The rules - as of July 1

[Gaybutton]

Regarding the face masks, nearly everyone everywhere I have been are still wearing the masks. Out of many hundreds of people I saw, perhaps thousands, a grand total of 3 were not wearing the masks.
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Pattaya serves alcohol at pubs, bars until 2 A.M. from tonight (July 1)

By Pattaya Mail

July 1, 2022

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration allows people to remove face masks on a voluntary basis in open and uncrowded spaces while pubs, bars and other night entertainment can open until 2 A.M. from July 1 when the whole country will become a green COVID-19 surveillance zone.

The CCSA resolved to end pre-travel registration for foreigners or the so-called Thailand Pass system and the use of the TM6 immigration form for air arrivals and stop requiring foreign visitors to have COVID-19 insurance coverage.

For face mask use, the CCSA agreed that people can take off face masks when they stay outdoors. It still advises people to use face masks in crowded and air-conditioned places for their own safety. The advice is also for service providers and gatherings of more than 2,000 people.

Besides, the CCSA allowed pubs, bars and entertainment places to open and sell alcoholic beverages until 2 A.M. and lift the alcohol sales ban at hotels from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. The center also declared all 77 provinces green zones on July 1.

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... y-1-402855
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Analysis: Thailand Pass is finally gone as of today

By Goongnang Suksawat

1 July, 2022

It has been a long time coming, too long according to many of our readers here at TPN media, but as of today, July First, 2022, Thailand Pass is now gone and no longer a requirement to enter Thailand.

The program had spawned thousands of complaints and even here at TPN media numerous angry e-mails and comments from readers, many who swore to never return until the program, originally introduced as a Covid19 era precaution, was in place.

To be fair, the Pass had been eased considerably over the past few months, including being removed for Thai Nationals, and was vastly simplified and easier compared to earlier this year.

However, regardless of any simplification, the pass was clearly a roadblock to many potential visitors, especially short term visitors who wanted to visit at the spur of the moment from nearby countries like Malaysia or India. These visitors, who often stay for a day or two without much pre planning often voiced their dislike for the pre-registration program that Thailand Pass entailed.

Additionally, many older travelers, some self-described as technologically challenged, found the Thailand Pass system difficult to use. Even worse, the required insurance against Covid19 was nearly impossible for some elderly travelers to purchase due to their age and pre-existing conditions, essentially locking them out of Thailand until the program was removed.

With the program removed now a visitor needs only their passport, visa (whose requirements depend on the country the visitor comes from), and at least two doses of an approved Covid-19 vaccine. For that last requirement, it will only be checked at random and if you don’t have it or are unvaccinated you will have a rapid antigen test on arrival instead. This requirement is also likely to go away in the future, probably whenever the Emergency Decree still in place in Thailand since April of 2020 finally goes away.

Today finally marks what many people have been waiting for. An almost complete return to pre-covid entry requirements. Now, it only remains to be seen if many people who said they would visit when the Thailand Pass was dropped will now book a flight.

Thailand is waiting. See you soon!

Adam Judd, TPN media

https://tpnnational.com/2022/07/01/anal ... -of-today/
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New entry rules into Thailand start Friday (July 1)

By Pattaya Mail

July 1, 2022


1. Thailand has given out a total of 139,752,058 vaccination doses as of June 29, 2022. Nevertheless, 29,613,581 individuals, or 42.6 percent of the population, have now gotten their booster dose. As the national target for booster dose is at 60% of the entire population, the general public who is eligible is encouraged to take the booster dose as soon as possible.

2. All visitors to Thailand will no longer be required to have a Thailand Pass from July 1, 2022. The evidence of insurance that covers medical bills in Thailand will not be needed either. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, excluding the booster dose, given at least 14 days before the date of travel is required. A negative RT-CPR test result or a professionally administered negative ATK result done within 72 hours of departure is necessary if one has not had all of their recommended vaccinations. The same requirements as their parents apply to anyone under the age of 18 who has received all recommended vaccinations.3. Currently, it is optional to wear a mask in Thailand. However, wearing a mask inside a facility is advised unless staying alone or being engaged in activities such as eating or exercising, when one cannot be worn. When with others, when it is difficult to observe social distance, or if the environment is crowded or poorly ventilated, wearing a mask is highly recommended. In addition, it is strongly advised that those in the primary vulnerable group—those over 60 with underlying medical disorders, especially those who are not fully immunized—wear masks when they are among other people. For COVID-19 infected people and other high-risk populations, they should always put on masks when around other people.

3. All nationals can now walk in to the Bang Sue Grand Station every day from 9.00 AM to 4.00 PM to receive their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth doses of COVID 19 vaccine.

(NOTE: In Pattaya all nationals can also walk into Royal Garden between the hours of 11:00am-3:00pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays until 25 July for their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth doses of COVID 19 vaccine - free of charge.)

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... y-1-402735

[2lz2p]

For face mask use, the CCSA agreed that people can take off face masks when they stay outdoors. It still advises people to use face masks in crowded and air-conditioned places for their own safety. The advice is also for service providers and gatherings of more than 2,000 people.

(emphasis added)

On my trip to and from the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting this past Wednesday, I also saw very few Thais not wearing face masks (can't say the same for wearing helmets when on a motorbike ).

As noted above, wearing a mask is also optional (but advisable) when indoors. The Holiday Inn Pattaya where the PCEC meets has removed their requirement to wear masks in common areas and meeting rooms - but does require their staff to continue to wear masks. The PCEC also has made the wearing of masks during the meeting optional but recommended. At Wednesday's meeting, there were a few that chose to not wear a mask, but like me, most continued to do so.

[Gaybutton]

At Wednesday's meeting, there were a few that chose to not wear a mask, but like me, most continued to do so.

Now I guess we're in the wait and see mode about whether another outbreak occurs and we all end up right back to square one. I'm expecting to slowly see more and more people discarding the masks. I'm glad that hasn't happened yet among Thais, but I don't think anyone needs me to tell what to expect as the influx of foreigners continues. Thailand has already postponed by a week or two officially declaring Covid endemic.

[Jun]

I also saw very few Thais not wearing face masks (can't say the same for wearing helmets when on a motorbike)

I was just going to mention that.
Wear a facemask to protect against something that's highly unlikely to kill anyone who is otherwise in good health.
Don't wear a helmet in a country that has about 20,000 road fatalities per year & of all ages.

I don't see the logic in this.

[Gaybutton]

I have been warning about what might happen if there is another outbreak in Thailand. Guess what - only days after all the rule relaxations, that seems to be exactly what is happening. They are talking about reinstating the mask mandate, although since nearly everyone is still voluntarily wearing the face masks anyway, to me reimposing the mask mandate would be superfluous.

But it isn't just the mask mandate that might be coming back. If they fail to bring the situation under satisfactory control quickly enough, your guess is as good as mine as to what restrictions might be re-imposed. That could be disastrous for the just now recovering tourism industry. That, on top of serious inflation problems - as the Thais might say, "No good!"
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Government urged to reimpose strict measures against Covid

5 July, 2022

The government is advised to reimpose strict Covid-19 prevention measures, including the mandatory use of face masks, to help limit the spread of Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, the head of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital said on Tuesday.

Prof Dr Prasit Watanapa said the current Covid situation in Thailand is no different from 110 other countries that are dealing with the highly transmissible BA.4 and BA.5, and these sub-variants will soon become dominant in the country.

Although BA.4 and BA.5 may appear to cause less severe symptoms according to data from different countries, control and prevention measures must be implemented again as only 42-43% of people have received a booster shot against the coronavirus, and then there are the unvaccinated, he said.

"The government should reintroduce stringent control measures, including wearing masks indoors," Dr Prasit said. "This is urgent, and we should not wait until there are not enough hospital beds."

"[BA.4 and BA.5] may not be as not as severe as the Delta variant but they are more infectious, and if the number of cases continues to increase, they may mutate further."

Dr Nithipat Jearakul, head of the Department of Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis at Siriraj Hospital, posted a message on his Facebook page on Monday urging all sides to take more precautions to help prevent a possible new surge in Covid-19 cases over the next two to three weeks.

According to the Facebook post, the situation is more intense than last week, with the number of Covid patients increasing in the hospital.

More frontline medical workers have returned to working double time, and many hospitals in Bangkok and other provinces are in the same situation as Siriraj Hospital, he wrote.

"The situation is in contrast of the daily cases being reported," Dr Nithipat wrote. "The number of available hospital beds for Covid patients is diminishing fast, while most of the beds for non-Covid patients have been taken."

The daily Covid numbers should have been about 50,000 by the end of last week, and the reported figures came in batches and were not released consistently, he said.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 18 more Covid-19 fatalities and 1,917 confirmed new cases on Monday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... inst-covid
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Leading Thai doctors calling for mask mandate to be reinstated, Covid center to consider all options this Friday

By Nop Meechukhun

5 July, 2022

Several leading Thai doctors and medical associations are asking the Ministry of Public Health and Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration or CCSA to reinstate mask mandates due to concerns of rising Covid19 cases globally and new sub-variants.

The mask mandate, which previously covered all public areas, even outside alone, was made recommended but not mandatory on June 23rd, just about two weeks ago. The mandate had previously been in place mostly consistently since early 2020.

Although the mask mandate did not seem to bother most Thai Nationals, it was seen as a deterrant for tourism and many tourism reliant areas like Pattaya and Phuket had already seen many foreign tourists ignore the mandate previously. Tourism and business associations had long wanted to lift the mandate, even if it wasn’t being enforced, to draw tourists who might not visit just because of the thought of a mandate.

Now, however the Rural Medical Doctors of Thailand and several prominent doctors want the mask mandate returned, citing concerns over rising cases globally and fears of the fast spreading sub variants of Omicron such as BA 2.5.

Prof. Dr. Prasit Wattanapha, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University released a statement today, July 5th, urging the relevant agencies to reinstate a mandate, at the very least for indoors. He stated that although the new sub variants were not proven to be more dangerous he was concerned about the fact they appeared to be more transmissible and that a significant amount of the population was not boosted. He also felt lifting the mandate sent the wrong message that Covid-19 was over when it was not.

Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated this afternoon that he would take all sides concerns into consideration before the CCSA meeting later this week including the tourism and business industry that is largely against reinstating mandates, mostly due to the foreign tourist factor.

TPN media will closely monitor the CCSA meeting this week and provide updates.

https://tpnnational.com/2022/07/05/lead ... is-friday/

[Gaybutton]

Covid-19 vaccine guidelines for travellers to Thailand

How many doses are needed to be “fully vaccinated”? What is accepted?

I urge those of you planning to travel to Thailand click the link to make sure about what you need to do. It is too much of graphics to post the article here.

https://thepattayanews.com/2022/07/06/c ... -accepted/

[Jun]

How many doses are needed to be “fully vaccinated”? What is accepted?

Thai requirements seem quite flexible in this area.

For comparison, some EU countries require the last injection to be within 270 days of travel. Or that's how it was when I last looked.

[Gaybutton]

The extension of Thailand's emergency decree comes as no surprise to me. I was expecting it. At the time of this post, if there are going to be any restrictions imposed or reinstatement of the mask mandate, there has been no announcement yet. If anything is announced, it will be posted.
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Thailand extends emergency decree as COVID-19 cases rise in 23 provinces

By Pattaya Mail

July 8, 2022

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration extended the imposition of the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations for two months as COVID-19 cases were rising in 23 provinces.

CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the CCSA chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resolved in its meeting today to extend the state of emergency imposed under to the executive decree from Aug 1 to Sept 30.

The CCSA director emphasized that the extension was aimed at containing the disease and protecting people. The imposition had no other objectives and would not infringe on people’s rights, Dr Taweesilp said.

The spokesman also said that the numbers of COVID-19 patients who were seriously ill and depended on ventilators rose slightly this week.

“COVID-19 cases declined in 54 provinces and increased in 23 provinces including Bangkok, Chonburi (Pattaya's province), Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi, Phuket and Samut Prakan. Cases soared especially in Phuket. We would like to ask people to join forces to reduce the number,” Dr Taweesilp said.

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... ces-403405