Coronavirus (Covid-19)
UPDATE: Phuket announces restrictions for travel to Phuket

Thailand: ‘Real world’ versus the ‘rules’, Part 378.
Arriving in Phuket this morning (Sunday), nearly 24 hours after the introduction of new restrictions for travellers back to the island from around Thailand, we’ve had 4 people contact The Thaiger saying that ‘nothing has changed’ from recent weeks. On 2 of the flights the passengers were asked, before boarding’ to download the Mor Chana app. In one of the other cases, the passengers were asked to download the www.gophuget.com site, but not the Mor Chana app.
Otherwise there appeared no additional impediments to their travel from Bangkok to Phuket. Under the new restrictions, announced yesterday by the Phuket Governor with over 3 pages (in Thai) of additional restrictions, people travelling from Bangkok, which comes under Group 3, would be required to conduct 14 days of self-quarantine, apparently monitored by the Mor Chana app. That certainly didn’t happen to any of the arrivees on flights this morning from Bangkok to Phuket.
Airport authorities may have been instructed to provide some ‘wriggle room’ for flights today, or over the next few days. Or, as often happen in Thailand, there may be some mis communication between branches of government or interpretation of the new guidelines.
Over recent months there has been a pre-flight screening area where travellers can scan a QR code and fill in their details for the AoT, but this has been largely un-enforced. And, apart from a temperature check on arrival (sometimes at the entry to airport buildings as well), there has been little additional restrictions, )apart from the mandatory wearing of masks of course).
In any case, we will keep readers updated with the real world consequences of the new restrictions, around Thailand for travellers.
Yesterday’s report here…
All arrivals from the “highest-risk” areas within the ‘red zone’ provinces “must now quarantine for 14 days” when they arrive in Phuket. People arriving from less high risk areas, Group 5 only, will not be required to quarantine. Everyone else will, including people travelling from anywhere in Bangkok.
The new restrictions are in effect from now until the end of the month, or until the situation “resolves”, according to the translation from the announcement.
Here are the links to download the Mor Chana App, in Thai and English versions…
Download on Google Play HERE.
Download on Apple Store HERE.
Here are the 5 groups.
GROUP 1
People arriving from Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi or Trat…
- Must present to officials a letter certifying the necessity of traveling outside the most strictly controlled areas
Must download the Mor Chana application on their smartphone and show present it to officials on request
Must register online through www.gophuget.com to inform details of travelling to Phuket. - In the event that a person cannot register, the visitor must report to the relevant local municipality or the tambon administration organisation in the area where the visitor is staying on arriving at the destination area.
- Must undergo swab test at the local hospital for the area where the visitor is staying. if the visitor has already been tested for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to departure, the visitor must present a medical certificate with laboratory test results to officers.
- Must quarantine at home or a hotel (ASQ) under the supervision of the communicable disease control officer for a period of 14 days.
- Must strictly follow measures, surveillance, prevention and disease control.
GROUP 2
People arriving from Samut Prakan. Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom or the following districts in Bangkok… Nong Khaem District, Bang Phlat District, Bang Khae District, Bang Khun or Thian District
- Must download the Mor Chana application on their smartphone and show present it to officials on request.
- Must register online through www.gophuget.com to inform details of travelling to Phuket.
- In the event that a person cannot register, the visitor must report to the relevant local municipality or the tambon administration organisation in the area where the visitor is staying on arriving at the destination area.
- Must undergo swab test at the local hospital for the area where the visitor is staying. if the visitor has already been tested for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to departure, the visitor must present a medical certificate with laboratory test results to officers.
- Must quarantine at home or a hotel (ASQ) under the supervision of the communicable disease control officer for a period of 14 days.
- Must strictly follow measures, surveillance, prevention and disease control.
GROUP 3
People arriving from the highest controlled areas (red) 20 provinces
- Must download the Mor Chana application on their smartphone and show present it to officials on request.
- Must register online through www.gophuget.com to inform details of travelling to Phuket.
- In the event that a person cannot register, the visitor must report to the relevant local municipality or the tambon administration organisation in the area where the visitor is staying on arriving at the destination area.
- Must quarantine at home or a hotel (ASQ) for a period of 14 days.
- Must strictly follow measures, surveillance, prevention and disease control.
GROUP 4
People traveling from Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani or Phang Nga
- Must download the Mor Chana application on their smartphone and show present it to officials on request.
- Must register online through www.gophuget.com to inform details of travelling to Phuket.
- In the event that a person cannot register, the visitor must report to the relevant local municipality or the tambon administration organisation in the area where the visitor is staying on arriving at the destination area.
- Must provide self-monitoring at the place where they are staying for a period of 14 days.
- Must strictly follow measures, surveillance, prevention and disease control.
GROUP 5
People arriving from high surveillance areas (yellow) in 38 provinces
- Must download the Mor Chana application on their smartphone and show present it to officials on request.
- Must register online through www.gophuget.com to inform details of travelling to Phuket.
- In the event that a person cannot register, the visitor must report to the relevant local municipality or the tambon administration organisation in the area where the visitor is staying on arriving at the destination area.
- Must strictly follow measures, surveillance, prevention and disease control.
People who violate or fail to comply with the order could face legal action under Section 51 of the Communicable Disease Act, which incurs a fine of up to 20,000 baht, according to the order.
People may also be punished under Section 18 of the act, which incurs a penalty of a fie of up to 40,000 baht or up to 2 years in jail, or both.
More information about the Mor Chana App here…
The minimum required for all individuals travelling to Phuket is to 1) download the “Mor Chana” app on their smartphones and display them when the officer calls for inspection, and 2) register online through the website www.gophuget.com to inform officials of the travel details to Phuket.
SOURCE: Phuket PR Department
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Norway adjusts advice after 28 possible vaccine-related deaths of elderly people

The deaths of 23 elderly people are being investigated after dying a short time of receiving their first Covid-19 vaccine in Norway. Apart from the 23 deaths, medical officials are also reporting several people falling ill after receiving their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
At this stage there has been no direct correlation between the people’s deaths and inoculation wit the Pfizer vaccine, but medical officials report that 13 out of 23 people who died showed “common side effects of mRNA vaccines” such as “diarrhea, nausea and fever”.
mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies – cdc.gov
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has taken the action of cautioning against vaccinating elderly people above 80 years of age saying “those with a short life span may not benefit much from the jab”.
“For those with the most severe frailty, even relatively mild vaccine side effects can have serious consequences.”
“The agency listed fever and nausea as side effects which may have led to the deaths of some frail patients.”
Earlier this week, the Public Health authority noted that “any side effects of the vaccine will be outweighed by a reduced risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 for elderly, frail people.”
Steinar Madsen, the medical director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, says that it may be a coincidence, “but we aren’t sure”.
Pfizer and BioNTech are actively working with the Norwegian authorities to investigate the death.
“The regulator discovered the number of incidents so far is not alarming and in line with expectations.”
But experts are of “the strong opinion” that doctors need to exercise caution in vaccinating people in the wake of the deaths of the 23 elderly people. The Norwegian Medicines Agency also reported that 21 women and 8 men reported side effects. Apart from the 23 deaths, 9 people have reported “serious side effects” without fatal outcomes such as “allergic reactions, strong discomfort and severe fever. Seven people reported less serious side effects such as severe pain at the injection site”.
Norwegian medical staff had administered at least the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccines to approximately 33,000 people as of the end of December.
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Health Minister volunteering to receive first Covid jab, as effectiveness rate questioned

“I’ll go first!”
Thailand’s Public Health Minister has repeated his pledge to be the first person to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, in a bid to allay people’s concerns. Questions have been raised about the Chinese-manufactured Sinovac Biotech jab after its effectiveness rating was revised downwards by researchers in Brazil.
Anutin Charnvirakul says the vaccine process will be overseen by Sophon Mekthon from the Ministry of Public Health and all safety criteria will be met. The Pattaya News reports that the minister says he has confidence in the safety of the vaccine and is willing to prove it by being the first person to get the jab. It’s not the first time he has made this suggestion but there has been no official confirmation that the Health Minister will be first in line.
Thailand has ordered 2 million doses of the vaccine, with the first 200,000 expected to arrive next month. The government has also ordered 26 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca in partnership with Oxford University but is not expected to take delivery of that vaccine until the middle of the year.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Pattaya City mayor planning local rollout of Covid-19 vaccine

The mayor of Pattaya city says officials hope to be able to buy 240,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for administration to local residents. Sonthaya Khunpluem is reviewing finances and plans to set aside approximately 80 million baht for vaccine procurement, subject to government approval.
“Currently, house registration of Pattaya City has reached a total population of 120,000 people, then we would need about 240,000 shots of the vaccine. If the price of the supplied vaccine was approximately 300 baht, Pattaya would need a budget of at least 72 million baht in order to cover all the residents in the city.”
The move comes following confirmation from the government that local authorities could purchase their own vaccines in order to speed up the process. A number of other local authorities have also said they intend to do the same. The government has stipulated that only vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration can be purchased.
Sonthaya hopes that by vaccinating Pattaya residents, tourism in the area could get a boost and the economic recovery could begin. The Pattaya News reports that officials from the Pattaya City Finance Office and other relevant agencies have met to review projects planned for the year ahead, to determine Pattaya’s spending power for buying vaccines.
It’s understood the vaccine would be offered to local residents for free, but what is not known is if that includes foreign residents. Officials have also not confirmed when the rollout is expected to begin, or which vaccine would be used.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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Tappi Gianni
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 5:10 pm
If i make VACCINE in ITALY and i will arrive in BANGKOK i must to stay in the hotel for quarantine? If yes i must to go to KALASIN where i have the house i must to stay other 14 days in quarantine.thank you for your replay.
RA
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 9:45 am
You must quarantine for 14 days regardless if you have vaccine or not. And must be a government approved facility, not a private house.
Steve Gendeson
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:10 am
The end of this article is very poorly written. It says “All arrivals from the “highest-risk” areas within the ‘red zone’ provinces “must now quarantine for 14 days” when they arrive in Phuket. Then later in the same paragraph says everyone except for group 5 will be required to quarantine. That’s redundant and confusing. Why not just leave the first part out if it says everyone has to quarantine in the second part? And why specify “people from the highest risk areas within the red zone provinces” to have to quarantine and then later say “everyone else other the group 5 will have to quarantine”?
jm
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 4:59 pm
people leaving the ASQ hotel after quarantine and going to Phuket the same day should be considered as coming from a low risk zone and registered as group 5. It’s a non-sense to request a second quarantine after finishing the first one.
gagamba
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 3:38 am
hi just a question I will travel to puket from Huahin Prachuapkhirikan by land (bus) do i need to be quarantined 14 days in Phuket?
Daniel
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 4:04 am
So I am in quarantine in Bangkok now. I have to quarantine again if I go to Phuket? There doesn’t seem to be any distinction in regards to people already quarantined elsewhere
Pat
Friday, January 15, 2021 at 12:07 pm
I am planning to take a flight from Chiangmai to Phuket, with a 2 hour stop in Bangkok.
Will that count as coming from Chiangmai, or Bangkok? 555