In government guidelines previously issued, it was clarified that Sandbox tourists will need proof of full vaccination, a certificate of entry from the local Thai embassy, Covid-19 insurance of at least US$100,000, a downloaded Thailand Plus tracking app, a negative PCR test prior to departure and a further Covid-19 test on arrival and proof of accommodation in Pattaya for at least the first seven days. Confirmation from the Thai immigration bureau or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still awaited on the precise entry documentation which will be required for any Sandbox aspirants. If Thai embassies abroad must work with the current regulations, then that should be announced. It is not uncommon for immigration announcements to be made at the last minute. Pattaya Mail

Pattaya's no quarantine proposal needs more detail

Pattaya MailMay 27, 2021

Pattaya waits for an international tourist injection.

There are many iffs and buts. Yet, assuming Phuket manages to get off the ground its Sandbox tourist plan on July 1 – fully vaccinated foreigners need not quarantine – Pattaya hopes to follow from October 1. Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome chaired a "Pattaya Move On" conference at City Hall on May 26.

The biggest question mark is whether Pattaya can manage to vaccinate 70 percent of its host population by the operating date as well as achieving a single-figure daily infection rate. Chonburi health authorities are reasonably confident they can achieve both aims, so let's assume they are right.



In government guidelines previously issued, it was clarified that Sandbox tourists will need proof of full vaccination, a certificate of entry from the local Thai embassy, Covid-19 insurance of at least US$100,000, a downloaded Thailand Plus tracking app, a negative PCR test prior to departure and a further Covid-19 test on arrival and proof of accommodation in Pattaya for at least the first seven days.

Confirmation from the Thai immigration bureau or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still awaited on the precise entry documentation which will be required for any Sandbox aspirants. If Thai embassies abroad must work with the current regulations, then that should be announced. It is not uncommon for immigration announcements to be made at the last minute.



What isn't currently clear is how successful entrants will travel from the airport to Pattaya. The most likely solution would be sealed transport, such as special buses, although the logistics would be difficult as well as unpopular. An alternative approach might be use of the Thailand Plus tracking app to prove personal movements. What consequences might follow if the tourist turned off the app are an ongoing blur issue.

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome publishes initial Sandbox guidelines.

The Pattaya mayor has confirmed that tourists must stay at hotels carrying government-approved hygiene standards and engage in activities in areas designated by the management. How tourists electing to stay at the home of a relative or friend would fit into this paradigm is another enigma to resolve. All Sandboxers will likely have to report to health authorities after seven days, maybe through the app or perhaps with a swab test.

The international market for Pattaya Sandbox is speculative. It is the third most popular resort area after Bangkok and Phuket. Chinese and Indian authorities are unlikely to allow their citizens to participate this calendar year, especially in charter tours which have been a mainstay in the past. The Pattaya mayor in his speech mentioned Germany and Russia. Brits are currently being advised not to travel to Thailand as it is an "amber" or Covid-risky destination.

Thai Immigration has yet to announce any specific Sandbox entry rules.

Assuming the vaccinated tourists actually arrive in Pattaya (presumably the map will be broadly drawn to include neighboring areas such as Banglamung and Sattahip), what will they actually do? One has to assume by then that beaches will reopen and that bars and clubs, or some of them, will have removed their padlocks. The unrelated announcement that 300 American servicemen will be visiting Pattaya this August will hopefully provide some clues.

Pattaya is currently an internationally-deprived ghost town and it is reassuring that City Hall is being proactive in publishing its initial Sandbox proposals for onward consideration by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration next month. But a great deal of detail is waiting to be filled in. And the clock is ticking.



Another 52 Covid-19 cases have been reported in Chon Buri, raising the provincial total to 4,395. Of the total infections, 3,476 patients had been treated and recovered and 898 were still being treated, the provincial public health office said on Thursday on its Facebook page. The accumulated provincial death toll remained at 21. Bangkok Post

52 new Covid-19 cases in Chon Buri

Deputy Chon Buri public health office chief Dr Wichai Thanasophon leads an inspection of living quarters of migrant workers in tambon Bang Sai of Muang district in Chon Buri on Monday. (Photo: Chon Buri public health office)

CHON BURI: Another 52 Covid-19 cases have been reported in Chon Buri, raising the provincial total to 4,395.

Of the total infections, 3,476 patients had been treated and recovered and 898 were still being treated, the provincial public health office said on Thursday on its Facebook page. The accumulated provincial death toll remained at 21.

The new infections were reported in five districts – Muang, 24; Si Racha 11; Bang Lamung 10; Phan Thong 5;  and Sattahip 2.

Most new cases were from a cluster at Talad Mai market, the biggest wholesale vegetable and fruit market in the East, Thai media reported.

On Thursday, seven new cases were detected at the market, raising the total number of infections at this market to  24.  Two other people caught the virus from previously confirmed cases at this market.

Two other new infections were caught from previous Covid-19 patients at two factories. Seven got it from infected family members and colleagues.

Disease investigation was continuing  into the remaining cases. 

Nine production lots of the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Siam Bioscience passed a quality inspection conducted by the Department of Medical Sciences on May 25, department director-general Dr Supphakit Siriluck said on Wednesday. The Nation

Locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine passes inspection

Nine production lots of the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Siam Bioscience passed a quality inspection conducted by the Department of Medical Sciences on May 25, department director-general Dr Supphakit Siriluck said on Wednesday.

"Since then Siam Bioscience has submitted another five lots for inspection, which should take about three days to complete," he said. "We found no problem in the first nine lots and expect the other five to pass the inspection as well."

Supphakit said each batch submitted for inspection could contain a different number of doses.

Locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine passes inspection

"Normally the manufacturer sends a smaller batch of about 1 million to 2 million doses for inspection first, and then increases this to 2.5 million to 3 million doses per batch when they have more manufacturing experience or have streamlined the process," he added.

Siam Bioscience has promised the Public Health Ministry that it would start delivering doses to vaccination units in June, while Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed on Tuesday that the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine would be available for the masses from June 7 as per the original schedule.

So far, four kinds of vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and registered for use in Thailand – AstraZeneca, imported by AstraZeneca (Thailand) and manufactured domestically by Siam Bioscience; CoronaVac, or Sinovac, which is imported by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation; Johnson & Johnson, imported by Janssen-Cilag; and the Moderna vaccine imported by Zuellig Pharma.



ASEAN statistics. The Nation

 

Covid-19 on surfaces

 

🔴 BREAKING: 47 deaths (*New High) and 3,323 cases (*1,219 from prisons) on Thursday. Full update at 12:30pm. 23 May: 3,382 - 17 dead 24 May: 2,713 - 30 dead 25 May: 3,226 - 26 dead 26 May: 2,455 - 41 dead 27 May: 3,323 - 47 dead <— TODAY. Richard Barrow

 



Institute u-turns on vaccine jab delay. Bangkok Post

 Institute u-turns on vaccine jab delay

Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute said yesterday inoculations with the AstraZeneca vaccine will proceed as scheduled in June, after having announced earlier that it will postpone giving the second dose of AstraZeneca jabs to July.

The institute's director, Kitpong Sunchatawirul, said yesterday its earlier announcement was based on a misunderstanding, and people who have registered for a vaccine in June will receive their jabs on their appointment date.

When asked if the institute plans to use the AstraZeneca or Sinovac vaccine in its jab drive, the director said the decision will be made by Nonthaburi's provincial authorities.

On concerns about the national communicable diseases committee's decision to allow individuals over the age of 60 to be inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine, Dr Kitpong said the institute has vaccinated its doctors -- many of whom were above 60 years of age -- with the jabs without any problems.

Doubts around the safety of the Sinovac jabs for the elderly emerged at the start of the pandemic, when there wasn't enough empirical data to arrive at a conclusion about the matter. However, the government said, the vaccine has now been proven to be safe for older people.

Separately, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said yesterday he hasn't received any information about possible delays in the delivery of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is expected to be the main jab in the national rollout.

He said the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation is responsible for overseeing the delivery process, before adding the Public Health Ministry and other state agencies will meet later today to set the delivery date.

Rungrueng Kitphati, spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said AstraZeneca will ship its vaccines to Thailand within June, but not on June 1.

"The company is aware of the government's mass vaccination campaign and is obligated to comply with the vaccine purchase contract," he said, adding the government has devised a contingency plan for every situation.

Meanwhile, Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said the department has approved all nine batches of the domestically-produced AstraZeneca vaccine.

After the vaccines are checked by Thai authorities, AstraZeneca will conduct a final check before the vaccine can be distributed to the public.

Five more batches produced by Siam Bioscience, contracted by AstraZeneca to produce the vaccine locally, were sent to the department for quality checks on Tuesday.

Checks usually take three days to complete, he said.

Stigma, fear hamper Covid recovery Thais admit to anxiety over getting the jab and say public attitudes to those infected are hampering the recovery process. Bangkok Post

Stigma, fear hamper Covid recovery

Thais admit to anxiety over getting the jab and say public attitudes to those infected are hampering the recovery process

People are vaccinated on Wednesday at the Bang Sue Grand Station which has not yet officially opened. The station, with its vast space, has been designataed as a non-hospital vaccination unit for jabbing front-line officials at the Transport Ministry and the public. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)

Thailand has been fighting the third wave of Covid-19 since April. Needless to say, everybody wants to see the country conquer the disease as quickly as possible.

The Bangkok Post spoke to Thais about their experience getting through this ordeal. They said they feared contracting the disease and wanted access to a safe, free, Covid-19 vaccine to build herd immunity, even if some were concerned about the vaccine's side effects.

Fear can't keep us out

A family physician in Trang, 28, who asked not to be named, said she had joined the government vaccine scheme and received her second jab on April 29.

She was worried about the side effects but decided to go ahead as she was responsible for a primary care unit, in which almost every patient had contact with her. She wants the government to vaccinate as many people as possible to gain herd immunity.

"I needed to get a jab to protect my patients in case I spread the virus, especially youngsters and elders," she said.

She also enjoyed travelling and many countries had started to require Covid-19 vaccine passports for entry, even if some countries in Europe might not accept certain vaccines.

"If they do not accept the vaccine I have, I will get a new one before I go there,'' she said.

An unemployed man, 27, who was treated for Covid-19, revealed his fears after he was infected.

He said he was diagnosed with the strain of virus first identified in the UK and was hospitalised from April 13-27 at a local governmental hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima.

"I was scared of dying as I started to develop pneumonia. My doctor did not talk much about the process to the extent she forgot to tell me my lungs were infected.

"When she finally told me I felt despair. I even cried in the bathroom that night because I was scared that I would not get the chance to see my mother again,'' he said.

Even though his body had now developed immunity, he wanted to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. However, he was looking at which type as some may have side effects.

Pandemic stigmatisation

This ex-patient said it was not only him affected by the pandemic, but also his family.

His family was labelled the "Covid family" by neighbours as they recognised his mother on a local news Facebook page.

"They posted a photo of my mother and my house. People in my area recognised my house and started to panic. Some even pressured my mother to quarantine and have a Covid-19 test," he said.

Returning from Bangkok on April 5, he decided to quarantine himself in an isolated house in a rural area, after he learned that a friend of his was infected.

"I was notified that I was infected on April 7. Luckily my mother did not come to meet me. However, it was unfair for my mother that she was nagged by others even though she was not involved," he said.

His mother owned a stall in the market. After news of his infection spread, no one was willing to buy her goods.

He was discharged from hospital on April 27.

However, his anxiety remained as the doctor did not do a post-Covid-19 test to ensure he was virus-free. Instead, the doctor suggested he spend another 14 days in quarantine at home.

"This time my whole family joined the quarantine with me as they came to pick me up at the hospital. We lived with fear for another 14 days," he said.

Types of fear

Bussabong Wisetpholchai, a health researcher working with the Klong Toey community, a recent virus hotspot, classified fear over the third Covid–19 wave into five categories: fear of infection and death, fear of rejection in the workplace, fear of being a spreader, fear of infecting a family member, and fear of causing death to people in frail health.

"The last group, especially mothers with new-borns, is the most concerning as the mother has developed an emotional attachment to her baby.

The mother must feed her children, which if she leaves home to buy goods puts her at risk of being infected. They would feel guilty if their children are infected as a result.

"In Thailand, many families have only one breadwinner, most are poor, and they have to risk their lives to feed the family.

"If the breadwinner is infected, everyone else can end up infected too.

"As they cannot protect themselves, the bug spreads further, as does people's fear."

Health and psychology were bound up together, she said.

The challenge for the government was not just tackling public fears, but also solving stigmatisation.

At the broad level, the government should look at whether social factors are affecting people.

"It should also ensure that every voice is heard," Ms Bussabong said.

Tackling fake news

Warat Karuchit, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) communications adviser, admitted communications during the third wave of the pandemic have occasionally lacked unity.

"In the first wave, we talked about protection, but now we have many issues such as hospitals, medication, vaccines, the national budget.

There are also more parties involved, so miscommunications have occurred.

"It is hard to speak in a single voice as we did during the first wave," he said.

He suggested people not prejudge or believe in information unless it comes from a reliable source.

"You do not need to praise the government but we would ask people to consider the national benefit and how to make the country move forward," he aid.

"It is the time to care about everyone around you."

Fewer conventional taxis are expected to remain in service if the Transport Ministry has its way with its draft ministerial regulation allowing the use of private cars for ride-hailing taxi services via apps. Bangkok Post

Taxis likely to switch to Grab

Taxis are seen at Suvarnabhumi airport. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Fewer conventional taxis are expected to remain in service if the Transport Ministry has its way with its draft ministerial regulation allowing the use of private cars for ride-hailing taxi services via apps.

Drivers or owners of conventional taxis carrying yellow number plates, which signify their status as public transport vehicles, are likely to switch to driving their own cars instead, according to Vithoon Naewpanich, president of the Thai Taxi Network Association.

His comment came after the cabinet this week approved a draft regulation allowing the use of private cars for ride-hailing taxi service via apps. The regulation would be a boon for GrabCar drivers who have provided the service without proper legal status for years.

Under the regulation, vehicles equipped with up to seven seats that are now registered as personal cars can double as taxis.

The Transport Ministry said the change is expected to be finalised in about a month from now.

On Wednesday, Mr Vithoon cried foul over the move, saying it amounted to the government capitulating to pressure from illegal ride-hailing taxi services.

At the same time, yellow-plate taxis feel they are being punished for complying with the law. They registered legally and invested heavily to provide their service only to be put at risk of losing out to rivals, Mr Vithoon added.

There are about 80,000 yellow-plate taxis. Currently, only about 30,000 are in service because the Covid-19 pandemic has sapped demand.

"Taxi drivers feel they are being bullied by the draft regulation," he said.

Even though he agreed with the deputy government spokeswoman, Traisuree Taisaranakul, that consumers will have greater choice, Mr Vithoon said the draft regulation spoke volumes about the government's inability to right a wrong. He said it chose instead to pander to those who failed to comply with the law.

He said if the regulation takes effect, many yellow-plate taxis will turn to driving ride-hailing taxis with black number plates for a living. By contrast, the yellow-plate taxis are subject to a rigorous registration process. Yellow-plate taxi drivers are not happy with the regulation but they cannot gather to protest due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Giving ride-hailing taxis legal status where they can freely pick up passengers will hurt the already dwindling income of the yellow-plate taxi drivers, Mr Vithoon added. These taxis also operate their own hailing app, which shows they try to keep up with innovation and improve their service, he added.

Under the regulation, drivers are required to obtain a public transport driving licence, pass a criminal background check by the Royal Thai Police and use taxi-hailing apps certified by the Transport Ministry.

Thai Airways has started selling direct flights from four cities in Europe to Phuket as the province counts down to its planned quarantine-free reopening in July, with hundreds of tour agents invited to take experimental trips during the third quarter to test the scheme. Initial interest expected to be soft. Bangkok Post

Thai Airways tests demand in Europe

Initial interest expected to be soft

Thai Airways is offering direct flights from Paris, Frankfurt, London and Copenhagen to Phuket. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

Thai Airways has started selling direct flights from four cities in Europe to Phuket as the province counts down to its planned quarantine-free reopening in July, with hundreds of tour agents invited to take experimental trips during the third quarter to test the scheme.

However, with the cabinet on Wednesday extending a nationwide state of emergency until July 31, all services to the island have to be conducted as semi-commercial flights, requiring passengers to obtain a certificate of entry prior to arrival as part of Covid-19 containment measures.

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas at Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said tourism demand during the initial stage of the Phuket sandbox is expected to be soft because of tight travel restrictions in both Thailand and some tourist origin countries.

For instance, a travel advisory in the UK rates Thailand on the amber list, mandating travellers returning from Thailand to quarantine at home for 10 days.

Even though vaccinated tourists are exempt from quarantine in Phuket, they may be reticent to travel if it means isolation for many days when they return, said Mr Siripakorn.

Most of them will likely resume travel once the situation in Thailand improves, he said.

TAT is working with Thai Airways in preparation for the July reopening, with the flag carrier launching ticket sales to test the market, with one returning flight for each route per week.

Thai Airways offers direct flights from Paris, Frankfurt, London and Copenhagen to Phuket via a triangular pattern.

Inbound flights from Europe will fly direct to Phuket airport before stopping over at Suvarnabhumi airport for departure.

The flag carrier also plans two routes from Asian cities -- Seoul and Taipei -- to Phuket from July, while the schedule from Tokyo still requires confirmation.

Mr Siripakorn said the agency plans to work with Thai Airways and other international airlines to bring hundreds of overseas tour agents to Phuket, but as a small group at different times.

In addition to feedback on the entry process and travel experiences during the pandemic, Phuket wants to hear from these guests about new tourism products that include local stakeholders, such as farmers and local communities.

"Our travel surveys in several countries found tourists still want to come to Thailand, but seek unique, quality experiences," he said.

"Phuket must strictly follow the plan to improve its standards this year."

For the Phuket sandbox, TAT plans to scale down its marketing to a city level instead of designated areas around the country, as several parts of Thailand still report high daily infections.

The agency admitted the destination has a geographic advantage.

Islands such as Phuket and Samui have limited entry points, allowing them to better control the flow of tourists and administer health screening measures more efficiently, said Mr Siripakorn.

Bangkok Post highlights 27/5

 

Krungsri Research lowers forecast of number of foreign tourists expected to Thailand this year to around 300,000 - The Pattaya News

Krungsri Research lowers forecast of number of foreign tourists expected to Thailand this year to around 300,000

Wednesday, 26 May 2021, 20:53

Bangkok –

Krungsri Research lowered its forecast of the number of foreign tourists coming to Thailand this year to 3.3 hundred thousand with an economic expansion overall of 2 percent.

According to the forecast, the third wave of Covid-19 outbreaks in Thailand could extremely affect the entry of foreign tourists this year. Based on the number of new daily infections, it is estimated that the number might drop to below 100 between late July and late August based on both vaccinations and control of the Covid-19 situation in Thailand. The results could affect the plan to welcome vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine in pilot areas like Pattaya.

It is likely that foreign tourists will still be few in the third quarter of 2021 but will gradually increase in the fourth quarter with the assistance of the Phuket Sandbox operation scheduled to begin on July 1st. A successful roll-out of the sandbox and implementation of similar programs like "Move On" in Pattaya, could see tourists gradually return to Thailand.

Additionally, factors that pressure Thailand's major tourist markets are likely to recover more slowly than previously expected. For example:

1. A Thai-Chinese Intelligence Center survey shows that one-third of Chinese tourists said they would wait for about six months after the outbreak was over before traveling, even if China allowed travel and group tours.
2. The daily numbers of new infections in India and Malaysia remain high, both key tourism markets for Thailand.
3. Delayed vaccination in Japan and South Korea as well as their current conditions that may limit cross-country travel at the moment. Both countries are also popular tourist markets for Thailand.
4. Australia is unlikely to allow its citizens to travel internationally for tourism this year.

Krungsri Research's forecast, therefore, estimates that the number of foreign tourists coming to Thailand in 2021 will be approximately 3.3 hundred thousand people from the previous estimation of 3 million this year. Expected tourist markets will likely be Russia and Germany at this time, according to Thai Tourism Authority research. UK and America are also possibilities.

As a comparison, notes TPN media, in 2019 Thailand welcomed roughly 40 million tourists. Pattaya, home of TPN media, welcomed almost 10 million tourists that year and was the 19th most visited city in the world.



Crisis in Bangkok – death rate 1%. THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA’s) spokesman Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin this afternoon (May 26) revealed that the case fatality rate (CFR) in Bangkok is 1% which is higher than the rest of the country, TV Channel 7 said. May 26 2021 TNR Staff

THE Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA's) spokesman Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin this afternoon (May 26) revealed that the case fatality rate (CFR) in Bangkok is 1% which is higher than the rest of the country, TV Channel 7 said.

Bangkok has the highest rate of infection with the latest cumulative confirmed total being 36,542 while the death toll is 365, or 1% CFR.

There are five new clusters in the capital, adding up to 38 of them in 30 districts. 

Key clusters include Bangkapi market in Bangkapi district where there are 96 new cases totaling 438; a construction camp in Laksi district with 161 new cases adding up to 1,413; Makam 2 alley in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district with 16 new cases totaling 403; slums and market in Klong Toey district with 78 new cases adding up to 1,376; and Saphan Lek in Phra Nakhon district, which is a new cluster, with 12 cases.

Bangkok's five new clusters are a shopping mall on Ladprao road, a sewing factory in Yannawa district, a market in Nong Chok district, a National Housing Authority estate in Klong Chan district and a construction camp in Suan Luang district.

Dr Taweeslip also mentioned that coronavirus has spread out again as infection is now prevalent in 61 provinces with those with no infections at all reduced to 16. This shows that infection can occur anywhere including places that previously had no cases at all.

The province with the second highest number of cases after Bangkok is Phetchaburi with 256 more workers at an electronics parts plant getting infected taking the total to 2,790. Next is Nonthaburi province with 122 new cases at construction camps and markets followed by Samut Prakan with 100 new cases in factories and condos.

CAPTIONS:

Top: View of Bangkok from Sirocco restaurant, on the 63rd floor of State Tower. Photo: Matthias Mueller (CC BY 2.0) 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is modifying its coronavirus immunisation strategy to target worst-hit areas and sectors where clusters are most likely to emerge, officials said on Wednesday, as it deals with its most severe outbreak yet and a low vaccination rate.



Posted 1 hour ago

FILE PHOTO: A medical worker prepares a syringe with a dose of China's Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center, inside the Bang Sue Grand Station, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 24, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is modifying its coronavirus immunisation strategy to target worst-hit areas and sectors where clusters are most likely to emerge, officials said on Wednesday, as it deals with its most severe outbreak yet and a low vaccination rate.

 

The strategy prioritises the epicentre Bangkok and nearby provinces, tourism hotspots, construction camps and potential spreaders, like public transport workers, the government's COVID-19 taskforce said.

 

Thailand reported a daily record 41 deaths on Wednesday, bringing overall fatalities to 873, about 90% of which were during the current outbreak that started early in April.

 

The outbreak is also responsible for the bulk of its total 137,894 cases.

 

Thailand is due to start mass vaccinations next month and of its than 66 million people, only 2.5 million have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, mostly the Sinovac brand.

 

Thailand has reserved 61 million locally-made AstraZeneca vaccines for its main drive.

 

Vaccine distribution had earlier been based on reservations made by provincial health authorities, some with low cases numbers, said taskforce spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin.

 

The health ministry said two doses of Sinovac vaccine had reduced the risk of infection by 83.3%, according to its study on the holiday island of Phuket, where 22% of the population has received both required doses.



Pattaya City to propose “Pattaya Move On” tourism scheme to Thai Covid Center to welcome vaccinated foreigners without quarantine by October Wednesday, It’s important to note the details in this article are currently proposals and could change quickly. They are not guaranteed that they will happen but is the current plan the city is moving forward with. 26 May 2021, 17:37. Pattaya News

Pattaya City authorities, along with Pattaya's Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Pattaya business sector, is planning to propose to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, a "Pattaya Move On" tourism scheme to welcome vaccinated foreign tourists to the city without quarantine in the 4th quarter of 2021.

It's important to note the details in this article are currently proposals and could change quickly. They are not guaranteed that they will happen but is the current plan the city is moving forward with.

Pattaya mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem stated as the chairman of the local meeting today, May 26th, that the "Pattaya Move On" project is under the cooperation of Pattaya City and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to revive tourism for local tourist destinations, particularly in Bang Lamung and Sattahip District, as the core of the plan.

The proposal, underlying Neo Pattaya's confidence and safety tourism idea, will welcome vaccinated tourists from countries with low-risk Covid-19 infections according to the Public Health Ministry's statistics. The visitors must be completely vaccinated with the vaccine that is certified by their origin country by no longer than one year. Children under the age of 12-18 will need a Covid-19 negative certificate within 72 hours prior to travel. Younger children will not need anything but must stay with parents at all times.

Upon arrival, tourists are required to reside in SHA (Safety and Health Administration) certification hotels in only two districts, Bang Lamung and Sattahip, throughout their stay and are able to enjoy activities at their designated areas by the Pattaya authority for 7 days before departure to other areas in the province. A Covid19 test will be required on day five and if negative the tourists will be able to freely travel on day seven.

The list of proposed activities was not released or discussed other than that beach access would be part of the plan. It's also unclear if the tourists could travel on their own or would need a guide. Part of the discussion has been around using only SHA designated transportation to travel for the first seven days.

The plan is implemented under the 12 measures of Thailand's Standard Operation Procedure, including measures to support international flights at U-Tapao International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport; measures to travel from the airport to the accommodation; customer service measures when arriving at a hotel, beach tourism measures; management measures for common rest areas; tourism and navigation; and measures for service providers to be certified to SHA+ standard.

By implementing the plan, Pattaya City must distribute Covid-19 vaccination to at least 70 percent of the population in Banglamung and Sattahip districts by the end of July in order to reopen the city to tourists in the high tourism season in October. The main target of foreign tourists is German and Russian nationals, the mayor stated.

"The proposal will be introduced to the Ministry of Public Health before passing through to the Center for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) and the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) respectively before mid-June in order to comply with the vaccination plans that the government set for Pattaya City and the tourism sector," Sonthaya concluded.

Pattaya's plan will be highly contingent on a similar plan in Phuket going well, that is supposed to start in July.