Thai government to give free Covid tests to symptomatic foreign tourists

The Thai government says it will provide free Covid-19 tests to symptomatic foreign visitors as well as offer a “reasonably priced” vaccine to foreign tourists.

According to Bangkok Post, Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced his decision to cancel the re-introduction of all tourists needing to be fully vaxxed against the coronavirus.

Anutin also stressed that health insurance is still required for travellers from India and China, as both countries require people to take a Covid test before departing from Thailand. He says they need health insurance in case they test positive for Covid before leaving Thailand.

“Officials at communicable disease control checkpoints will randomly check if visitors have health insurance. Those who have no health insurance documents must buy health insurance before entering the country.”

Anutin says visitors with respiratory symptoms would be given either antigen or PCR tests as part of Thailand’s normal disease surveillance measures.

Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, confirmed that such Covid tests on ill tourists would be free.

Anutin says that Covid vaccinations for foreign tourists will be offered at the following sites:

• Bangkok: Institute of Dermatology Thailand, Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, Rajavithi Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute, Bangrak Medical Centre, and the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention.
• Phuket: a service centre of the Phuket health office.
• Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital
• Chon Buri: Pattayarak Health Unit

He assured that the availability of vaccines for Thai people would not be affected by offering vaccinations to foreign tourists.