Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J.

söndag 20 juni 2021

Thai government intended to reopen the entire nation to foreigners within 120 days while the countdown will start on July 1, placing its deadline at the end of October this year, recently clarified by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow. Pattaya Mail

Thailand will start 120-day reopening countdown after Phuket's pilot kick-off

Pattaya MailJune 20, 2021

The Sandbox scheme is to be launched on July 1, and Phuket is stepping up efforts to achieve a target of 70 percent of its population vaccinated by that date. (TAT file photo)

Thai government intended to reopen the entire nation to foreigners within 120 days while the countdown will start on July 1, placing its deadline at the end of October this year, recently clarified by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha detailed in a statement that the government has established contact with six COVID-19 vaccine producers, with AstraZeneca and Sinovac already making deliveries and Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and Sinopharm already at the signing and reservation phases. Overall, the country is to receive 105.5 million doses, exceeding an initial target of 100 million, which will allow for the vaccination of 50 million people or 70 percent of the population.

The PM outlined that to meet the government's timeline, 10 million doses have to be administered on a monthly basis, acknowledging that sufficient vaccine is not available for the month of June. He elaborated that the target for the month was six million doses but so far only 1.8 million have arrived.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Satit Pitutecha, fielding questions from Seri Ruam Thai Party MPs on behalf of the PM in Parliament, claimed today that Thailand has an agreement with AstraZeneca for 61 million doses of its vaccine and was set to receive 6 million of the doses in June. At present, 1 million doses are bound for the country next week, while the total received so far is 4 million doses. From July to November this year, the nation is to receive a further 10 million doses every month before a final delivery of 5 million doses in December. He expressed confidence the deliveries will proceed as planned.

Hotels, tourism businesses and restaurants are giving full support to the plan, securing SHA and SHA+ certification by enhancing hygiene measures, and vaccinating over 70 percent of their staff. So far, 300 hotels have received SHA+.

The government is also looking to the approaching Phuket Tourism Sandbox program to bolster confidence in its reopening plans. The Sandbox scheme is to be launched on July 1, and Phuket is stepping up efforts to achieve a target of 70 percent of its population vaccinated by that date. Hotels, tourism businesses and restaurants are giving full support to the plan, securing SHA and SHA+ certification by enhancing hygiene measures, and vaccinating over 70 percent of their staff. So far, 300 hotels have received SHA+.

Overall, public cooperation with the program has been forthcoming with all sides hoping the reintroduction of tourists will bolster the local economy.

With a clear timeline for vaccinations, stringent control of preventative measures and good cooperation, the government is confident it will make good on its plan to reopen the entire nation in 120 days under the New Normal. (NNT)

The country's reopening countdown will start on July 1, placing its deadline at the end of October this year, recently clarified by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow.

Phi Phi Island, Phuket (TAT file photo).

More COVID advice for idiots, from idiots. The department on Friday said that in order to stay safe from the Covid-19 virus that could be transferred by delivery staff of parcel services, people should follow three simple steps. Bangkok Jack

More COVID advice for idiots, from idiots

Albert JackJune 20, 2021

The department on Friday said that in order to stay safe from the Covid-19 virus that could be transferred by delivery staff of parcel services, people should follow three simple steps:

1. Set a drop off point for the delivery person to leave the parcel outside the house so as to avoid direct contact.

2. After unpacking, clean the product with alcohol and dispose the wrapping of properly.

3. After step 2, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds

The department's advice comes after news that 18 staffers of Bang Sue Post Office tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week, sparking public concerns over the safety of using postal service during the pandemic.

The emerging cluster has prompted Thailand Post to shut down the office until Monday for testing of staff and disinfecting the premises.

The department also cited a recent study by the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that the Covid-19 virus can stay alive on a standard paper packaging for up to 24 hours.

If the surface is oily or glossy, the virus can stay alive for up to 48 to 72 hours, depending on surrounding factors and temperature. – The Nation

Recently published research by Thailand’s Real Estate Information Center strongly suggests that the ongoing condominium building craze in Bangkok and Pattaya is preparing for heavy Chinese investment once the pandemic subsides. Pattaya Mail

Property boom in Pattaya is awaiting the return of the Chinese

Pattaya MailJune 20, 2021

80 percent of condos bought by foreigners in Thailand are located in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Recently published research by Thailand's Real Estate Information Center strongly suggests that the ongoing condominium building craze in Bangkok and Pattaya is preparing for heavy Chinese investment once the pandemic subsides. REIC executive director Dr Vichai Viratkapan said that condominium sales had slumped because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, but that legal and immigration changes needed to be made now for the future comeback.

The REIC, which specializes in property valuation, research and seminars, claims that Chinese nationals own 52 percent of the one-and-a-half million condominium units in Thailand that have been bought by foreigners. All other countries (for example Russia and UK) in the top-ten list come in at under six percent. Presumably the research is based on returns from the country's many land registration offices, although the REIC website and Twitter account are silent on the methodology.

The research also reveals that 80 percent of condominium sales are in Bangkok or Chonburi (which includes Pattaya). But the preponderance of Chinese buyers does not mean that the purchasers intend to live here. There is a growing wealthy middle class in Chinese cities who are looking for a safe place to park their assets which are easily convertible and distant from the financial clutches of the Chinese communist party.

Dr Vichai commented, "It is more difficult to sell condos to buyers who have not seen them in person because you usually buy when you fall in love with a property. Once the Thai government can vaccinate people here, it will be safe to restart international travel." He added that because most buyers are Chinese, the first factor is when the Chinese government allows their people to travel overseas.

In his book The Art of the Deal, the ex-president said he understood the Chinese mind after reading hundreds of books.

The REIC is recommending that the government introduces changes to stimulate the property market in preparation for the anticipated boom. It would like the ceiling on foreign property ownership in a condominium raised from 49 percent to about 75 percent. Not any condominium in the country mind you, but in popular zones of which Pattaya (actually neo-Pattaya) is highlighted alongside Chiang Mai, Phuket and the metropolis.

Condo sales to foreigners would be restricted to units worth at least 5 million baht in order to reserve the cheaper accommodation to less-wealthy Thai purchasers. The REIC also wants foreigners to be able to buy new houses in selected estates –directly from the developer – provided the property is worth at least 10 million baht. Other proposals, currently under review by the government, are 10 year visas for heavy investors, more freedom from work permit requirements and even the possibility of permanent residency (i.e. no visa required).

Retired local realtor John Shackleton said, "Once the virus subsides, there will be an influx of Chinese 'nouveaux riches' anxious to invest in property here. Make no mistake, they have the cash. That's what the ongoing condominium construction in Pattaya and Jomtien is all about. It's a mistake to think Chinese interest in Pattaya is restricted to tour groups on zero sum holidays going to the floating market and loading up on duty frees."

Of course, whether all this will come to pass is a moot point. Covid-19 will alter future travel in ways we can't fully predict. Mass tourism may be a thing of the past. If so, investment in property might not be such a brilliant idea after all: prices will slump! Even if 10 year visas for the wealthy are introduced, there is no surety about the market out there. An earlier attempt to lure the well-heeled, the Elite card, has had a bumpy ride to say the least.

Donald Trump in Art of the Deal wrote, "I've read hundreds of books about China over the decades, made a lot of money with them and I understand the Chinese mind." We could always ask him.

😢😢😢😢😢😢. Chonburi announces 175 cases of Covid-19, highest number since start of new round of infections in April - The Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 175 cases of Covid-19, highest number since start of new round of infections in April

Sunday, 20 June 2021, 12:38

Chonburi-

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 175 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, June 20th. This is the highest number of cases since the start of the recent round of infections in April, driven by two large clusters at migrant worker dormitories in Mueang Chonburi and Si Racha.

Bangkok Post highlights 20/6

Phuket Opinion: Fingers crossed for July 1. According to some very divided public opinion, with the July 1 reopening Thailand is about to do something very brave, or something very stupid. Everyone has an opinion on what will happen, the only problem is that no-one knows what will actually happen. Phuket News

Phuket Opinion: Fingers crossed for July 1

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn presents the soecial video launched to promote the reopening of Phuket from July 1, and the reopening of other areas in Thailand later. Screenshot: TAT

PHUKET: According to some very divided public opinion, with the July 1reopening Thailand is about to do something very brave, or something very stupid. Everyone has an opinion on what will happen, the only problem is that no-one knows what will actually happen.

Strongly voiced opinions on the issue run the gamut from don't reopen the island to tourism until everyone living and working in Phuket has been vaccinated lest arrivals import a COVID variant that unleashes another outbreak; to reopen the island now because of the extent of the financial hardship suffered by so many on the island; to don't bother reopening the island because no one will come.

What people believe about any of this is personal choice, but at it stands right now it is likely that at least some of people will be wrong. The worst case scenario is that all of them are right.

What no-one is disagreeing with is the economic impact the ban on inbound tourists has had on working people all across the island. The economic damage has been nigh devastating.

All major figures involved in the reopening are also now agreeing that the reopening will only open the door to tourism recovery; it will not be an instant fix to a return to mass tourism.

Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, Director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said she expects about 6,000 foreign arrivals in July, but if the scheme proves successful expects arrivals to balloon to 120,000-129,000 (depending on which report you read) in the first three months.

Using that projection, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Secretary-General of the Prime Minister's Office and spokesperson to the economic body of the CCSA, who arrived in Phuket on a visit only yesterday, says that the Phuket reopening is expected to generate up to B15 billion in the first three months.

That seems hopeful. Thanusak Phungdet, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, says he expects only 1,000 arrivals in the first month.

Yet everyone agrees that Phuket has enough hotels for the small number of visitors that are expected to arrive. Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Thai Hotels Association Southern chapter, says just the 300 hotels that are operating will be enough. Whether Phuket has enough of the right businesses to make coming to Phuket an attractive option is another matter.

In all this the message is clear: July 1 is going ahead. At this stage is appears the reopening is going ahead with or without Phuket reaching the target of vaccinating 70% of the island's population first.

Natapanu Nopakun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, speaking from Government House in Bangkok in delivering in the English-language briefing of the CCSA meeting on Friday, has perhaps delivered the best commonsense policy anyone has heard about July 1 for months.

"There must be a start. We have to start somewhere, and we will start with Phuket as the pilot province," he said.

Noting that a contingency plan was being drawn up "if the situation is not controllable as soon as the province is opened", Mr Natapanu clearly added, "Just in layman's terms I can say that whatever is opened can still be closed."

If that is what it takes, so be it. Right now it looks like everyone has their fingers crossed.

Asean sees another major spike in new Covid cases and deaths Southeast Asia on Saturday saw over 30,000 new Covid-19 cases for the second successive day, and also a higher number of deaths, collated data showed. The Nation

🔴 SUNDAY: 20 deaths and 3,682 cases (578 from prisons). Full details at 12:30pm #Thailand 14 June: 3,355 - 17 dead 15 June: 3,000 - 19 dead 16 June: 2,331 - 40 dead 17 June: 3,129 - 30 dead 18 June: 3,058 - 22 dead 19 June: 3,667 - 32 dead. Richard Barrow

The draft proposal of the #PhuketSandbox. Richard Barrow

The draft proposal of the #PhuketSandbox which is waiting the approval of the cabinet on Tuesday and then publication in the Royal Gazette a few days later. The #PhuketReopening on 1st July is more of a symbolic date as it marks the start of the process to allow vaccinated foreign tourists to come back to #Thailand without having to do quarantine.
If this works well, and there are no outbreaks on the island, the 14 nights will be reduced to 7 nights so that people can be allowed to travel around Thailand much sooner. Then in October, all of the lessons learned from this and other controlled reopenings, will lead to a possible reopening of the country in October.
Let's see and please stay optimistic. The country really needs these baby steps to work.

lördag 19 juni 2021

Destitute foreigners in Thailand and unpaid hospital bills. Pattaya Mail

Japan shares Thailand's problem with foreigners' hospital debts.

Everybody says that you shouldn't be in a foreign country if you are not medically insured. Yet Thai authorities have traditionally been ambivalent about the whole subject, at any rate until recently. With the prime minister's aspiration to open up Thailand again within four months, even though the pesky virus is still very active, foreigners' unpaid hospital bills are back on the agenda.

The scale of the destitution problem isn't really known, although the Thai health minister in 2019 said it was annually around 450 million baht or about US$15 million. This may seem a lot, but it's chicken-feed compared with the 2 trillion plus baht spent by international tourists prior to the current lockdown. Moreover, it has long been assumed that the private hospital sector in Thailand inflicts a hidden premium on in-patient bills to compensate for the non-payers.

Bumrungrad Hospital is a premier private hospital in Bangkok for wealthy medical tourists.

Unpaid bills, of course, are not a Thai monopoly. Yasio Sugiura, a Tokyo-based hospital director, said that 13 percent of Japanese hospital patients were foreigners. Non-payment had gotten so bad that hospitals were actually taking out insurance policies to compensate for their losses. South Korea has a requirement that foreigners staying more than six months must pay premiums into the national health insurance system. These are both ideas that Thailand should examine.

The overwhelming majority of visitors to Thailand were – and always will be – short-stay tourists: about half being Chinese who are very, very rarely insured. Last year the Thai tourist minister said that a 300 baht levy would be imposed on all arrivals, of which about 30 baht (US$1) would go towards unpaid hospital bills.

That tiny move, which hasn't yet been implemented, was absolutely not intended to provide travel insurance to the masses but was simply a slush-fund to which hospitals in dire financial straits could appeal. At the moment all visitors to Thailand require Covid-19 insurance, but one imagines that this won't be mandatory for fully vaccinated tourists once the country opens up in the autumn. The extra costs and bureaucracy would be a strong disincentive.

There is currently a debate about medical insurance for expats. One or two visa categories already have to provide "general" medical insurance for at least 400,000 baht in-patient treatment. It's worth noting that this is a paltry sum if a patient is faced with a significant operation, let alone a stay in the intensive care unit. Self-insurance has been mooted as an alternative path for foreigners of advanced years who can't obtain company cover. Much remains unclear.

About 10 percent of medical claims worldwide are initially rejected by insurers.

A separate problem arises if a company initially denies a medical claim. No figures are issued for Thailand, but a Change Healthcare survey in America found that the refusal rate by insurers was around 10 percent – rising as the pandemic continues to harass the human race. The main reasons for denial were failure to obtain pre-authorization for treatment, pre-existing conditions and use of hospitals not in the company's network.

The Vachira Phuket Hospital has made the very valid point that, as Thailand itself becomes an ageing society needing more medical care, the country can ill-afford the growing problem of foreigners' debts. Given that not a single foreigner has ever been successfully prosecuted or blacklisted in Thailand for failing to pay a hospital bill, Thai authorities cannot rely on undeliverable threats. Medical insurance is indeed "a good thing." But it is not a panacea without a coherent and logical overall policy. Hope springs eternal.

If you believed that PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s declaration that Thailand will reopen in 120 days no matter what was set in stone, you don’t know much about Thailand. The Thaiger

CCSA: 120 day reopening will proceed with conditions

Neill Fronde

Saturday, June 19, 2021

If you believed that PM Prayut Chan-o-cha's declaration that Thailand will reopen in 120 days no matter what was set in stone, you don't know much about Thailand. While the plan is still on, The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration held a meeting yesterday where they watered down the exuberant international tourism restart announcement with conditions and exceptions for the October reopening plan.

Among the conditions, the biggest may be that full reopening will only be allowed for provinces that have achieved 70% vaccination of their population. The CCSA acknowledged the distinct possibility that the Thailand relaunch might not necessarily be a fully national one.

The Phuket Sandbox model is set to begin in less than 2 weeks on July 1, but the first tourism experiment for post-pandemic Thailand could be suspended with little advance notice if Covid-19 infections swell above 90 cases per week. That low threshold means one late-detected infection could result in an outbreak cluster big enough to halt the entire sandbox opening.

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister said that the entire country will follow Phuket's lead using the same sandbox model and conditions for reopening. It requires 70% of the residents of the province to have received vaccines and 100% of the staff in the service and tourism sectors to be vaccinated.

The minister stressed that they have learned from the previous reopening attempt and will let provincial governments decide on preparedness to reopen and take the local community's feelings into consideration. Tourism Authority Thailand and the Tourism and Sports Ministry will assist each province to maintain their own administration centre for following strict reopening conditions.

Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao got some good news in the CCSA meeting when they approved a sealed route between the 3 islands to reopen from July 15. The conditions for reopening are a bit tricky though. Alternative local quarantine hotels on Koh Samui must be used, beginning with a full 3-day quarantine. The next 4 days can be spent on sealed sightseeing routes around Koh Samui, while the second week permits travel to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

All arriving international passengers, including Thai citizens, will be required to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before the travel date. Entrance will only be permitted for arrivals from a country that has been designated low- or medium-risk for at least the last 3 weeks. The list of countries that fall into this category will be updated twice a month by the Public Health Ministry.

For domestic travellers, restrictions will be eased. Thai citizens and people who are permanent residents of Thailand will be exempted from the Phuket sandbox rules and 14 day stay on the island according to the governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand.

While estimated arrivals were drastically cut after the new arrival hoops and restrictions were laid out, TAT predicts 9,000 to 10,000 people travelling into Phuket for the reopening. So far 6,789 tickets have been booked on arriving flights. TAT says approximately 200 flights will begin service to Phuket International Airport next month. 18 airlines are lined up to bring international travellers from around the world.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Chonburi announces 145 new and confirmed cases of Covid – 19, mostly at migrant worker communities Saturday, 19 June 2021, 10:43. Pattaya News

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Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 145 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, June 19th.

This makes a total of 5,931 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,061 still in medical care, and with a total of 35 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 4,835 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 77 people were released yesterday.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 57, Si Racha 49, Banglamung 20, Panta Nikhom 1, Sattahip 4, Ban Pan Thong 1, Bor Thong 6, Koh Jan 5, and two new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

Proactive searches at migrant community/dormitories in Si Racha, 35 cases
Proactive searches at migrant community/dormitories at Baan Thung Market in Si Racha, 3 cases
Cluster at Soi Rasprasit in the Baan Kod sub-district, Mueang Chonburi, 8 cases
Close contacts with confirmed previous patients (linked to new market clusters), 36 cases
Confirmed cases found at an online livestream bar in Banglamung, 1 case
Close contact of previous confirmed case in Rayong, 3 cases
Close contact of previous confirmed case in Nonthaburi, 2 cases
Close contacts of previously confirmed patients
- 23 family members
- 7 co-workers
Close contacts of previously confirmed patients (Which is under investigation), 9 cases
18 cases are under general investigation

A total of 282 contact searches were received today, 1,107 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.

The Chonburi Governor yesterday (June 18^th) has ordered a temporary lockdown of an area where many migrant workers live in the Mueang Chonburi district due to many confirmed cases of Covid -19.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/06/18/chonburi-orders-temporary-lockdown-of-area-where-migrant-workers-live-in-chonburi-following-covid-19-cluster/

The Chonburi Governor yesterday also (June 18^th) has ordered a temporary closure of a zone in a popular market in the Mueang Chonburi district due to many confirmed cases of Covid -19.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/06/18/chonburi-orders-temporary-closure-of-zone-in-new-market-in-chonburi-following-covid-19-cluster/

Sandbox latest, CCSA says all regions reopening must reach 70% local vaccination. The Thaiger / Bangkok Post

Sandbox latest, CCSA says all regions reopening must reach 70% local vaccination

Thaiger

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Discussions about re-opening Thailand have spread beyond Phuket with the latest decisions from the CCSA. Meanwhile, Phuket's Sandbox re-opening date of July 1looms.

The main narrative out of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is the need for regions or provinces, slated for re-opening to vaccinated overseas travellers, to have vaccinated 70% of their resident population before they can open their doors.

In Phuket, just over 62% of the local island population have received a single dose of Covid vaccine, but only just over 30% have been fully vaccinated with both doses. Those numbers have been published by the government's own media outlet, NBT.

The majority of the doses in Phuket have been with China's Coronavac vaccine from Sinovac Biotech in Beijing.

Since February 28, around 7 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered across Thailand. Less than 1,500 people have been hospitalised sometime after being injected with the vaccine. Of the doses administered in Thailand so far, 3.2 million doses were the Sinovac vaccine and 1.9 million doses were from AstraZeneca. Both vaccines involve 2 doses at different times.

The Thai FDA has approved 5 vaccines for use in Thailand at this stage.

Added to the warning about reaching a level of 70% fully vaccinated residents, the CCSA announced that the reopening plan for international travellers would be put on pause if the rate of new infections reached over 90 cases per week.

Speaking to the PM's TV speech on Wednesday, when he announced that Thailand would fully re-open to international tourism in 120 days (mid October), the CCSA noted that the target may not be met "nationwide". They also said that the roll out of re-openings to other tourist locations around Thailand is dependent on a successful implementation of the Phuket sandbox.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Minister for Sports and Tourism, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, announced that each province will have a dedicated centre to monitor the reopening which will work in concert with the Tourism Authority of Thailand his ministry.

Yesterday's CCSA meeting also approved, in principle, the opening of "sealed routes" between 3 of the Gulf Islands – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao – in the middle of July.

According to the Bangkok post, the CCSA spokesperson said… "tourists who want to visit these islands have to follow additional restrictions. They must stay at alternative local quarantine hotels and spend the first 3 days on the hotel premises before being permitted to travel via sealed routes on Koh Samui between days 4 to 7.

"They can hop to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao from days 8 to 14."

Following this, as per the Phuket Sandbox, travellers will be able to travel anywhere they like around Thailand.

In another Sandbox development, following an announcement to present Thais, diplomats or long-stay residents from using the Sandbox as a way of re-entering Thailand, the TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn yesterday said that that decision has been over-turned and that anyone will be able to enter Thailand from overseas using the Sandbox model.

"However, Thai travellers who went abroad to receive Covid-19 vaccines and want to enter via Phuket must be vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival."

The TAT announced yesterday that 18 airlines have booked slots to fly into Phuket between July and October, offering roughly 200 flights so far. They claim the number of booked seats was at 6,789 as of yesterday. They also estimate that that number would rise to 9,000-10,000 passenger seats before July 1, according to Bangkok Post.

The other sticky issues of US$100,000 Covid insurance premiums, tracking wristbands, multiple Covid tests and what may or no be open on the island from July 1, are still up in the air. The Thaiger believes there will be clarification on many of these issues over the next week.

The clock is ticking, however, as potential travellers are still unable to get a Certificate of Entry until after the Sandbox plan has been officially approved and passed into law with inclusion in the Royal Gazette. Only then will foreign embassies be able to process paperwork allowing foreigners to travel to Thailand as part of the program.

The TAT are running a campaign about the reopening of Thailand to general tourism…

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree