie
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 3:18 am
More people in the free food queue (no tourism till 2022)… but what will happen when there will be no free food queue?
Milke
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 8:15 am
Thai logic irrational as ever ! Telling the rest of the world international scientists and testing that the vaccine’not proven ‘ ! Thailand in its own. ” brain bubble”
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:55 pm
Actually that was Australia, not Thailand …
… and since the vaccines are still “experimental”, although approved, and still in Phase Four Trials despite the numbers, they are still “not proven”.
Sorry to burst your brain bubble …..
J West
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 12:19 pm
It’s the hilarious maniacal desperation to get back into Thailand that’s so laughable. Get a life guys. Here’s the bottom line. Thailand was a very poor and undeveloped country into the 1960’s when “ discovered” by western perverts. It was a huge mistake to let the sex industry flourish, even as a stop gap measure. Thai knows this and is methodically turning away from that embarrassment. Thai, as the worlds easy access scum flop and red light district , is closed. Get used to the fact that change has finally come and Thais are happy it has. Tourism will renew in time, but Thailand will have changed.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 4:33 pm
It is not only Thai who are embarrassed. I too feel queasy when I come across old ugly potbellied western scumbags with far too young beautiful girls. Some are definitely pedo’s. They perhaps don’t get involved with a child but with the next thing, a young girl who still looks as a child. It disgusts me to my core and it would be a good thing when sex tourism will be eradicated. I am saying this aa a farang.
John
Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 9:43 am
What disgusts me is people like you judging other people. Ray wank
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Sorry to break your “brain bubble” too, J West, but your grasp of history is badly flawed – as is you grasp on sociology.
Ray
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 3:29 pm
The argument that quarantine is an extortion scheme is only partly true. So far, quarantine has been justified but perhaps too expensive. But still letting vaccinated travelers go through quarantine is politics. Any authoritarian government (just look at the other countries in Asia) can’t afford discontent within the population. With the current sentiment they found a scapegoat in farangs and will treat them accordingly.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 4:29 pm
It’s common sense no to until the answers are known. How is that “politics”?
And how are farangs being made a scapegoat?
Chinese, Burmese, but what farangs?
What absolute nonsense, just because a few farangs can’t have a holiday.
Bigsleazypappa
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 5:08 am
Well guys I’m reading all the comments on here and I have to say there’s one guy who stands out a mile with his incompetence and sheer rudeness!!! You know who you are mentioning no names but il leave you guys to figure it out LAUGHABLE really!!!! Absolute nonsense and not in the real world stay safe guys!!!
Issan John
Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Just to clarify the position over “free” quarantine for returning Thais, as I’ve just had it confirmed by friends who have recently been through the process.
It’s free (at government / Thai Airways expense) only for those Thais flying back with Thai Airways, at approved hotels in Bangkok. Anyone who chooses to stay an an ASQ or ALSQ hotel instead pays for it, at the same rates as anyone else.
For those Thais coming back with another airline or across land borders it’s only free courtesy of the RTA at an Army barracks and, again, anyone who chooses to stay an an ASQ or ALSQ hotel instead pays for it, at the same rates as anyone else.
That seems eminently fair and sensible to me.
Apolo Jr. Estrada
Friday, January 1, 2021 at 1:51 am
The Thai government will start vaccinating their own citizens on May 2021 so even if vaccinated or not, still have to quarantine for 2 weeks & will not go back to normal travel until mid-2022.