CCSA English Briefing on Thursday, 2nd June 2022
(Unofficial translation)
1. Entry requirements into Thailand:
Thai nationals
- Beginning on 1 June 2022, Thai nationals coming to Thailand can now enter without quarantine and COVID-19 test (for fully vaccinated travelers), nor Thailand Pass.
- Must present a certificate of vaccination or if unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated, an RT-PCR/ Professional ATK COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before departure. Thai nationals can enter Thailand via every border checkpoint (for land travel).
Foreign nationals
- For foreign nationals, entry requirements as of yesterday have also been significantly eased. All that is needed, includes the following;
- Registration on Thailand Pass, to attach the following documents: (1) a valid Passport, (2) a certificate of vaccination or if unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated, an RT-PCR/Professional ATK COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before departure, and (3) Proof of medical treatment coverage (minimum coverage 10,000 USD).
- Receive Thailand Pass QR Code within 1-2 hours.
- When you arrive at the airport in your country of departure and when landing, the Airlines and Disease Control Officers will check your documents.
- Airlines are required to pre-check for Thailand Pass QR code prior to issuing boarding pass to travelers coming to Thailand. Upon arrival, travelers are required to go through the usual checks at the airport.
- Thailand Pass is now functioning as a pre-arrival registration for foreign travelers. It is worth mentioning that it is not an approval system, but a registration system.
2. Announcement of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Temporary Closure of Premises
- Entertainment venues and any establishments providing similar services to those of entertainment venues, such as pubs, bars, karaoke shops or other similar venues shall still be temporarily closed, except for venues having passed the test according to the COVID-19 prevention and safety standard called "Thai Stop COVID 2 Plus" and those that have gained permission from the district office in charge of the area can be opened for operations.
- The provision of services, selling, and consuming liquor or alcoholic drinks on premises is now allowed until 24.00 hrs.
- Service providers and personnel need to be fully vaccinated and have had booster doses, and undergo random ATK checks.
- Other establishments that can now be opened if complying with disease control and prevention measures prescribed by the Ministry of Public Health include:
- Medical clinics for beauty service, beauty salons and barber shops, manicure and pedicure shops, and premises for tattooing or piercing of skin;
- Spas and Thai traditional massage;
- Gyms or fitness centers;
- Theatres, playhouses, folklore performances;
- Bath services, steam bath and herbal steam.
- As it has been widely reported, the Ministry of Public health is indeed considering to lower the alert level from level 3 to level 2, which in essence means that there would be more of a focus on the severe cases and at-risk groups rather than restrictions that apply to the general population. However, this has yet to be decided. This is a very good indication that we continue to adjust and adapt to an improving situation.
3. General Situation
- New confirmed cases is 2,560, making 36,162 active cases. The number of accumulated cases stands at 4,457,580 cases with 4,391,307 cases total recoveries. There are 34 new fatalities, with the accumulated total at 30,081 cases.
4. Update on the number of arrivals of travelers
- During 1 – 31 May 2022, 539,519 travelers entered Thailand. Of this number, 538,984 travelers entered via the Quarantine Exemption Scheme, and 535 travelers entered with 5 days-quarantine scheme.
- The majority of international travelers come from these top ten countries of origin, namely, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, the US, the UK, Australia, UAE and South Korea.
5. Vaccination Progress
- The cumulative number of vaccine doses administered stands at almost 137.8 million doses.
- The total number of first vaccine doses administered now amounts to 56.7 million doses, covering 81.6 % of the total population.
- The total number of second vaccine doses administered currently stands at 52.7 million doses, covering 75.8% of the total population. While the total number of third vaccine doses administered amounts to 28.4 million doses, covering 40.8 % of the total population.
6. Cooperation on vaccines: The handing over of COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Royal Thai Government
- On 26 May 2022, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Health attended the handing over of 1,266,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Royal Thai Government. Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Thailand attended the event as representative of the Danish government.
- The donation on this occasion is a testament to the long-standing friendship between Thailand and Denmark, after the two countries jointly commemorated the 400th anniversary of the first contact between Thailand and Denmark in 2021.
- This donation is the result of close cooperation among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Danish Embassy, the Ministry of Public Health and the Statens Serum Institute of Denmark. These vaccines will be distributed to both Thai and foreign citizens in Thailand and along the Thai borders.
7. Advisory for Hajj pilgrims
- The Hajj, one of Islam's most important ceremonies, is quickly approaching. This year, it will fall between July 7 and 12, 2022.
- We advise Hajj pilgrims to take the following precautions before traveling to Mecca, Saudi Arabia; Certificates of COVID-19 full vaccination, Certificate of vaccination against meningococcal disease, A COVID RT-PCR test with negative result no more than 71 hours before travelling, and A COVID insurance certificate while staying in Saudi Arabia.
8. Update on monkeypox
- In spite of a report of the detection of monkeypox in a traveler who reached Australia after a 2-hour transit in Bangkok, there are currently no monkeypox cases in Thailand.
- The Ministry of Public Health, however, asked hospitals and healthcare facilities to continuously monitor for possible infections. Screening protocols for international arrivals to prevent the introduction of monkeypox have also been activated. Travelers, especially those from at-risk countries, who have a fever over 38 degrees Celsius along with at least one other symptom - such as sore throat, headache, myalgia, swollen lymph nodes and rashes - will be examined.
- The ministry has ordered hospitals, skincare clinics and clinics for sexually transmitted diseases to be on high alert for potential monkeypox infections, while also preparing laboratories, medical supplies and disease investigation teams.
The CCSA briefing from now on will be reduced to twice a month, every other Thursday, except when the general CCSA meeting chaired by the Prime Minister falls on a Friday, which would then be the date of that briefing for that week.
Full CCSA English briefing can be viewed here >>> https://fb.watch/do2Cg4FIH6/
Source: CCSA, Public Relations Department, and Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
(Unofficial translation)
1. Entry requirements into Thailand:
Thai nationals
- Beginning on 1 June 2022, Thai nationals coming to Thailand can now enter without quarantine and COVID-19 test (for fully vaccinated travelers), nor Thailand Pass.
- Must present a certificate of vaccination or if unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated, an RT-PCR/ Professional ATK COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before departure. Thai nationals can enter Thailand via every border checkpoint (for land travel).
Foreign nationals
- For foreign nationals, entry requirements as of yesterday have also been significantly eased. All that is needed, includes the following;
- Registration on Thailand Pass, to attach the following documents: (1) a valid Passport, (2) a certificate of vaccination or if unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated, an RT-PCR/Professional ATK COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before departure, and (3) Proof of medical treatment coverage (minimum coverage 10,000 USD).
- Receive Thailand Pass QR Code within 1-2 hours.
- When you arrive at the airport in your country of departure and when landing, the Airlines and Disease Control Officers will check your documents.
- Airlines are required to pre-check for Thailand Pass QR code prior to issuing boarding pass to travelers coming to Thailand. Upon arrival, travelers are required to go through the usual checks at the airport.
- Thailand Pass is now functioning as a pre-arrival registration for foreign travelers. It is worth mentioning that it is not an approval system, but a registration system.
2. Announcement of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Temporary Closure of Premises
- Entertainment venues and any establishments providing similar services to those of entertainment venues, such as pubs, bars, karaoke shops or other similar venues shall still be temporarily closed, except for venues having passed the test according to the COVID-19 prevention and safety standard called "Thai Stop COVID 2 Plus" and those that have gained permission from the district office in charge of the area can be opened for operations.
- The provision of services, selling, and consuming liquor or alcoholic drinks on premises is now allowed until 24.00 hrs.
- Service providers and personnel need to be fully vaccinated and have had booster doses, and undergo random ATK checks.
- Other establishments that can now be opened if complying with disease control and prevention measures prescribed by the Ministry of Public Health include:
- Medical clinics for beauty service, beauty salons and barber shops, manicure and pedicure shops, and premises for tattooing or piercing of skin;
- Spas and Thai traditional massage;
- Gyms or fitness centers;
- Theatres, playhouses, folklore performances;
- Bath services, steam bath and herbal steam.
- As it has been widely reported, the Ministry of Public health is indeed considering to lower the alert level from level 3 to level 2, which in essence means that there would be more of a focus on the severe cases and at-risk groups rather than restrictions that apply to the general population. However, this has yet to be decided. This is a very good indication that we continue to adjust and adapt to an improving situation.
3. General Situation
- New confirmed cases is 2,560, making 36,162 active cases. The number of accumulated cases stands at 4,457,580 cases with 4,391,307 cases total recoveries. There are 34 new fatalities, with the accumulated total at 30,081 cases.
4. Update on the number of arrivals of travelers
- During 1 – 31 May 2022, 539,519 travelers entered Thailand. Of this number, 538,984 travelers entered via the Quarantine Exemption Scheme, and 535 travelers entered with 5 days-quarantine scheme.
- The majority of international travelers come from these top ten countries of origin, namely, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, the US, the UK, Australia, UAE and South Korea.
5. Vaccination Progress
- The cumulative number of vaccine doses administered stands at almost 137.8 million doses.
- The total number of first vaccine doses administered now amounts to 56.7 million doses, covering 81.6 % of the total population.
- The total number of second vaccine doses administered currently stands at 52.7 million doses, covering 75.8% of the total population. While the total number of third vaccine doses administered amounts to 28.4 million doses, covering 40.8 % of the total population.
6. Cooperation on vaccines: The handing over of COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Royal Thai Government
- On 26 May 2022, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Health attended the handing over of 1,266,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Royal Thai Government. Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Thailand attended the event as representative of the Danish government.
- The donation on this occasion is a testament to the long-standing friendship between Thailand and Denmark, after the two countries jointly commemorated the 400th anniversary of the first contact between Thailand and Denmark in 2021.
- This donation is the result of close cooperation among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Danish Embassy, the Ministry of Public Health and the Statens Serum Institute of Denmark. These vaccines will be distributed to both Thai and foreign citizens in Thailand and along the Thai borders.
7. Advisory for Hajj pilgrims
- The Hajj, one of Islam's most important ceremonies, is quickly approaching. This year, it will fall between July 7 and 12, 2022.
- We advise Hajj pilgrims to take the following precautions before traveling to Mecca, Saudi Arabia; Certificates of COVID-19 full vaccination, Certificate of vaccination against meningococcal disease, A COVID RT-PCR test with negative result no more than 71 hours before travelling, and A COVID insurance certificate while staying in Saudi Arabia.
8. Update on monkeypox
- In spite of a report of the detection of monkeypox in a traveler who reached Australia after a 2-hour transit in Bangkok, there are currently no monkeypox cases in Thailand.
- The Ministry of Public Health, however, asked hospitals and healthcare facilities to continuously monitor for possible infections. Screening protocols for international arrivals to prevent the introduction of monkeypox have also been activated. Travelers, especially those from at-risk countries, who have a fever over 38 degrees Celsius along with at least one other symptom - such as sore throat, headache, myalgia, swollen lymph nodes and rashes - will be examined.
- The ministry has ordered hospitals, skincare clinics and clinics for sexually transmitted diseases to be on high alert for potential monkeypox infections, while also preparing laboratories, medical supplies and disease investigation teams.
The CCSA briefing from now on will be reduced to twice a month, every other Thursday, except when the general CCSA meeting chaired by the Prime Minister falls on a Friday, which would then be the date of that briefing for that week.
Full CCSA English briefing can be viewed here >>> https://fb.watch/do2Cg4FIH6/
Source: CCSA, Public Relations Department, and Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)