The Thai government on Friday released its proposal for relaxing COVID-19 measures and re-opening the country to foreign tourists. - Thai Visa



 



The Thai government on Friday released its proposal for relaxing COVID-19 measures and re-opening the country to foreign tourists.

The most notable of Friday's announcement is that quarantine will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days from 1 April. It will then be reduced to 7 days later for vaccinated foreigners, before quarantine will be scrapped completely by 1 October for those who have received the vaccine. 

Much of the proposals were as first reported earlier this week, with Thailand set to reopen in three phases.

Phase 1 - which will take place between 1 April and 30 June will see Samut Sakhon no longer being listed as a 'red zone' or maximum controlled area, where it will join Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathom Thani, Tak and Ratchaburi as an 'orange zone' or controlled area.

Fourteen other provinces, Kanchanaburi, Suphanburi, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Phetchaburi, Rayong, Chonburi, Rayong, Chumphon, Songkhla, Yala and Narathiwat will remain 'yellow zone' or a high surveillance area. 

The remaining provinces will be listed as a green zone.

Phase 2 - from 1 July to 30 September - there will no longer be any color coded zones or controlled areas in Thailand. All restrictions will be lift, expect for those under the new normal, such as social distancing, mask wearing and temperature checks when entering some premises. 

Phase 3 - from 1 Oct - the government is aiming to allow vaccinated tourists from low risk countries to enter Thailand without the need to quarantine. However, this will depend on the COVID-19 situation in Thailand and whether or not sufficient numbers of medical workers in the country have received the vaccination. 

Meanwhile, it was announced that quarantine will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days from 1 April.

CCSA spokesperson Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin said that  both Thais and foreigners will need to need to quarantine for 10 days but this will be reduced to 7 days later in the year.

It was also announced that the state of emergency will be extended to 31 May and that water throwing and foam parties have been banned for this year's Songkran, but there are no restrictions on domestic travel.

This is a developing news story, this post may be updated without warning

 

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