Visa

Tourists in Thailand can apply for another 60 day extension, allowing a stay until July 27

Published

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 11:03

Stock photo via Flickr

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is allowing visa extensions for tourists who have been in stuck in Thailand since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Royal Thai Immigration Bureau announced the news through an urgent public memo yesterday.

The previous order allowed those foreigners to apply for an extension until the end of March, but now they can apply for another extension until May 29. The new extension lasts for 60 days, which would allow people to stay until July 27.

Thai Immigration says the application will need to be completed in person at an immigration office, with additional requirements and documents being needed depending on where one is from. The new visa extension’s cost is 1,900 baht. The extension will allow those who are “stuck” or who wish to stay longer in Thailand to get the extension. Authorities say the extensions will also help Thailand’s economy, which was void of tourists since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, Phuket is preparing to reopen in July to vaccinated tourists. The recently approved Sandbox tourism scheme, would allow tourists who are inoculated, to enter Phuket without having to undergo quarantines. But, the approval is contingent upon the Andaman island achieving a herd immunity among its local residents, which deems that 70% must be inoculated before tourists are allowed to enter.

So far, Phuket’s governor says the island plans on vaccinating 50,000 locals in the first 7 days of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, but hasn’t given details on how that goal will be carried out. The island allegedly has prepared 9 vaccination centres to administer the vaccines, but with some only being open less than 8 hours, the goal of vaccinating such a high number of locals in a short amount of time, seems unrealistic.

If putting pen to a paper, the math doesn’t add up as to how 9 centres would vaccinate 50,000 people in 7 days as more than 100 people would have to be vaccinated per hour in an 8 hour day by each centre. Phuket’s governor has not given details on when the vaccines will arrive, except saying “next month” which starts tomorrow.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News

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1 Comment

Issan John

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 4:08 pm

“The Royal Thai Immigration Bureau announced the news through an urgent public memo yesterday.”

Since the previous extension period ran out yesterday, I can see why getting a memo out the same day would have been “urgent”.

“…the math doesn’t add up as to how 9 centres would vaccinate 50,000 people in 7 days”

Actually it does, relatively easily, although it’s 10% of the local population as all you need to administer that number of vaccines are ten nurses per station which gives them ten jabs to do every hour – which isn’t excessive considering how many are vaccinated here regularly with tetanus jabs.

The problems are more the 30 minute monitored period afterwards and physically getting that many people to the 9 stations.

The biggest problem, though, is likely to be getting 70% of locals to volunteer to be vaccinated. Take out those under 18 and that’s not far off all the adult population, which seems unlikely.

A change from “70% of the population” to only “70% of the ADULT population” is more like half the population.

Is that “herd immunity”?

Reply

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.

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