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Thailand Coronavirus Updates – Live Post

For the latest updates, please now refer to the new post: Thailand travel restrictions and advice.

This a live post that will be updated regularly to report the latest news on the Coronavirus in Thailand.

The global COVID-19 outbreak may affect your travel to Thailand, so check back regularly if you have a holiday booked.

coronavirus-thailand

Latest Thailand Coronavirus updates:

  • April 2021
The ASQ quarantine period has now been reduced from 14 days (15 nights) to 10 days (11 nights). However, those traveling from countries that have COVID-19 variants will still have to do 14 days (15 nights) quarantine.
You will still need the relevant COVID insurance. Details on where to get that can be found in this post.
As of the time of writing, the list of countries is as follows:
  1. South Africa
  2. Zimbabwe
  3. Mozambique
  4. Botswana
  5. Zambia
  6. Kenya
  7. Rwanda
  8. Cameroon
  9. Congo
  10. Ghana
  11. Tanzania
In other good news: The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced that Phuket will reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors without quarantine requirements from July 1.
Note: To date, Thailand has registered 92 deaths and 29,000 cases of Covid-19. Compare this with road deaths, which average at 60 per day.
  • Nov 2020

All groups of people are now eligible to enter Thailand. Travelers of all nationalities can apply for new ‘tourist visas' lasting up to 60 days.

A quarantine period of 14 days is currently in place at designated hotels.

Apply for the visa as usual from your local embassy and they will provide further instructions.

To fly you will need the  following:

– A fit-to-fly certificate from your doctor
– A pre-flight coronavirus test (within 72 hours of flying). You will then be required to take a second test once you land.
– Pre -registration with a hotel in Thailand under the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) arrangement

Special COVID-19 travel insurance that covers a minimum of $100,000. Please see this COVID insurance post here for more details.

Please note: The price of the quarantine hotels ranges from 27,000 THB (about 900 USD) to 220,000 THB (about 7,000 USD) for the two-week quarantine. So the cheapest is approximately 1,800 Baht per night.

  • September 2020

Any foreigner holding a Thai Elite visa is eligible to return to Thailand.

As with all approved categories, the requirements for a certificate of entry are:

– Medical insurance worth a minimum of $100,000
– A fit-to-fly certificate
– A pre-flight coronavirus test
– Registration with a hotel in Thailand under the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) arrangements

In addition, the following groups can also return to Thailand (subject to the same restrictions):

– Non-Thai nationals with a certificate of permanent residency, including their spouses and children
– Non-Thai nationals with work permits, including their spouses and children
– Non-Thai nationals permitted to enter under a special arrangement
– Migrant workers whose employers are allowed to bring in workers

  • Monday 27th July: Thailand extends visa relief for foreign nationals. See here. 
  • Wednesday 15th July: Please see the latest advice for foreign nationals in this Facebook post. 
  • Thursday 25th June: lockdown committee to ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to extend lockdown for another month to prevent a “second wave”. Under proposed rules, certain groups of people will be allowed into the country:

Those groups are as follows:

  1. 700 business persons
  2. 2,000 teachers and students
  3. 2,000 persons with Thai spouses or residence visas
  4. 15,400 skilled workers
  5. 30,000 medical tourists

Proposed “travel bubbles” for regular tourists will take another couple of months to organise. The “bubbles” will allow travel between Thailand and countries at low risk for Covid-19, without the need for quarantine.

  • Tuesday 23rd June: Entertainment venues will open in July but with limitations such as temperature checks, social distancing, limits on customer numbers and midnight closing.
  • Friday 19th June: Phuket airport has resumed operations for domestic flights. Major bus and train routes begin to reopen.
  • Friday 29th May: Thailand plans to fully reopen on July 1. The intention is that all lockdown restrictions will be lifted. This includes interprovincial travel and international travel, as well as the end of emergency decree and curfew. (As yet, no specific details have been announced regarding international arrivals and the quarantine rules post July 1).
  • Sunday 17th May: Malls and department stores to re-open. Nighttime curfew shortened by one hour, from 10pm to 4am to 11pm to 4am.
  • Saturday 16th May: Thailand extends inbound flight ban until 30th June.
  • Thursday 14th May: Bangkok Airways resumes domestic flights with limited routes. Read here.
  • Wednesday 6th May: WHO release Thailand coronavirus situation report. Read here.
  • Tuesday 28th April: State of emergency extended for another month to May 31. Inbound traffic by land, water and air will remain heavily restricted. Inbound flights will be banned for another month. Curfew will remain from 10pm to 4am. Unnecessary interprovincial travel must be cancelled or postponed. Provincial governors will set their own restrictions regarding gatherings in public places. Plans to reopen business and public spaces have started to be formed. See the proposed easing of restrictions here.
  • Thursday 23rd April: No major changes to report. Travel restrictions remain the same. However, infection rates are falling, as seen here. 
  • Wednesday 15th April: Travel restrictions remain in place until April 30, when they will be reviewed. The official list of restrictions can be found here.
  • Thursday 9th April: Updates from immigration on visa extensions during the pandemic: The person whose visas has expired from 26th of March 2020 will be automatically extended to 30th of April 2020. There is no need to apply for a visa extension at Immigration Office for this period and will not be fined THB 500 per day for this case. Aliens who are due for 90 days reports between 26th of March 2020 and 30th of April 2020 are temporarily exempted from reporting in this period until further notice. Aliens who are holding Border Passes will be allowed to stay in Thailand for now. However, Aliens with Border Passes must depart Thailand within 7 days of the border crossing points opening date. Aliens are advised to follow announcements regarding Immigration measures closely for updates. (Currently measures announced until 30 April 2020 or further updates)
  • Monday 6th April: Immigration Bureau announces 9 documents now required for foreign nationals to extend their stay for up to 30 days. New requirements include land deeds, rental contracts, and selfies taken at place of residence. Not all documents will apply to everyone. Immigration is defending this measure on the grounds of national security.
  • Wednesday 1st April: Phuket International Airport will close from April 10-30, 2020.  Travelers should expect flights in or out of Phuket to cease beginning at 12:01 a.m. April 10
  • Wednesday 1st April: All foreigners are barred from entering Mae Hong Son province and there will be a daily curfew prohibiting anyone from leaving their residence from 10 pm to 4 am.
  • Wednesday 1st April: The Ministry of Public Health confirmed that foreign nationals are required to pay for any treatment for the COVID-19 virus received after the March 22 requirement for non-Thai citizens entering Thailand to present virus-free medical certificate and health insurance.  Payment is required for treatment at both public and private hospitals.  
  • Saturday 28th March: Thai AirAsia announces the suspension of operations on all domestic routes from April 1-30.
  • Thursday 26th March: 90-day in-person reporting restricted. Foreigners living in Thailand are being asked to process their 90-day reports at home via an online platform or, more traditionally, by post.
  • Wednesday 25th March: As of Wednesday at midnight, foreigners are banned from entering the country under an emergency decree. This will remain in force until 30th April.
  • Tuesday 24th March: Thailand will be in an emergency mode from March 26 for a month to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told a news conference on Tuesday. The emergency decree will mean the prime minister will have the executive power to declare further measures to contain the virus, including giving extra authority to officials and allowing the setting up of checkpoints to reduce people movements.
  • Sunday 22nd March: Royal Thai Army soldiers sanitizing streets with industrial spraying equipment. 188 new cases.
  • Saturday 21st March: 89 new cases confirmed. Death toll remains at 1.
  • Friday 20th March:  Most border provinces closed, leaving only one international checkpoint open. The exception will be Chiang Rai as it borders on Myanmar and Laos and will be allowed to maintain one checkpoint for each country.
  • Wednesday 17th March: Schools and universities across the country will be closed for two weeks. In the greater Bangkok area, entertainment venues, including massage parlours, will also close for 14 days. The order did not cover seaside resorts like Pattaya and Phuket, or the northern city of Chiang Mai. Other places including boxing rings, sports fields, horse races, will be closed in the greater Bangkok area until the situation improves.
  • Tuesday 16th March: Thailand reports 30 new coronavirus cases, including three foreigners.
  • Monday 16th March: The Songkran party on Khao San Road has been cancelled to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus.
  • On Wednesday Thailand cancelled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The 18 countries are: Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu. Visa exemption will be cancelled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong.
  • 11th March: 6 new cases announced. Number of deaths remains at 1.
  • 10th March: 3 new cases announced. Number of deaths remains at 1.
  • Kasikorn Bank has announced it is stopping the foreign exchange service,  both at branches and foreign exchange offices (FX Booth) all over the country indefinitely from 17:00 on Sunday March 8, 2020 onwards until the epidemic situation has changed significantly for the better as determined by the Ministry of Public Health.
    The bank employees who operate at all foreign exchange offices (FX Booth) have been ordered to close.  They will Self-quarantine at home for 14 days according to the Department of Disease Control's guidelines by order of the  Ministry of Public Health. Currently, no bank employees have been infected with COVID-19 in any way. Customers are able to use the foreign exchange service via electronic banking as usual.
  • 8th March: The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand (MoPH) announced that of a group of 133 Thai nationals returning to Thailand from South Korea, 6 are PUIs and are now under treatment/investigation, and 60 Thai nationals (33 female, 27 male) who had traveled from Daegu or North Gyeongsang are now quarantined at the Thai Navy Base at Sattahip. The rest of the group, 67 persons, will be sent to designated government sites for 14-day quarantine in their hometowns.
  • 7th March: The MoPH announced two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in Thailand to 50. Both new cases are Thai nationals who visited Italy along with a previously reported confirmed case. All three returned to Thailand on 2 March

Does Thailand have Coronavirus?

Yes. COVID-19 is active in Thailand.

How many people are affected?

Currently 3,146 people in Thailand have contracted Coronavirus. 3,008 have recovered, 80 are under treatment.

There are currently 45 cases for every 1 million people.

How many people have died?

58 people have died so far.

What measures is Thailand taking to prevent the spread?

Thailand has active screening at all airports for people from countries that have active cases of Coronavirus.

Thailand is increasing surveillance and testing to determine the extent of the epidemic. It is detecting cases as quickly as possible and isolating cases to prevent spread of the virus, and identifying contacts  of the infected.

People coming from China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Iran and Italy will be subject to mandatory 14-day self-quarantine, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said in a statement. They must apply for visas and present health forms at check-in certifying they are at no risk of developing the disease known as Covid-19, or they will be denied boarding.

Arrivals from another group of 11 countries with ongoing local transmission have to report symptoms to officials for at least 14 days as well as the places they visit. The nations are Japan, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the U.K. and the U.S.

Is it safe to travel to Thailand?

The FCO has not issued a warning against travel to Thailand, but has stated the following:

The FCO advise against all but essential travel to areas within the provinces on the Thailand-Malaysia border, including Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Southern Songkhla province. This does not include areas north of and including the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakom, and areas north-west of and including the train line which runs between Hat Yai and Pedang Besar.

Should I still go on my holiday?

This is a personal decision that you should make based on your intuition and the condition of your health. You also need to check with your flight operator as to whether they are operating flights.

The risk of infection in Thailand is small but still possible. Consider the following:

  • Age: Those over 60 are at greater risk of serious complications if infected.
  • Pre-existing health conditions: those with respiratory problems, heart disease, and those who are undergoing or have recently undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy are at greater risk of complications through infection.
  • Pregnant: traveling to a country with active Coronavirus cases creates a higher health risk for you and your unborn child.

Is there panic buying?

As we saw with the 2011 floods, some people are buying more storable foods than normal, and some super market aisles are looking emptier than usual. However, there is no food shortage and plenty of restaurants to eat at.

What precautions can I take if I travel?

WHO recommends that individuals protect themselves and their families from COVID-19 or any other infectious disease by following four basic steps:

  • Regular, frequent hand-washing with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand-rub
  • Sneezing/coughing into elbow, sleeve or tissue
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth
  • Attempting to maintain at least 1 meter distance from others, especially those who are coughing or sneezing.

It is also wide to wear a mask in malls and other crowded places. Take some with you, as there may be a local shortage.

Will my travel insurance cover me if I catch Coronavirus?

If you travel against government advice then you are likely to invalidate your travel insurance. If unsure, speak to your travel insurer.

Can I cancel my trip and get claim on my insurance?

Travel insurance may cover non-refundable cancellation costs, in specific circumstances. These may include medical advice against you or a member of your group from traveling or government advice against traveling.

Check your travel insurance policy for the scope of cover. Travel insurance is not designed to cover ‘disinclination to travel’ where the FCO advice has not changed to advise against travel.

What are you doing – staying or leaving?

I'm staying for now. I'm enjoying fewer tourists and more space. I'm wearing a mask and being more cautious, but not panicking.

Next Steps to Plan Your Trip:

Worried Travel Insurance Won't Cover You?

Get a quote for proper health insurance here.

Book Your Accommodation

The best hotel rates for Thailand are found at Agoda, Booking.com, and Hotels.com.

Looking for an Island Getaway?

How about this hidden gem here?

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  2. JamesE says

    Another change in the process: With the advent of visa exemption allowed for an entry into Thailand the process to apply for permission has been split in two. Up until recently, there was a single stream: Upload required information, get permission to complete your application, and submit everything else for COE and visa. Now, there are two streams. One, which is all electronic submission, is the same data as before and directly results in a COE. The second, with hard copy in the US anyway as we still don't have access to eVisa, is the regular visa application. If you are going in under a visa waiver (now 45 days to give you credit for quarantine) you only need to do the first stream.
    Reply

      • JamesE says

        Mail-in only right now due to the COVID. When I did it waaayyyy back 7 weeks ago. The electronic submission resulted in the return of a PDF of a prefilled visa application. I printed that and mailed it, and all the other required docs, back to the consulate. Once all that was submitted I waited ten days and received, electronically, my COE, and, a day or two later, my passport with visa affixed. Along with, in a uniquely Thai way, *all* of the papers - like Page 2 and following from my bank statement, airline reservation, insurance coverage - that they didn't want. At least I got my money's worth out of the US$23.65 postage stamp... The new 2-track system is separated from both the old COE system (as my Thai partner discovered to the woe of the poor employees at the consulate) and from the old visa system. (Note: There is a backdoor, but you have to ask nice...) The main takeaway is that this/these are systems in flux. Read *all* the instructions every time you go in as things might have changed and they may not be highlighted.
        Reply

  3. JamesE says

    FYI - Taiwan is now closed to transit passengers (as I found out when my flight got canceled last night). If you're thinking about flying, or already booked, on EVA Air or China Airlines you might want to have another look.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hopefully that won't happen. I don't get it. Surely they had the test before they flew and tested negative? That would be quite something if all 4 of the same family tested negative in the UK and then positive on arrival. I know the tests have been shown to be unreliable, but surely not that unreliable. And everyone else on the flight tested negative, so they didn't get it on there. Unless they did but the person who spread it tested negative on arrival.
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        If you sent me the PDF of a positive COVID test from six months ago I could return you a negative test from the same lab dated tomorrow. Not everybody chooses to play by the rules. All of the paperwork involved in travel - even the COE - is electronically transmitted and I'm sure many are pushing the boundaries just to get to somewhere relatively safe.
        Reply

          • JamesE says

            Only takes one PDF. Once you get it set up (5 min max) the other 3 are less than a minute each. Easy-peazy. TBH, I think doing this is risky AF but if your choice is winter in the UK with people dropping like flies and two weeks in a Bangkok hospital... Thailand has handled this pandemic very well while the rest of the world is swimming against the tide. That's a big draw and people are willing to cut corners to get there.
            Reply

  5. JamesE says

    The Visa exemption travel scheme is live at your local Thai Embassy website. But... Just like any other traveler to Thailand right now, you will have to jump through the same hoops. 1) Application is online and you will have to prove a prepaid round-trip air ticket on one of the semi-comm flights. 2) Prepaid ASQ hotel (these are non-refundable). 3) Prepaid health insurance with US$100K COVID coverage. 4) A copy of your bank statement and passport. From this you will be granted a Certificate of Entry. Once you have that in hand you will also need a negative RT-PCR COVID test (do NOT make the mistake of getting the wrong test) and a Fit-to-Fly Health Certificate from inside of 72 hours from your departure (fly late in the week). At departure you will have to show the COE, Fit-to-Fly, COVID test, and insurance certificate to the airline. At least you won't have to spend money on the visa and postage...
    Reply

  6. David says

    Noticed an article today mentioning that the 30-day visa exemption rule is back in play, so for eligible countries (Canada being one of them), if you visit for tourism purposes for less than 30 days no VISA is required now. Still have to meet the other requirements which includes appropriate health insurance coverage, negative COVID test, and must quarantine for 14 days.
    Reply

  7. JamesE says

    At last... I received my Certificate of Entry on Friday and will have my passport and visa in hand tomorrow. Total time from starting the booking/ASQ/Insurance process to completion was 19 days. The visa turnaround was faster (4 days) than what I was expecting. 7 days was consumed by the post office. Plan ahead and don't cut any corners or make any mistakes. One final note, if you're in the US make damn sure you have your COVID test appointment set up weeks in advance. The free/typical tests take up to 72 hours to get back. Make sure it's an RT-PCR test. The "Fit-to-Fly" health certificate is also turning out to be more of a hassle than I thought. Most doctors don't seem to do them but there are a few online docs that do. Get that lined up in advance too.
    Reply

      • JamesE says

        When I applied my only option was the Single Entry Tourist Visa. They've since opened up the Special Tourist Visa for all countries but, when I last checked, the application process had not been put online. The Fit-to-Fly, Certificate of Entry, and RT-PCR COVID test are for the airlines on departure and the Thai EOC on arrival.
        Reply

  9. JamesE says

    Just an FYI. My application was reviewed and approved by the RT Consulate in Los Angeles. It took two business days. Once it's approved a paper visa application form needs to be sent with passport and 2 passport photos but none of the other supporting documents need paper copies.
    Reply

      • JamesE says

        It's a very semi-modern process. Everything is submitted online - everything, from reservations to ASQ - and when they've looked at it they send you back the visa application, pre-filled and with your photo already in place, for your signature to make it official. BUT... You must also send in paper copies of all the documentation you submitted online! Plus your photos, passport, and the money order (how 1930s) to get the whole thing moving. If anybody else tries this make notes of exactly which files you uploaded as someone I know (ahem...) failed to do this and had to guess.
        Reply

  10. Bubba says

    Currently I find the situation to daunting to be making any travel plans! I am a US citizen in Thailand on a spouse visa. My wife is a 30 year government employee, about to retire, and I am insured under her health plan. lf I leave Thailand, to visit ANY other country, I can't return to Thailand as I can't obtain the mandatory travel insurance due to pre-existing conditions. The Thais (and other countries!) are going to find it difficult to reconcile their economic and political problems until they adjust their immigration policies soon.
    Reply

  11. JamesE says

    Finally - I promise - the things to consider before you go comment. Again, refer to my other comments below for context. MOST IMPORTANT: Fly on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. You have to do two critical things within the 72 hours before departure and you're going to want that time to keep your stress levels down. First, within that 72 hour window, you'll need a COVID test and printed certificate. It can't just be any old test but needs to be a RT-PCR test. Don't get the speedy test at the airport, or from your work. You'll be stuck. Second, you need to get a Fit-to-Fly medical certificate from your doctor, again inside of 72 hours and signed. There are several examples of accepted formats on the embassy's website as well as not acceptable ones. Get all of this set up well in advance. Third, make sure you have hard copies and electronic copies of everything. Some forms you'll surrender, some will just have to be shown at departure, transit, or arrival. Most will probably never be looked at. As of this writing I don't know which are what and where so when I (fingers crossed) get approved, I'll comment back in. All this is as of this writing, things will change so the proof, as they say, is left up to the reader. The reduction in the length of quarantine to 10 days could happen at any time, but it could also be restricted to travelers from safe countries. Just keep checking with the embassy for new rules. Good luck, everybody. See you in the Land of Smiles once again.
    Reply

  12. JamesE says

    The hotels comment, see my others below for context. The hotel part was much harder than I thought it would be, it took four days. Step One: get a Line account, some of the hotels are Line only for the booking process, some are Line for initial contact. Line tends to get a faster response than email. Just be prepared for a lot of stickers... All the ASQ hotels are listed on the R.T. Embassy's website, the links bring up a flyer with room details, etc., you should follow that up with a visit to the website to get details. Shop around. I started with a reservation in a 322 sq ft (30 sq m) hotel room and then waaayyyy down the list found another property 4 blocks away with a 400 sq ft (37 sq m) suite for the same price. All hotels offer transport from the airport, 3 meals a day, your COVID tests while in quarantine, medical checks, etc. etc. etc. included in the price. I went for the low end of the price spectrum but larger rooms are available for just a few thousand Baht more. Prices range from around 30,000 Baht on up to over 140,000 for the 15 night package. Oh, yeah two weeks is 15 nights. That's in the fine print. Choose wisely because you will be in the room - not able to go out at all - for about 5 days until your first negative test. Most of the hotels will have a video review by an ASQ person on YouTube. It was announced over the weekend that Agoda will be offering ASQ bookings. Well, they have that part of the website up and running but it only has a few, mostly higher end, hotels on their list. The prices are the same as booking directly through the hotels and some of the hotels don't know they're on Agoda or room availability isn't correct or some other problem. Use it with caution and give them some time to work the kinks out.
    Reply

    • Matt Owens Rees says

      Thanks James E

      This is the most honest and accurate account of how this all works that I have seen on any internet blog or forum.

      Generally there has been too much speculation and the circulation of false or half true comments. Fair to say, though, that the constant changing of regulations by the Thai government and their penchant for vagueness has been the cause of the speculation and confusion. But it's a cultural trait of Thais not to take responsibility and to make statements in a way that will save Face if those statements or regulations prove to be wrong,

      Thanks again for a useful contribution to this subject
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        I think they're working very hard to figure this out. There is certainly a cultural pressure but there's a political pressure as well since most Thais are against opening the country too soon. I think their current effort is balanced as it forces everybody to acknowledge the danger to the country while it also starts to get at least a little money flowing again.
        Reply

  13. JamesE says

    Air Travel/Health Insurance comment, see my two comments below for context. The very first thing you need to do is get your airline reservations booked and health insurance arranged AND PAID FOR. See TTL's post on health insurance at https://www.thethailandlife.com/covid-19-insurance for an ongoing discussion. For flights you'll need to select from airlines who have contracted with the Thai Government to provide semi-commercial (semi-comm) service into the kingdom. There will be a list of approved airlines available on the R.T. Embassy's website in your country, but you must contact the airline to see which flights are the semi-comm approved routes. This is very important as many airlines are selling commercial routes (as they have been for months) under the anticipation that commercial flights will resume soon. Call the airlines and verify the flights. You'll have to select approved airlines and flights from a list as part of filling out your application with the embassy. Once booked and paid for your itinerary/receipt and insurance certificate will be required for BOTH - Step One: your hotel reservation, and Step Two: your visa and Certificate of Entry application. It all has to be done in order. Really.
    Reply

  14. JamesE says

    Okay, this is a General comment about the SETV application process (in the US) which refers to my first comment just below. There are a few things to understand. First - the application process and requirements have changed three times since I started this six days ago. Frustrating. The most recent is the addition of a couple pages of Terms and Conditions and health questions right in the middle of the application process. Second - Understand that there are two tracks: one for Thai citizens and one for everybody else. So, if you're trying to book you and a Thai relative, then you'll be taking a hybrid path. Flight terms you need to know: Repatriation flight - only for Thais booked through a travel agent authorized by the R.T. Embassy. Semi-Commercial (semi-comm) flights for everybody else, booked through the airlines directly. Note that Thais can go the semi-comm route but farang can't go the repatriation route. For quarantine hotels the terms of art are State Quarantine, Local Quarantine, and Alternate State and Local. the abbreviations you'll see are SQ, LQ, ASQ, and ALQ. SQ and ASQ are in Bangkok, LQ and ALQ are elsewhere around the country. SQ and LQ are for Thais only and are free. ASQ and ALQ are for everybody else. Again, Thai citizens can use the Alternate facilities but they have to pay. BUT, foreigners can't use the SQ/LQ options even if they are willing to pay. So, if you're traveling with a friend you either pay for two or stay apart. Lastly, have a 2"x2" (5cmx5cm) picture to upload. Light background headshot, no hats or dark glasses, maximum size 240kB. Have all your documents in PDF or JPEG to upload.
    Reply

  15. JamesE says

    I'm going through the process of applying for my Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) for a late January arrival. I've run into a few stumbling blocks along the way and wanted to lay them out as I find them. First - You're going to have to shell out a lot of money before you even apply for the SETV. You will need booked and paid for airline tickets (another comment to follow), Paid for Health Insurance including COVID coverage *with a Thailand specific policy certificate* (See TTL's post on COVID insurance). And you will need your Alternate State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel booked and paid for (again, another comment to follow). The ASQ hotel will be non-refundable with the exception of the embassy denying your application and (possibly) a flight cancellation. That depends on the ASQ. Second, pay attention to the R.T. Embassy's website in your country. The rules are fluid right now and a lot of interest has been generated by the new visa offering. Start looking way earlier than the 15 days required by the embassy. I've been getting my ducks in order for almost a week now and I'm finally ready to submit my application. Third, there's an order to things. You will need to have your flight and insurance *before* you can get your hotel. You will need local contact information - a friend, family member, or associate - in both your home country and Thailand. Lastly, it can get very confusing. Plan on going through the application once without being able to submit it. That seems to be the only way to discover exactly what documents you'll need to submit. (yes, another comment will be forthcoming). Remember it's the Thailand bureaucracy, be patient and color inside the lines. Good luck!
    Reply

  16. JamesE says

    I was stumbling around the US Royal Thai Embassy site last night and came across the following in paragraph 8 on https://thaiembdc.org/visas/: ">> For Tourist purposes (Tourist visa TR – single entry only) (click here for more information) Update on November 18th" When I follow the link it takes you to https://thaiembdc.org/2020/11/05/trsingle_entry/ which details the current requirements for getting into TLOS under an SETV. I could find nothing that indicates this is not a valid process as of 18-November. All of the other requirements of the Special Tourist Visa seem to be the same: Tests and Fit-to-Fly, flight booked, health insurance, bank deposit, ASQ reserved. So if you're willing to put up with the quarantine, it looks like it's now possible, at least from the US.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I read this in Time Out: Now the country’s government has announced that travellers of all nationalities can apply for new ‘tourist visas’ lasting up to 60 days.Under the scheme, international visitors from all countries will be able to stay for up to 60 days – as long as they self-isolate for 14 days at an ‘alternative state quarantine’ hotel on arrival.Yipee. Finally some half decent news.
      Reply

      • JamesE says

        There are - hey, it's Thailand - some discrepancies I found on the website on a deeper dive. For one thing, if you apply for a Special Tourist Visa the US is specifically excluded but for the SETV it is not. I've sent an email into the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles for clarification.
        Reply

        • JamesE says

          In the infinitely inscrutable way of the Thai bureaucrat, the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles today informed me: "It is recommend to carefully study the information in the website." As I read that I thought I could hear the sound of one hand clapping.
          Reply

            • JamesE says

              Like I said... inscrutable. But upon studying, as instructed, there is exactly *no* mention of any restrictions to the SETV other than the anti-COVID procedures. I think this may be reflective of a desire to keep the program under-the-radar to see how it works out. The Special Tourist Visa (Long Stay) is a whole different beast.
              Reply

            • JamesE says

              Things are changing rapidly. There was an income requirement a couple of days ago - that's gone. Plus the following has appeared: "2. The Royal Thai Embassy / Consulates-General will review the application. If the applicant requires a visa, the visa officer will inform the applicant to submit the following documents through mail to the Royal Thai Embassy (ATTN: Visa Section) or Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York:" Then it gets into what you need to apply for a visa. I still haven't found this as a standalone announcement *anywhere*. I'm going to start my application and see where it goes.
              Reply

                • JamesE says

                  This whole thing is the weirdest scheme I've seen. (And that's saying something.) In the past 24 hours the rules were changed, I saw a reference to an official announcement Nov 1 that exactly zero people seem to have seen, and that the "If the applicant requires a visa" thing is bogus, spoiler alert: you do require a visa. Apparently, the income requirement was pulled to get more people to sign up. Rather than a backlash, I think it was more a "where is everybody" decision.
                  Reply

                • David says

                  Canadian consulate also removed the ridiculous 500k baht requirement. Income requirement is back to 20,000 baht as far as I can tell. Never been asked for proof of this anytime I have travelled from Vancouver to Bangkok that I recall.
                  Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      This is supposedly for the long-stay tourists they expect to let in in October, I hope it isn't something they are planning for normal tourists once things open up on a bigger scale. Because, the thing is, most travel insurance companies will cover COVID by early next year, and some already do. So requiring people to buy insurance sold specifically by their partners is silly; just like the O-A requirement.
      Reply

  20. James E says

    No risk with this plan... https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1963307/safe-and-sealed-plan-brings-hope-for-inbound-tourism Thailand, among other Asian countries is struggling to prevent the latest version of the virus from getting established in the country. So far they've been successful in plugging the holes (the new strain is the one being imported by the repatriated citizens and workers) but they're going to run out of fingers for the holes if they start drilling new holes. The new strain is (based on evidence from the US and Europe) about 10x more contagious than the original virus that left Wuhan. Here on the west coast of the US the original infection was by the Wuhan strain. It was relatively easily managed. The east coast infection was the new strain via Italy (isn't genetics wonderful?) which was much harder to contain and spread throughout the country - almost completely displacing the original strain - within a couple of months.
    Reply

  21. James E says

    Phase 6: "The relaxation will cover migrant workers in the construction business and food export industry, foreign visitors who co-organise trade exhibitions, foreign visitors in film production crews, and foreign travellers who are members of the Thailand Elite Card scheme, Dr Taweesilp said." https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1954051/foreigners-migrant-staff-influx Gotta figure out how many liquor stores I'll have to rob to get an Elite Visa.
    Reply

      • James E says

        It's official... "Addressing the 7,255 members of the Thailand Elite Card scheme who live in other countries, he said the Tourism and Sports Ministry planned to first welcome about 200 members back into the country. Dr Taweesilp said the influx of people would stimulate the economy." If "200 members" is enough to stimulate the economy things must be *much* worse than they're letting on.
        Reply

  23. raymund codina says

    Thanks for the news Peter! ;)

    Was quite entertained with Matt above losing his mind on fake news and conspiracy theories. LOL! Anyways, i just hope Thailand can get back to some normalcy to get tourist money back into the economy for the many that depend on it.

    I've been anxiously awaiting to purchase flights back to the kingdom but i'm sure we'll be last to get into the travel bubble being from the USA. :(

    Stay safe sir!
    Reply

  24. Matt Owens Rees says

    Yes, that's one definition of News.

    But News has to be accurate. Plenty of examples where, outside of Thailand as well, it is seen as not being balanced and truthful.

    The web is full of criticism of the standard of news reports. Look at the fuss the BBC has caused over recent issues.

    Of course, what you "believe" is up to you.
    Reply

      • Matt Owens Rees says

        The word "news" is appropriate only if it's accurate. If it is not, it's propaganda.

        Your comment that Thailand's mortality rate for Covid is less than that for influenza rests on an unproven statistic.

        Far Eastern countries, particularly if totalitarian and not democratic, don't give out true data. North Korea also. Ask yourself why.
        Reply

        • Mike Baker says

          Lockdown getting to you Matt?

          "Good news" refers to the re-opening of Thailand on the 1st July.... that is an opinion from the author unrelated to any statistic, so what it has to do with propaganda I really don't see.

          None of the C19 stats are proven, many countries produce them differently and yes some will deliberately misreport, others will blame C19 unjustifiably but the stats are all we have to go on to make comparisons and decisions at the moment.
          Reply

          • Matt Owens Rees says

            "but the stats are all we have to go on to make comparisons and decisions at the moment."

            Disagree. If the stats are invalid, there is no basis to make comparisons and decisions.

            In courts of law, for example, if there is no reliable evidence, cases are dismissed. You don't go on making decisions on unreliable data

            Lockdown is not getting at me. I note you don't really respond to the topic. Why not respond to the spirit of the thread instead of name-calling?
            Reply

            • Mike Baker says

              Well you can't prove the stats are invalid so I think your argument is invalid......and I think the comparison with a court of law is a poor one as we are not dealing with evidence in a criminal or civil case to decide guilt..... and my response was to counter what I thought was a rather aggressive and negative reaction to a simple opinion by TTL about the re-opening scheduled for 1st July.....as the title of this (Thailand) thread is "Coronovirus updates" I think you are not exactly on topic by defining news v propaganda and criticising half the world for their statistics...... but don't get me wrong Matt.... I actually agree that many decisions in regards to this health situation will be found to be poorly judged in hindsight, especially in the "western" world....
              Reply

      • David says

        Some transit hubs are opening up in early June (Hong Kong and Singapore for example). Tourism is a big chunk of Thailand's GDP so my guess is they will have health measures in place sometime in July/August, not including the need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Maybe travellers will need a health certificate, proof of insurance, report in and so on, not really sure.

        Interesting that Vietnam has had very few cases of COVID given their northern border with China and population base. They must have shut things down earlier than some other countries. Laos has reported few cases as well, but much smaller population.
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          It is interesting how it varies massively between countries in the region. Laos has just 19 cases, which is very few considering the number of Chinese nationals who travel to and from the country. Perhaps, as you say, the smaller population is a key factor. In comparison, Indonesia has had 25k cases.
          Reply

  27. James E says

    Now as long as they can get people to use it... https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1918092/new-anti-covid-phone-app-for-use-when-entering-shops It's a good idea but the raw location data is already being captured and distributed by apps and providers. Research has been shown that it can be de-anonymized easily enough to provide the tracking they say is required with no user intervention. It may be a bit too "1984" for most people to buy into but we crossed that bridge a while ago.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      How does the app know if the shop is vacant enough to enter? Do staff have to manually update it or do you program it with the number of people allowed in at one time and then customers scan again on the way out to let the app know that capacity is available?And who determines how many people can be inside at one time? Is it done on the measurements of the space.Orwellian indeed.
      Reply

    • Bubba says

      The malls are to reopen on May 17. You will be given access only if you have the application installed on your phone and present your passport for scanning.
      That should scare off the tourists for sure! As for me, I will do my shopping online on Amazon, Ebay and Lazada, and get my wife's spouse visa application processed as soon as possible so we can move to a country that respects individual rights.
      Reply

  28. Bubba says

    I just returned from Up-Country. I departed on March 26 and the following day was met by a "welcoming committee" of 6 locals who visited daily to insure that I self-quarantined for two weeks. (I doubt tourists will come if they have to spend their vacation quarantined! I sure wouldn't!) To return, I had to obtain a "fit-to-unravel" certificate from the local headman, which took 3 tries to get it right. I only encountered one checkpoint on the return on AH-1&2 but it was manned by at least 20 officials. Today I have to deal with Immigration as my visa is in "Limbo". May you live in interesting times...
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Wow. Thanks for the update. Seems the village folk are taking this seriously. Good on them, but as you say it doesn't bode well for tourism. The quarantine will have to end before holidays resume.
      Reply

  29. Mike Baker says

    Thailand seems to have avoided the worst of this health issue. Whether that is due to the quite severe and swift controls imposed, the fear of the people (which I have witnessed and been subject to), the climate or a combination of all three is a matter for debate......

    With my home country (UK) being in turmoil with a biased, negative, unbalanced press, an NHS with an agenda, scientists that are getting it wrong and don't live in the real world and a government that sadly is losing the plot after being bullied by everyone , I have decided to stay in Thailand UFN.....

    I am unlikely to be able to leave on my scheduled date anyway and even if I do, re entry restrictions I am expecting to be introduced will probably prevent me from returning when I want (early September). So, I am going to extend on the basis of retirement and sit it out here in relative safety and comfort.....

    Covid 19 has made me change my lifestyle much earlier than I anticipated. I may enjoy taking only 1 flight to the UK each year instead of 3 and not having that wasted few days each end due to jetlag and the anticipation I get a few days before travelling each time. My decision means the airlines losing 2 bookings a year, the agency losing commission, internal flights lost, 2 taxi bookings in UK lost and spending in the UK for several weeks lost. I doubt, though, that my spending in Thailand will increase substantially......

    As for recovery of the tourist economy here, the government need to understand that retaining internal restrictions will positively discourage tourists from anywhere and any entry restrictions need to be seen as reasonable and possible and be lifted as soon as they can. Unfortunately the Thai Government have a reputation for demanding the impossible and health certificates and travel insurance specifically covering C19 simply are not going to happen!
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Thanks James. I had fun reading the comments. This idea was in the works anyway, apparently, so the virus presents a good excuse to bring it in. I don't want to pay more taxes, anywhere. But I'm pretty neutral about this. I remember paying $25 each for my wife and I to leave Cambodia a few years back - that was a sting. That tax has now been rolled in to the cost of the flight. And I think many people don't realize that taxes like this exist in numerous countries but are wrapped up in ticket prices. What do the next couple of years look like for Thailand? That's the question. I certainly don't think a 100-200 Baht arrival tax is going to help local traders in any way. I think the amount it will raise will barely touch the sides of a big pot that will need to be filled....as well as a few pockets :)
      Reply

  34. Wayne says

    What I find annoying is that foreigners with a work visa, I read, can come in (probably because there is money involved). But people like myself that are seperated from their wife and family cannot. Because I was away at work when the restrictions happened I now cannot get home.
    Reply

    • James E says

      I'm guessing you meant "decision"? Maybe not unless you get fully refundable everything. On one hand travel in Thailand is a bargain right now. On the other hand, everything - everything - is pretty much closed. Plus they're not allowing foreign tourists to enter the country right now anyway. Thailand played the initial stages of its epidemic wisely and with the method it used for SARS. But the new virus isn't playing by SARS' rules and cases are starting to shoot up. My guess - and it's only a guess - is that the lockdown will continue for a number of months, the way China is handling it, and foreigners will be unable to enter until the government thinks it's safe. Given that Thailand is desperate for tourists right now, I think they will declare it safe before it is clinically safe.
      Reply

  38. TheThailandLife says

    To reduce crowding at immigration service centers, the Thai government is considering a temporary, automatic extension of visas for travelers who have been affected by COVID-19 travel obstacles. A Cabinet decision on the issue is expected in the next day or so.
    Reply

  40. James E says

    90-day in-person reporting restricted. "Foreigners living in Thailand are being asked to process their 90-day reports at home via an online platform or, more traditionally, by post, IB deputy spokesman Phakkhaphong Saiubon said on Wednesday." Overflow crowds required queuing in an abandoned market.
    Reply

  42. Brian Garty says

    A good article and positive reviews. I am going to see how the virus pans out over the next 6 months before making any decisions to return to Thailand. I am from Australia. I will also be keeping an eye on Pete’s site for further advice. Keep up the great work and all, take care, Brian.
    Reply

  43. dj jones says

    i think the amount of reported cases for c 19 is to low there is no test procedure in place Thai people if ill do no usually go to the hospital or doctor
    so i think a lot more Thai people have this virus than the government say
    Europe people who feel ill go to the doctor so cases are reported
    and test are and have been carried out so more cases are showing i worry about Thailand and think some time in the future Thailand will have a big problem
    i hope the government looks at this and does more to help people
    Reply

    • Matt Owens Rees says

      That's absolutely right, DJJ

      I wish more people would communicate with Thais on a one-to-one basis. One gets accurate information that way. Some sources on the internet are unreliable. Personal observation is also key.
      Reply

  44. Mike Baker says

    Thailand has effectively closed its borders to incoming people by imposing unrealistic documentation requirements (health certificates). No country with Covid19 will test a traveller and produce a certificate - they have more important things to do.............
    .
    .There is also much talk now amongst the locals of the government not being honest and open about the number and extent of the cases. Phuket is an example........ and when challenged by press over policy inconsistencies we see govt officials react with anger and deflection... ...
    .
    .
    It seems the principle of "saving face" remains an overriding objective. No one should assume Thailand is safer than their home country and we should all take the same measures of avoiding contact with everyone.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Mike, of course more people have it than have been recorded but that goes for every country. UK cases, for example, are thought to be well over 10,000 yet the reported numbers are much lower. We can only go off the data we have.You are right. No one should assume anything. We should all take the best precautions we can for our level of risk, whatever country we are in.
      Reply

      • Mike Baker says

        The difference is the UK has official figures and has also said they think it likely to be substantially more and use this openness to guide policy. Certain countries in the world refuse to be open and honest...... shame on them.
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          Absolutely. As we have seen from the start, the large majority of countries have been dishonest to varying degrees. Commercial capitalism comes first. No one wants economic collapse and as such they will either lie or bury their heads in the sand and hope for the best. One example is the current outrage at Trump for his early response and sweeping under the carpet.
          Reply

        • Matt Owens Rees says

          Absolutely agree, Mike Baker. Yes, there are countries which have not been totally transparent but certainly not the majority.

          The concept of not losing Face is stronger in the Far East , particularly Thailand, than in the West

          We do need more honesty in reporting. And less apologising for China and Thailand
          Reply

          • TheThailandLife says

            Who is apologising? No one has said sorry on behalf of Thailand, and why should they? This is a virus that originated in China due to unethical human behaviour. But it doesn't matter now. We all have to deal with it. Rather than use it as a Thai-bashing opportunity we have to pull together and support each other, and protect the vulnerable in the process.
            Reply

            • Matt Owens Rees says

              I don't see any Thai bashing in the post you are replying to.What I am saying, and others are confirming, is that there are people who are "Thai Apologists", always finding reason not to blame Thailand for its handling of the Coronavirus situation or for its prioritising profit and money over health.
              Reply

  45. alan barry says

    The last time i was in Thailand I managed to get my wife a tourist Visa to come to England ,when I applied for it they said it had to be within 3 months when she would come ,so we agreed on the 5th of May .We decided that because of the coronavirus we should leave it later within the 6 months time on the visa .would this be ok due too the circumstances or would we need to get another visa.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      As long as the visa is still valid when your wife travels and she doesn't stay past its expiry date then she will be okay. If this isn't possible you'll need to phone immigration and ask what they are doing about visas impacted by the pandemic. Are they going to reissue them or expect you to apply again?
      Reply

  47. James E says

    Glad I canceled my flight last week...

    BKK Post 2020-03-17 22:09 - "Foreigners coming from the six places defined as Covid-19 infected zones — South Korea, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran — regardless of transport modes, must have health certificates issued in previous three days and health insurance coverage. They must also agree to install and use an official monitoring mobile application.

    The measures also apply to those coming from places with ongoing transmission — France, Spain, United States, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Britain, Japan and Germany.

    Both groups will be subjected to a 14-day quarantine. No more details are provided at this stage."

    https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1880635/cabinet-approves-plans-to-close-schools-postpone-songkran

    In the US right now it is impossible to get in to see a doctor. A request for a "health certificate" would be laughed at.
    Reply

        • Mike Baker says

          Because they are "saving face" by not closing their borders... officially. Its a cultural thing. Logical or practical arguments don't count for much here..... another thing developing is the need to deal with overstayers.... tourists mostly, who cannot travel home because of restrictions, lack of flights etc. The govt are looking to extend visas by 30 days.... BUT you will need a letter from your embassy or consulate to confirm you cannot travel home....... and it has to be an actual letter... not an email or copy..... how practical is that to get? This is another stupid rule to make it difficult when they can just see what the position is for people and exactly how many flights are leaving thailand....... AND....theres more....... the govt are citing security concerns.... so are they suggesting all overstayers due to the virus situation will suddenly turn into criminals and terrorists?......... I mean you couldn't make this up......
          Reply

          • James E says

            I heard from friends in Thailand yesterday (but I haven't been able to find official corroboration) that overstay penalties are being waived currently. I'll see if I can find out more. My take on the health certificate is that TLOS is trying to limit non-essential travel by shifting the burden (and the cost) to the traveler. Business and government travelers will have no problem getting a certificate from in-house or contracted physicians. The rest of us just have to throw ourselves on the mercy of our airlines cancellation policies.
            Reply

          • Matt Owens Rees says

            Completely agree, Mike Baker

            I wish more people would see what's actually going on. It's not difficult to observe and talk discretely to Thais and not be influenced by comments from those with rose-coloured glasses when it comes to Thailand.

            I don't like Thai Bashers or Thai Apologists. I respect those with balanced views and see the good and the not so good here
            Reply

            • TheThailandLife says

              Absolutely. And what is going on is outlined in the post through the daily updates. The borders are shut, social gatherings are banned, domestic travel restricted and all but essential shops shut until the end of April.
              Reply

              • Matt Owens Rees says

                Social gatherings are NOT ENTIRELY banned and social distancing is not being carried out or enforced.Funerals with over 500 mourners are still taking place where I live. Maybe not where you are but I would have thought you would have been aware.Are you aware of the graduation ceremony that Princess Ubonrat attended and was shown on video nationwide? Everyone wearing masks but no social distancing at all. I suspect your readers can give even more examples.Borders are closed? Chinese are still arriving though in much fewer numbers.Domestic travel is NOT restricted. It's advised against and some police at checkpoints are checking temperatures and fining those not wearing masks (even though they're still in the car)I don't think it's helpful, Peter, to just report the "official" line rather than what is going on. Always better, in my view, to report the truth. It's not illegal to do so. Other blogs and media are doing so.I hope you publish this post
                Reply

                • TheThailandLife says

                  Domestic travel is being restricted and will be further restricted. Air Asia just announced closures from 1st April.I'm reporting the main announcements to keep those with plans to travel to and from Thailand in the loop. I am not reporting anecdotal accounts of Somchai flouting the rules in Nakhon Nowhere.You're the one who two weeks ago was demanding evidence of everything I wrote, and now you're spouting this line about not using official reporting but rather "truth" from the mouths of locals and things you see.Yes, I see certain businesses breaking the rules, and gatherings where there shouldn't be, but like every country of 60+ million people this is going to happen.Can you provide evidence of these Chinese coming across the borders?You're more than welcome to go and read these "other blogs" if you find them more informative. In the meantime I'll keep helping my readers here and via email support.
                  Reply

  48. David says

    Well, sounds like my own visit to Udon may be off now, although I will monitor this until the end of the month before making a final decision. Even my wife has now advised me not to visit for Songkran; although Canada not as yet on the list of countries requiring quarantine. Which brings up an interesting point, is Thailand considering changing the actual holidays given more cases of COVID-19 are appearing now?

    Our own govt. here in Canada, likely to act this week in restricting flights to specific countries. It is currently March break so schools are closed, but this may be extended. Libraries, rec. centres, even most ski hills have closed,. Of course, the lemmings are panicking here and buying up various items in bulk, including toilet paper, which I find amusing.

    Stay healthy folks!
    Reply

  49. Graham Illingworth says

    Hi Peter, I wonder if you can help me? My Thai wife is currently in Thailand and is due to return to the UK via Turkish airlines march 26th,she informs me the airport is now closed and will remain so until mid April.I am having difficulty obtaining information in England re. Airport closure, and situation atTurkish airlines.I wonder if you have any information from Thailand.Regards Graham Illingworth.
    Reply

  51. Bob says

    As yet, you can't realistically/ scientifically compare the progress/ spread of Covid-19 with Northern European countries. This may well be due to the seasonal factor, i.e. it's winter in Europe. The geographical spread is, so far, in cold climates. Other coronaviruses all but die out in the milder weather of late Spring/ early Summer and do not survive well in warmer climates. In addition, you need to make more accurate comparisons of the types of traveller. So, I suggest, before making a statement that Thailand is doing a better job than European countries, you need to look at all the possibilities. Maybe, when this all subsides, WHO will praise Thailand, then you can make such a statement (So far, they have praised Singapore and, surprisingly, Italy, for it's tough new measures). Also, do you know how many people have been tested and turned away from other countries on arrival to a Thai airport (I've not seen any figures)? How accurate is their monitoring? I had a thermometer pushed to my forehead at Suvarnabhumi and it read 35C which means I was suffering from Hypothermia. I wasn't and I'm still here a month later (hopefully a lot longer!).
    Reply

  53. John says

    The quarantine policy is very confusing. Different departments say different things and different airlines do differently. Some will really stop you getting on board while some let you go still. Good luck to those who still consider continuing their trip.
    Reply

  56. David says

    Be interesting to see what village life is like during Songkran this year. Still scheduled to arrive April 8th, assuming my flights are still operating. Saw a Youtube video recently of someone flying from BKK-UTH; at Suvarnabumi Airport locals and ex-pats alike mostly wearing masks; in Udon hardly anyone doing this. Surprised at how empty the BKK airport looked in the video.

    Had one death from COVID-19 today here in my city in BC, but this individual was elderly and had pre-existing issues (80+ yrs. old).
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      On one hand I think most will be too drunk to care. I can't see people not celebrating as normal on a local level, though some may fear those returning from BKK may bring a dose with them. I'm pretty certain the big parties in BKK will be cancelled, mainly because they bring together lots of tourists from the surrounding region where the virus is very active.
      Reply

    • James E says

      Chiang Mai and Hat Yai bite the dust...
      Chiang Mai Municipality on Wednesday announced the cancellation of all major activities for the Thai New Year in the northern city. The southern tourist city of Hat Yai has already called off festivities.
      Reply

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