Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Reduced quarantine approved for some foreign arrivals

Published

Thursday, March 11, 2021 10:02

PHOTO: Engin Akyurt on Unsplash

The Thai government has agreed to reduce mandatory quarantine for certain categories of arrivals from overseas. The national committee on communicable diseases, which falls under the umbrella of the Public Health Ministry, has approved the measure based on the fact that a global vaccination drive is leading to a gradual reduction in case numbers.

According to a Nation Thailand report, the following categories of international arrivals are included in the reduced quarantine, which varies from 7 to 10 days:

Foreigners with a valid Covid-19 vaccination certificate that is no more than 3 months old and no less than 14 days old, in possession of a negative Covid test result: 7 days’ quarantine

Repatriating Thai nationals who have a valid Covid-19 vaccination certificate no more than 3 months old and no less than 14 days old but who do not have a negative Covid test result: 7 days’ quarantine
Foreigners who have a negative Covid test result but no vaccination certificate: 10 days’ quarantine

Reduced quarantine will not apply to travellers from any part of Africa, due to the highly contagious nature of the South African variant that has recently emerged. All arrivals from Africa will still be required to undergo 14 days’ quarantine.

The reduction in quarantine is one of a number of measures being looked at to review the country’s decimated tourism sector. Officials are also planning to introduce ”area quarantine” in major tourist destinations from next month.

Under the proposal, foreign tourists will only have to remain in their hotel room for the first 3 days of their 14-day quarantine. They will be tested for Covid-19 during the first 3 days and if negative, allowed to leave their room and roam freely around the resort for the remainder of their stay. However, they will not be permitted to leave the resort until they have completed the full 14 day quarantine period.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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12 Comments

Bill

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 10:11 am

Still a no-go for approx 99%. Unless you live there too much work.

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dave

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 10:27 am

So I’m still stuck in a resort, which I’m paying for, according to this plan. Get rid of the quarantine for vaccinated, covid free tested people, and millions upon millions of euros, dollars, rubles, etc., will find their way to Thailand!

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lA

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 11:35 am

Flew from Phuket last week got my 1st shot soon 2nd shot but will not go back to my Phuket condo till there is no quarantine in the USA once you got your 2 shots u can board any plane anywhere I have live in Phuket 35 yrs married to Thai so get with it Thai government after this going Bali to surf and will spend my money there till Thailand gets over this dum idea it’s already almost to late for a recovery and by the way the vaccine in the USA is not the low Chinese one and of course everyone shot is free!!!!! Didn’t really want to go but the Thai government c19 plan is a real loser!

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Issan John

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 1:15 pm

“They will be tested for Covid-19 during the first 3 days and if negative, allowed to leave their room and roam freely around the resort for the remainder of their stay. However, they will not be permitted to leave the resort until they have completed the full 14 day quarantine period.”

If correct and if approved (IF) this is effectively a 3 day quarantine followed by 11 (13?) days pointlessly confined to a hotel / resort area where those confined to the hotel / resort can, if infected, pass on the virus to other guests, hotel staff and anyone they arrange to meet in the hotel / resort.

Difficult to believe anyone would be stupid enough to approve this, as the backlash if anyone infected others under these circumstances could set back opening the borders by months.

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Ray

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 1:46 pm

It is obvious that the max 3 month period of being vaccinated relates to the fact that at the moment there is no data available for cases where people are longer inoculated. It is expected that this time frame will gradually be stretched when time passes. It shows how cautious the Thai authorities are but at the same time want tourists to come back.

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martin walker

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 2:28 pm

will i be able to have my girlfriend at the hotel ???

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Kent Lamoreux

Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 11:30 pm

Would like to see a specific date the 7 and 10-day quarantines take effect. Is it immediately or on a future date?

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AC

Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 3:37 pm

Yes John, many tourists are looking forward the eleven days promenades around the resort.

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Jake S

Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 7:33 pm

Dear Thai Government

If you truly want to know how to attract foreign money, study Puerto Vallarta, MX
Or Mexico in general
That’s where I’ll be spending my dirty farang money from now on

Look at some Vallarta videos on YouTube and learn. I promise not to tell your Chinese mast- errr…”advisors”

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Chris

Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 2:57 pm

This article is misleading. This hasn’t been approved yet.

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Nipral

Monday, March 15, 2021 at 10:55 am

Yet another military joke !
We wont come ! Understood soldiers ?

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Mike

Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 10:06 am

To quarantein doesn’t make sense if I’ve been vaccinated already. What’s the reason now for the vaccination does anyone know?

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Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

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