Thailand
No travel ban on British arrivals, quarantine facilities tighten rules
While there’s no ban on travellers from the United Kingdom, quarantine facilities are tightening disease control measures for British arrivals after a new, faster-spreading Covid-19 variant was reported in the European country. British arrivals must now stay in their room for the majority of the stay under new measures set by the Department of Disease Control.
The department ordered ASQ facilities and state quarantine facilities to tighten measures in response to reports of the new Covid-19 variant. Visitors travelling from the UK are not allowed to leave their room until their second swab test comes out negative for Covid-19.
A British traveller currently in quarantine at a Bangkok ASQ hotel says he was told he cannot go to the hotel’s “relax area” which is outside the room near the pool until after day 12 of the quarantine period.
There was talk of barring UK arrivals after 4 British visitors tested positive for Covid-19 while in quarantine, but Thailand’s Foreign Ministry says the strict screening measures and mandatory 14 day quarantine are effective at containing the virus.
The ministry’s deputy spokesperson Natapanu Nopakun says travellers from the UK and other “high risk” countries are still allowed to enter Thailand, but they will need to provide more documentation than those from “low risk” countries.
“The Foreign Ministry reaffirms that no additional travel restrictions have been imposed against those travelling to Thailand from the UK as we have maintained a strict screening as well as compulsory quarantine for all inbound passengers.”
He says people wishing to travel to Thailand should check with their local Thai embassy as required documents vary from country to country.
“No travel ban, but of course more stringent measures in terms of documentation.”
SOURCE: CCSA
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Hong Kong’s government is forcing a partial lockdown until 10,000 residents of an area in the Kowloon peninsula, complete a Covid-19 test. The 2 day lockdown in the city’s poorest neighbourhood of Jordan, comes after a new strain of the coronavirus was identified, making it the 1st lockdown that the city has seen.
The area, which features many deteriorating buildings and 150 stacked housing blocks, has confirmed 162 confirmed cases of Covid-19 this month, with the ratio of virus detected in sewage samples from buildings there was higher than that of other areas.
Over the last 2 months the city has been hit by a 4th wave of infections with authorities struggling to bring the daily numbers down. Such clusters have hit the low-income neighbourhoods the most, which are notorious for cramped conditions in districts such as Yau Tsim Mong.
In recent days, health officials began mandatory testing in some 70 buildings in the area but the government has now decided to test everyone much to the confusion of local residents. As rumours of a lockdown were leaked to the local media, the government didn’t officially announce the measure until this morning. The area is also home to many ethnic minorities, mainly South Asian Hong Kongers, a community that often faces discrimination and poverty.
Earlier in the week a senior health official was criticised when he suggested ethnic minority residents might be spreading the virus more readily because “they like to share food, smoke, drink alcohol and chat together.”
The health official’s comments also came as a video was released of predominantly white migrants dancing at a packed brunch on the more affluent Hong Kong Island. But those who agreed with the health official pointed to cramped conditions, not race or culture, as being the cause of the virus spreading more easily.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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Phuket’s tourism representatives are calling for an end to the mandatory quarantine levied at tourists arriving to the province from Bangkok. The tourism delegation have also told Phuket’s provincial government to be prepared to start receiving international tourists starting in October.
According to The Phuket News, such a plan would include a requirement for all international travellers to Thailand to have the Covid-19 vaccine. By that time, it is expected that Phuket will have 70% of its population vaccinated, with the timeline possibly being sped up by the province planning to buy the vaccines with its own funds. Such a move would bypass the national government’s timeline with the hopes of innoculating registered residents quicker. Governor Narong says such quarantine measures in place currently are preventing the province from profitting off domestic tourism.
“Phuket has been hit hard by the 2nd epidemic. Thai tourists do not come because they do not want to quarantine and follow the difficult steps to enter the province, not to mention there are no foreign tourists at this time.”
In a meeting, the PTA President Bhummikitti, said the Covid-19 vaccine was “the last ticket and the last hope” for Phuket tourism, “because Phuket tourism has no way out at this time.”
“Thai people are unable to travel due to the second outbreak, and foreign tourists are not to be mentioned at all. Vaccines are the hope of the Phuket tourism sector.”
“The private sector wants to get clarity from the government whether we can follow this plan or not, because if it is left like this – open, close, lockdown and so on, as in the past – local businesses are all dead.”
Bhummikitti pointed out that the government had promised to work with local industry on all matters related to Covid-19 and keeping the local economy alive. He said that the move would “allow tourism and the Phuket economy to be able to walk once more from having fewer Thai tourists.”
Governor Narong said tracking systems will be in place when tourists do come back to the province.
“In order to ensure tourists that Phuket citizens as well as incoming tourists are safe from the Covid-19 virus, there will be a tracking system, and a fund established to be used as a remedy [sic] to help those affected if there is an infection from incoming tourists.”
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Eastern provinces growing impatient with safety measures as Covid cases decrease
Thailand’s eastern provinces are growing impatient as local businesses and residents await a relaxation in Covid-19 safety measures after seeing a drop in cases. Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Trat and Rayong are under a “highly controlled” status set by the CCSA (Samut Sakhon, south west of Bangkok, also falls into the same category at this time). These provinces, along with Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakarn, are under the strictest control measures in the country.
The cause of such tough measures levied upon the provinces was due to a spike in Covid cases after illegal gambling operations in Rayong and Chonburi were found to feature participants with the Covid-19 virus. But now, those areas are reporting very few cases of the virus leaving residents frustrated as they are unable to make a living or travel.
There has been only 1 case in the past 2 days in all 4 of the Eastern provinces. That case was in Rayong, with all other cases being in the low single digits. On top of the low cases, any new cases have been promptly dealt with by requiring contact-tracing, tracking and quarantine. But any hopes of the measures relaxing has been pushed back to the end of the month, with many questioning such a delay.
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Toby Andrews
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 3:55 pm
I suspect they are going to find them positive, so they can charge them for their hospital stay.
The Thai insurance will not pay, and in Thailand there is nothing they can do to force them.
If the insurance has to pay, they will demand a second opinion on the tests, and the testers and hospitals will not want that.
There will be no second opinion on the tests.
This covid has given certain Thais access to one big rip off racket.
IMHO
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lol
Roger
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 4:42 pm
Correct why else risk the Nation to this new form of Virus
They are greedy and are crazy and thoughtless too
Good Luck Thailand
preesy chepuce
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:19 am
It’s already everywhere, who are you kidding?! are you another CCP troll along with “slugger” from Fujian and “eric” from Shanghai?
Peter
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 3:10 am
If they are doing 14/15 days quarantine, and it’s secure, including the transfer from the airport to the ASQ facility, there is no reason to ban anyone from any country.
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 1:14 pm
According to what the three writing here who’ve actually done it themselves have said, unfortunately it’s clearly NOT secure.
Slugger
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Why guess that at all, unless you are a serial Thai basher?
Keyboard coward.
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 11:39 pm
Slugger, big mouth, come and meet me in Phnom Penh and I will teach you what a slugger means. You piece of shit.
You can find me at the Irish Shenanikins bar any time.
Michael
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 2:20 am
It is indeed clear that you spend most time in a bar.
Eric
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Toby Andrews, you must have a twisted mind to come up with such an outlandish despicable conspiracy theory that hospitals will fudge tests in order to milk money out of some innocent healthy travelers.
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 11:42 pm
Well Eric, you probably did not first come to Thailand in !988, and live for the most of the last six years in Thailand or you would agree with me.
Andrew
Monday, January 11, 2021 at 2:34 am
I think the point Toby is trying to make is that Thailand has a large element that will always chance their arm to fleece a traveller. It’s usually the police!
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:23 am
Eric, I still can’t work out how the money’s supposed to go from the private hospital of your or your insurer’s choice where you’ll go once you’ve tested positive, to the right one of the 250 government test labs that actually do the tests to pay them to “fudge” the test, with the swab being tested taken by staff from yet another hospital that’s contracted to the ASQ hotel … all without any of the many insurance companies involved, Thai and overseas, ever questioning why they’re paying …
… but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it … 🙂
J West
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 5:30 pm
Outrageous that the quarantined are allowed access to any common area while in isolation. Lock them in the room and slide food under the door. Otherwise you have spread to workers and any others.
Issan John
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 6:19 pm
Sliding food under the door may be a bit difficult, but I have to agree 100% about the access to common areas – that hardly fits most people’s idea of “quarantine”.
… and with all the whingeing about Thais getting State Quarantine for free, it may be worth noting that unless they opt for ASQ or ALSQ and pay for it, at the same rates as farangs, Thais don’t get any access to “common areas”, gyms and swimming pools during their quarantine and none of them are complaining about it …..
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 11:57 pm
Of course not, free accommodation and food, they will not complain.
preesy chepuce
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:20 am
Science says, quarantine doesn’t work. Why do you refuse to listen to science?
Are you a CCP troll?
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 1:18 pm
What “science”, preesy?
Name any of the leading scientists, Covid experts, or epidemioligists in any country who’ve said that.
Any at all …
MichaelBKK
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 1:55 pm
Read the great barrington declaration signed by leading experts in your mentioned fields please broaden your horizons and actually look into what’s out there apart from just ‘quoting’ main stream media figures ! It’s really not that hard for someone who has a lot of time on there hands ?
chupapi
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 8:44 pm
I did quarantine in samut prakarn and we were allowed 1 hour in the garden of the hotel every 3 days after 1st test was negative, strictly with mask on. And not all at the same time but just 2/3 every hour, and since there were 2 gardens we were effectively far away each other. I think that was fair enough, and you should consider that prisoners in jails are more free, so yoy are asking for an unreasonably harsh treatment.
Eric
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 7:18 pm
There is no access to common areas until after the negative result of the 1st swab test – usually day 6 of the quarantine. And even then, one is allocated just 30 minutes per day to spend alone there with no one else around. One must wear a mask at all times and return to one’s room after 30 minutes of stretching one’s limbs.
Issan John
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 8:37 pm
What exactly’s meant by a “common area”, Eric? … and do you know how effectively they’re cleaned afterwards?
I’m thinking about the contagion positively identified in China and New Zealand just from lift buttons and a waste-bin lid before they tightened up the regs.
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:31 am
So, chupapi and / or Eric, are you escorted at all times, with staff pressing the lift buttons for you, for example, noting and cleaning anything you touch along the way?
chupapi
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 8:38 am
no, but the surfaces were covered in plastic and cleaning gel provided almost everywhere
Mr cynic
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 8:59 pm
Toby has some fair points,several big hospitals used by many foreign guests and residents in bangkok are very well known for overcharging and authorising very expensive procedures under questionable circumstances.quite a few medical insurance companies have looked into the unusually large bills at some hospitals they have been presented with.they are private profit motivated buissness’s at the end of the day.
Have a look around on the internet for more specific information on this subject if it interest to you and draw your own opinion.
preesy chepuce
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:24 am
in any asian hospital, the first question you’re asked is how much insurance you’ve got.
hospitals in indonesia even want to plug you into IV just for reporting a bit of gastroenteritis, it’s a joke.
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:46 am
I’m not suggesting it should be “harsh” or unpleasant, chupapi, just curious about how much you’re actually quarantined and how the rules are applied and how much you’re supervised.
Evidently you got an hour in the garden every 3 days, with others at least in the same garden at the same time even if they were some distance away, while Eric got 30 minutes a day on his own, apparently (?) left unsupervised and also left to make his own way there and back.
That doesn’t sound particularly consistent or well supervised.
Galapagos0424
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 10:20 am
In my ASQ, there is a pool area that can only be utilized (not the pool of course) after a negative test result on day 5. They limit to a only a few people at a time, masks required and the area is monitored in person by staff. You only get 20-30 min while they are cleaning your room and then you are sent back. I watched as a staff member actively disinfected all railings, chairs, and tables that were touched. While not escorted to the room, there is only one elevator that works and cameras outside and inside.
I can only speak from my experience but everyone is definitely well supervised and the rules are enforced.
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 11:54 am
If there’s “only one elevator” and you’re not escorted, and that’s been confirmed by chupapi and Eric, then regrettably that means it’s NOT well supervised and the rules AREN’T being enforced.
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:49 am
I’m also curious about what more “documentation” someone from a high risk country could provide than a low risk one.
Apart from a test result 72 or less before flying, what else could there be?
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 1:27 am
Yes, Mr c, that’s well known and it’s apparently partly the hospitals ripping the insurers off (which is limited as few insurance companies will just pay without questioning the bill and in many cases agreeing each step in advance) and partly (according to a doctor at one private hospital who told me!) a bit of mutual back scratching by the hospital and the insurers where the hospital charges at the full rate, with the patient paying the “excess” not covered by the insurers, then the hospital giving the insurer a sizeable rebate later.
That’s pretty simple, but on the other hand the process for the tests, hospitalization, etc, is anything but.
First, the dummy / farang / potential patient goes to an ASQ of their choice; then a swab’s taken by either a nurse from the hospital contracted to the ASQ where they’re staying or by a government nurse; then the swab’s sent to any one of up to 250 different government testing labs where it’s supposedly “fudged”; then, as a result, the patient goes to any private hospital of either their or their insurance company’s choice.
The labs doing the tests and the hospitals where the patient will stay aren’t just unconnected, but neither can even be known to each other in advance.
Maybe you could explain to me just how this “one big rip off racket” works?
Toby M
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7:19 am
Cycle threshold. Simple. Everyone do your research please, your comments are bordering on mentally insane having being brainwashed completely and utterly. “Where all think alike, no-one thinks very much”
Issan John
Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 12:07 pm
“Simple” for how the test could be “fudged”, which would mean the cycle threshold would have to be deliberately set above the manufacturers’ recommendations for the tests.
Perfectly possible if the labs wanted to increase the number testing positive, but the polar opposite of what you and others are saying elsewhere that the “real” figures are being hidden and are much higher – you can’t have it both ways.
… and that’s not the question, which as usual you’ve failed to answer – just how does this “one big rip off racket” work when so many different agencies are involved?
HOW?