Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

Anything and everything about Thailand
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Gaybutton
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

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Virus fear threatens New Year

PM mulls party bans after Covid outbreak

23 Dec, 2020

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has signalled a halt to the easing of travel restrictions and the reimposition of tough disease control measures, including a potential ban on New Year's celebrations, in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak in Samut Sakhon at the weekend.

"This outbreak serves as an important reminder of how serious a threat the Covid-19 pandemic remains to our nation. At the same time, the global Covid situation has also taken a sudden and serious turn for the worse," the prime minister said during a TV Pool broadcast on Tuesday.

He went on to say that December has seen the numbers of deaths each week surge into the hundreds and even thousands in many countries.

"The worsening global Covid-19 situation will have a serious impact on Thailand, and we must prepare ourselves.

"First, it means the world economy will take longer to recover which will impact our own economic recovery, too.

"Second, it means that we will have to be even more careful about relaxing rules to let people from other countries into Thailand.

"Since the situation is so bad outside of Thailand, the biggest risk is that people entering the country will bring the disease in with them, and this could spell disaster for our health system and have a catastrophic impact on the economy," the prime minister said.

"That is why we must be especially careful at our airports, train entry points, bus and car entry points, sea entry points and all other places where people enter the country," Gen Prayut said.

"I thank the many people involved in ensuring the security of these entry points for their diligence because it only takes a few infected people slipping past them to create great economic and health hardship for hundreds of thousands of others," he said.

"And the third consequence of the worsening global situation will be the need for Thais to keep their guard up inside Thailand.

"As a result, I may need to introduce additional measures, especially relating to whether and how New Year celebrations should be conducted," he said.

Gen Prayut said he will meet with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this week before making any official announcement.

"It is a decision that requires careful thought. But what the world has seen now is that being relaxed about health precautions leads to great economic suffering for everyone in the country."

In his statement, Gen Prayut took aim at human smuggling networks that are also to blame for the reemergence of Covid-19 in the kingdom.

"As for the networks that bring illegal immigrants into the country, they must be prosecuted without any leniency whatsoever, regardless of whether they are people with official positions. This latest flare-up is primarily due to such illegal immigrants," the prime minister said.

"Even though the road to recovery is still a long one, I am confident that if we can still work together, we can continue to be among the least affected countries in the world,'' Gen Prayut said.

The cabinet on Tuesday approved draft amendments to the Communicable Disease Act which include giving authorities the right to prosecute anyone who contracts the virus and exhibits symptoms without seeking medical consultation.

Meanwhile, the CCSA on Tuesday reported 427 new cases, including 397 migrant workers, raising the overall total since the start of the pandemic to 5,716.

At least 16 of the new transmissions could be traced to a domestic origin, according to the centre.

The virus was also detected in 14 people who recently arrived from other countries.

Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the CCSA's spokesman, all sixteen locally infected people were linked to the shrimp wholesale market at the epicentre of the new outbreak in Samut Sakhon province.

They included five in Bangkok: a 49-year-old female vendor, a male worker, 28, a female government official, 54, and two other female vendors, aged 52.

Other locally infected cases were three vendors aged 21-45 in Saraburi, two vendors aged 37 and 42 in Pathum Thani, two vendors aged 36 and 37 from Samut Prakan, a female company employee, 24, in Chachoengsao, a female state enterprise worker, 57, in Nakhon Pathom, a 50-year-old female vendor from Phetchaburi and a female vendor, 48, from Uttaradit.

Of the 397 infected migrant workers, 90% were asymptomatic. They were among 2,015 tested people at the market where 44% of tests performed had come back positive, Dr Taweesilp said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... s-new-year
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

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Thai Public Health Ministry announces all Covid-19 vaccinated people will still need fourteen day quarantine

By Adam Judd

29 December, 2020

The Ministry of Public Health released a clear statement today regarding Covid-19 vaccinated people and entering Thailand.

People who get a Covid19 vaccine will still need to do a full fourteen day quarantine according to Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control.

The reason given behind this, according to Opas, is that it was not yet clear if or how vaccines would stop potential spread of the Covid19 virus and that no scientific studies by the WHO or other organizations had yet been made. Vaccine companies have stated they are “unsure” if the vaccines will stop the ability to infect others, although they provide ample protection for the person taking the vaccine from getting seriously ill.

Dr. Opas said the Public Health Ministry would monitor the situation and review as needed but for now all arrivals would need a fourteen day quarantine.

https://thepattayanews.com/2020/12/29/t ... uarantine/
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

Post by Jun »

This is no surprise. In the abscence of evidence that shows the vaccine prevents transmission, policy should err on the safe side.

Whilst someone could prepare such a study, I guess proving it cuts ALL transmission probably requires a secure facility and challenge trials. So, expect Thailand to only relax travel restrictions when the Thai population has been vaccinated.
Although, on the other hand, they do seem more concerned about economic effects from restrictions now.
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

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I have moved this topic off of "Announcements" and set it as a standard topic. Obviously it is going to be much longer than hoped before Thailand opens the doors.

If there is any significant change, I will put it under "Announcements" again.
Jun

Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

Post by Jun »

The doors ARE open. We just need to jump over a few hurdles, the big one being 15 nights quarantine.

The doors also seem to have been left wide open for illegal migrants from all the neighbouring countries, with no paperwork, no quarantine and then the chance of a 2 year visa under an amnesty.
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

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Jun wrote: Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:31 am The doors ARE open. We just need to jump over a few hurdles
Great. You can go to Pattaya and find all the bars closed, all kinds of restrictions, possible lockdowns, and who knows what else.

Have a good time . . .
Jun

Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

Post by Jun »

Gaybutton wrote: Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:21 am Great. You can go to Pattaya and find all the bars closed, all kinds of restrictions, possible lockdowns, and who knows what else.
For my lifestyle, the bar closures are the only minor inconvenience at present. As Grindr remains open, it's a very minor issue.
If there are further lockdown, it may be more problematic.

Whilst it's OK as a tourist, for all the businesses that have permanently closed and vacated their premises, it must be terrible. A few months ago, some people were trying to say Pattaya can survive without tourists. Well an awful lot of Pattaya has not survived.
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

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Jun wrote: Wed Jan 06, 2021 10:01 am Whilst it's OK as a tourist
What is the 'OK" part? I would think most people who do everything necessary to get permission to go to Thailand and then go through the quarantine, what is there for them once they are released from quarantine?

In my opinion, until this Covid crisis winds down and things start opening again, there is very little point in going to Thailand for a holiday. This is not the right time.
Jun

Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

Post by Jun »

Other than bars, what is missing from the normal tourist offer ?
Almost everything is now open, including some of the shopping centres, restaurants, the beach etc. It's pretty easy to find a massage as well.

OK, not every restaurant, coffee shop etc. But the good ones tend to be open.
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Re: Traveling to Thailand - Mission Impossible

Post by Gaybutton »

Jun wrote: Wed Jan 06, 2021 12:26 pm Other than bars, what is missing from the normal tourist offer ?
Pattaya is a skeleton of itself, but fine with me if you enjoy it. Have a great time . . .
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