Coronavirus (Covid-19)Phuket

Miscommunication over rules sees Thai man angrily footing bill for Covid test in Phuket

After a Thai man’s angry video went viral over allegedly having to pay for a Covid-19 test in order to enter Phuket, the provincial Vice Governor has responded. Piyapong Choowong admitted that the rule for those entering Phuket had recently changed, nixing the requirement of those arriving to undergo a Covid rapid antigen test. The man says he paid 450 baht for the test upon entering the province on Monday. But Piyapong says a provincial order was already in effect on Monday, which should have allowed the man to enter without needing the test or having to foot the bill for it.

But his response only came after Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew had posted about the order that Monday night at 10pm, stating that the new requirements came into effect on Tuesday. The response by Piyapong has confused people as it appears the order was supposedly in effect before it was announced.

Previously, when the rule was in effect for those entering the province to undergo the test, Thais were not required to pay for the test, while foreigners were required to pay 500 baht. The man, who has not been identified, issued several remarks on his video that rapidly spread through social media.

“There are no outsiders wanting to come to Phuket, but also people who have their house in Phuket. If they leave the island, they must pay 450 baht for returning home. What does this mean?”

“We pay taxes. You must arrange government medical staff to provide the test and service us. You can have whatever measures you want, but if you hire an outside source and get money from us, it’s not right.”

“I’m not a Phuket native, but I have to come to Phuket every month. I also came last month. My friend did have the rapid test for free before, but this time we have to pay 450 baht. Then you see me!”

“Don’t need to apologise to me. If we see something wrong, we must speak out. We do not blame the staff, but we need to blame the person who set up the measure. The measure is bad like this, we can’t accept it!”

Piyapong also took to social media yesterday to repeat his explanation of what happened.

“The video of that gentleman who got mad at the Phuket Government for self-paid testing came from May 17 when the private company conducted the tests for the last day. For now, we do not have rapid testing for arrivals at the checkpoint anymore.”

“The stopping of rapid testing did not come because of the video, we had discussed stopping the rapid tests before that. Additionally, the private company staff did not want to conduct the test anymore either.”

“We would like to make our 500,000 people on the island to be safe. Arrivals who come by plane have to be swab tested before getting on board from the departing airport. From April 22 to May 15, we had rapid tests for arrivals at the airport and the checkpoint for free because the cost of the test was supported by the National Health Security Office.”

Piyapong says now arrivals without documents need to self-quarantine for 14 days from May 18. He says the measure would be temporary to control the number of new infections on the island. He noted that the province has seen single-digit number of new infections for several days now. The new entry requirements apply to all people arriving by land, air or sea, but the 14-day quarantine was an option only for those entering by land.

Piyapong says after testing more than 73,000 arrivals, the rapid tests identified just 18 confirmed cases of infection. But he says some who need to travel in and out of the island have voiced their concerns over being more affected by the measures.

“Most people on the island agree with our strict measure….”

SOURCE: The Phuket News

Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.

Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.

Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

Ann Carter

Ann Carter is an award-winning journalist from the United States with over 12 years experience in print and broadcast news. Her work has been featured in America, China and Thailand as she has worked internationally at major news stations as a writer and producer. Carter graduated from the Walter Williams Missouri School of Journalism in the USA.

17 Comments

  1. So he doesn’t live on Phuket but he wants to go there without paying for a test?

    What a whingeing bar-steward!

    His video’s “gone viral” but a lot of the comments are far from complimentary!

  2. Ah the spectacle of a irate Thai that has to pay; so satisfying, yet not long ago ferangs had to pay B500 for the test, and Thais did not. No Thais objected to that. No Thais said that is not right even though some ferangs paid taxes on the island.

  3. “What is the relevance of him being “Thai”? Why not simple “An angry man”? Just fuels the division, the racism and the prejudice.”

    Because that’s what he is!

    Because he was talking about his rights as a Thai.

    Why “an angry man”? Isn’t that fueling sexism?

    Why not an angry person?

    Or an angry animal?

    What absolute garbage.

  4. Funny TV video a year back when a distraught Thai was crying to media about getting ripped off big-time by a taxi driver from Swampy to Nana.

    ” Phob Khun Thai”, he whinged. ” I’m Thai”. As if it was only Farang who should be ripped off….but never …. ” Thai on Thai”.

    News flash….this country rips off everybody.

  5. Exactly @J West. A friend of mine went along to a car dealer to buy a new car. His partner asked for some discount on the stated price given the man was paying cash for the car. The salesman openly ticked off the partner for asking for discount. Exact words were “why are you, a Thai asking for discount for a Farang?” Thankfully my friend speak sufficient Thai to understand what was being said and the deal collapsed. Not surprisingly his wife couldn’t understand why he was so offended. Disgraceful behaviour…. Cue Lord Haw to tell me where I’m going wrong…

  6. @Me Two – I agree John. Thais expect special treatment don’t they?
    Even though he is not a full time Phuket resident.
    The outrage, even though he is Thai they are treating him like a westerner!

  7. BooHooHoo…Cry me a River… Don’t know his personal situation so nothing personal here. When the Self Righteous, (the “Woke” culture in USSA), start to eat their own, it does make one smile- if only a tiny bit! Welcome to Our World Mr Thai Man!! The Daily Beat-Down of the Farang living on the Isle of Phuket is beyond comprehension, at least when seen from our eyes. No need to reiterate the redundant posts, y’all know what I mean. So shut the f…up,,, as some of you kind folks like to reply; put your “BiG BoY pants on; donate your pittance to the pitiful gubment; get busy living….or get busy dying!!!

  8. “Phob Khun Thai”, he whinged. ” I’m Thai”. ”

    Did he really, @J West?

    What language was he speaking, since that’s nothing like how you say “I’m Thai”?

    Odd that someone who’s been here as long as you and who’s so well versed in Thai ways doesn’t know how to say “I’m Thai / English / American, etc” …

    … or maybe not …

  9. “Me Two. Your farang piety and ignorance is disgusting! That is more than a days wage for the average Thai, but to you rich farang it is nothing. Grow up FFS!”

    WTF are you talking about, @Steven Ginn?

    Have you seen the original video?

    Have you read any of the comments on social media I referred to, all by Thais in Thai, which is what sparked my comment?

    Have you read what the (Thai) vice-governor said, that (Thai) delivery drivers want the self-paid test?

    Did you notice that he’s not an “average Thai”, by your definition, as he lives outside Phuket but also has a house on Phuket that he visits every month?

    The problem isn’t my supposed “farang piety and ignorance” but that you’ve jumped to an uninformed conclusion without having the faintest idea what you’re talking about or checking anything first.

Leave a Reply