Bangkok Post highlights 24/10



RICHARD BARRO - Guidelines released by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for travelers with exemption from quarantine effective on 1 November 2021 onwards ✅ List of countries and territories permitted to enter the Kingdom of Thailand under category (13) https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/list-of-countries-and-territories-permitted-to-ent



Vaccination report October 23rd



ASEAN COVID19



Thailand reopening roundup: What happens November 1 By Neill FrondeSaturday, October 23, 2021 12:14. The Thaiger





Thailand reopening roundup: What happens November 1

By 

Neill Fronde

Saturday, October 23, 2021 12:14

Things are moving fast towards the November 1 reopening which in the last few days swelled from 10 countries being allowed entry to Thailand to 46 countries, 3 entry plans, replacing the Certificate of Entry, and even an attempt to reopen nightlife. Below is a round-up of the plans as they stand now.

"TEST & GO": COUNTRIES THAT CAN ENTER WITHOUT QUARANTINE

1. Australia 2. Austria 3. Bahrain 4. Belgium 5. Bhutan 6. Brunei Darussalam 7. Bulgaria 8. Cambodia 9. Canada 10. Chile 11. China 12. Cyprus 13. Czech Republic 14. Denmark 15. Estonia 16. Finland 17. France 18. Germany 19. Greece 20. Hungary 21. Iceland 22. Ireland 23. Israel

24. Italy 25. Japan 26. Latvia 27. Lithuania 28. Malaysia 29. Malta 30. the Netherlands 31. New Zealand 32. Norway 33. Poland 34. Portugal 35. Qatar 36. Saudi Arabia 37. Singapore 38. Slovenia 39. South Korea 40. Spain 41. Sweden 42. Switzerland 43. the United Arab Emirates 44. United Kingdom 45. United States 46. Hong Kong

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS TO RENTER WITHOUT QUARANTINE?

1. Travellers to the reopening of Thailand must arrive by air and come from a list of "low-risk" countries approved by the Public Health Ministry
2. Have proof of vaccination with 2 doses of a recognised Covid-19 vaccine
3. Have a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure from your home country
4. Have at least US$50,000 in Covid-19 insurance coverage (returning Thai citizens eligible for national health insurance are exempt)
5. Have proof of a SHA+, Alternative Quarantine, Organisation Quarantine, or Alternative Hospital Quarantine booking
6. Travellers must download the Mor Chana app and take a second PCR test on arrival or within 24 hours of arrival
7. If the second test is negative, visitors can continue their journey without any further quarantine (travellers will be given an ATK to test after 7 days or upon any symptoms.

"LIVING IN THE BLUE ZONE": SANDBOX FOR THOSE NOT FROM THE 46 APPROVED COUNTRIES

17 so-called "blue zone" provinces will be part of the reopening to vaccinated foreign arrivals during their first 7 days in Thailand. In addition to the same testing requirements as Test & Go travellers, they will also be subject to a further test on day 6 or 7 of their stay. This test will be carried out using an antigen test kit, making it cheaper than PCR testing. The Bangkok Post reports that from December, the "blue zones" will expand to 33 provinces and then 45 from January. To qualify as a blue zone, a province must have vaccinated at least 70% of its population.

• Bangkok
• Krabi
• Phang Nga
• Phuket
• Buri Ram – Muang district ONLY:
• Chon Buri – ONLY:
  • Bang Lamung
  • Pattaya
  • Si Racha
  • Koh Si Chang
  • Sattahip district – ONLY:
    • tambon Na Jomtien
    • tambon Bang Sare
• Chiang Mai – ONLY:
  • Doi Tao
  • Mae Rim
  • Mae Taeng
  • Muang
• Loei – Chiang Khan district ONLY:
• Nong Khai – ONLY:
  • Muang
  • Sangkhom
  • Sri Chiang Mai
  • Tha Bo
• Phetchaburi – Cha-am municipality ONLY:
• Prachuap Khiri Khan – ONLY:
  • tambon Hua Hin
  • tambon Nong Kae
• Ranong – Koh Phayam ONLY:
• Rayong – Koh Samet ONLY:
• Samut Prakan – Suvarnabhumi airport ONLY:
• Surat Thani – ONLY:
  • Koh Samui
  • Koh Phangan
  • Koh Tao
• Trat – Koh Chang ONLY:
• Udon Thani – ONLY:
  • Muang
  • Ban Dung
  • Kumphawapi
  • Na Yoong
  • Nong Han
  • Prachak Silapakhom

"HAPPY QUARANTINE": ENTRY FOR UNVACCINATED OR OUTSIDE THE BLUE ZONE

For those who are not fully vaccinated, or who do not want to Sandbox in one of the 17 provinces, the Alternative Quarantine System allows people to still travel to Thailand after the November 1 reopening. The ASQ plan follows the same testing and insurance requirements as Blue Zone entry.

• 7-day quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers with an approved vaccine.
• 10-day quarantine for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers arriving by air only.
• 14-day quarantine for travellers arriving by land who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.

CoE OUT, THAILAND PASS IN

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun the process of replacing the Certificate of Entry with the new Thailand Pass which will be accepted from November 2. The Ministry announced that tp.consular.go.th will be live for people arriving in Thailand after November 2 to register for the Thailand Pass.

Anyone who has already received their CoE can use it as normal, but new ones will not be issued and will instead shift to the Thailand Pass. All extra fees paid that aren't necessary with the new rules going into effect on November 1 can be requested as a refund from the traveller's hotel.

CURFEW LIFTING FOR BLUE ZONES

Just ahead of the big November 1 reopening of Thailand to international tourists, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that curfew will be lifted entirely in all or part of 17 provinces on October 31. The order has already been signed into effect and published in the Royal Gazette late last night.

For now, public gatherings in the tourist provinces that are reopening will be allowed with a maximum of 500 people, but nightlife and entertainment venues will not reopen just yet.

The areas to be without curfew are the same as the Blue Zone list above.

RESTARTING THE NIGHTLIFE?

Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakan is aiming to open up entertainment venues in sync with the November 1 reopening of Thailand. The Tourism Minister plans on officially proposing that entertainment venues, bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, pubs and other nightlife venues be reopening in the Blue Zones, the new term for the expanded Sandbox destinations.

The proposal would focus on areas where nightlife and entertainment venues were an essential part of the economy for tourism like Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya, Phang Nga, and Phuket. The minister didn't include Bangkok on his list, citing concerns that entertainment venues in the city would be too hard to safely regulate and that the nightlife isn't only a draw to international tourists, but also attracts Thai customers, so it could be higher-risk and lower benefit than other destinations, something that has bothered the CCSA when evaluating the reopening of Thailand.

Richard Barrow. We are expecting at least 300 SHA+ hotels to be added soon for #Bangkok. Keep an eye on this link: https://www.thailandsha.com/shalists/index?type=2-Hotel%2C+accommodation+and+Homestay&province=10-Bangkok&keyword=



The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 373 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with 3 new deaths, October 23rd. This makes a total of 98,657 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 6,369 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 694 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April. Pattaya News

Highlights:

• 373 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today

• 455 people recovered and were released from medical care

• 3 new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 373 new and confirmedcases of Covid-19 today with 3 new deaths, October 23rd.

This makes a total of 98,657 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 6,369 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 694 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 455 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 91,594 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

As for the three new deaths yesterday, they were close contacts from previous confirmed cases in families according to the Chonburi Department of Public Health. They had chronic health problems. Two of them were vaccinated.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 94, Si Racha 117, Banglamung (Pattaya) 67, Panat Nikhom 17, Sattahip 13, Ban Bueang 3, Phan Thong 17, Bor Thong 1, Ko Chan 4, Nong Yai 4, and 36 people transferred from other provinces for medical care

The details on the cases are as follows:

1. Work and stayed in Rayong transferred from other provinces for medical care, 16 cases
2. Cluster, IJTT company in Mueang Chonburi, 6 cases
3. Cluster Vanda Pac company in Mueang Chonburi, 4 cases
4. Cluster, Dolphin Networks Supplies company in Si Racha, 4 cases
5. Risky occupation, meeting a lot of people, 14 cases
6. 2 medical personal
7. Back from risky areas in Khon Kaen, 1 case
8. Close contacts of confirmed patients in 147 families, in 70 workplaces and 4 from close friends
9. Close contact of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 18 cases
10. 87 cases in general are under investigation as to how they contracted Covid-19

🔴 FACT CHECK: The Bangkok Post front page article ‘Govt ramps up reopening plan’ contains two inaccuracies. You MUST have medical insurance and you DON’T have to arrive by chartered flight, unless flying to Buriram for the Sandbox program. This is confirmed by MFA. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 23/10



The Thailand Pass website. Phuket News

 The Thailand Pass website https://tp.consular.go.th/ will start accepting registrations from Nov 1

Also from Nov 1, the COE website https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ will stop receiving applications.

"Those who have received a COE previously can use the COE that has already been received and request a refund directly from the traveler's hotel," the announcement confirmed.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/thailand-pass-starts-nov-1-refunds-on-coe-bookings-allowed-81788.php

🔴 #COVID19 on Saturday: ⬇️ 9,742 new cases ⬆️ 74 deaths. ASEAN NOW



The Thaiger. - Curfew lifted October 31 for all or part of 17 Thai provinces By Neill FrondeFriday, October 22, 2021 15:46. For some provinces, the curfew will be lifted without restriction, but in some locations, only key designated districts or areas will have the curfew lifted. The following is a list of provinces where the curfew will be lifted, including restrictions:

Curfew lifted October 31 for all or part of 17 Thai provinces

By 

Neill Fronde

Friday, October 22, 2021 15:46

Just ahead of the big November 1 reopening to international tourists, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that curfew will be lifted entirely in all or part of 17 provinces on October 31. The order has already been signed into effect and published in the Royal Gazette late last night.

The order means that when the doors are opened to fully vaccinated international travellers on the November 1, many key provinces won't have any cut-off time or restrictions where tourists or locals aren't supposed to be out.

The restrictions banning nightlife and alcohol consumption and sales for most of the country will remain in effect so far, though the ban s expected to be lifted on December 1. Bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues, pubs, karaoke, and other nightlife spots will remain closed but are looking ahead to reopening soon.

For now, public gatherings in the tourist provinces that are reopening will be allowed with a maximum of 500 people.

Citing an improvement in daily Covid-19 infections and hospital facilities being able to handle the patient numbers, as well as patient recovery times shortening, the Thai PM said it was safe enough to lift the curfew and help to rebuild the national economy.

The curfew had been recently reduced on October 16 to beginning at 11 pm and ending at 3 am in the dark red maximum and strict control provinces, but for those zones that have significant tourism sectors, those curfew hours will now be removed officially at 11 pm on October 31.

For some provinces, the curfew will be lifted without restriction, but in some locations, only key designated districts or areas will have the curfew lifted. The following is a list of provinces where the curfew will be lifted, including restrictions:

WHOLE PROVINCE WITHOUT CURFEW

• Bangkok
• Krabi
• Phangnga
• Phuket

AREAS OF THE PROVINCE WITHOUT CURFEW

Chon Buri Bang Lamung Pattaya Si Racha Koh Si Chang Sattahip district tambon Na Jomtien tambon Bang Sare Chiang Mai Doi Tao Mae Rim Mae Taeng Muang Trat Koh Chang only

Buri Ram Muang district only Prachuap Khiri Khan tambon Hua Hin tambon Nong Kae Phetchaburi Cha-am municipality only Ranong Koh Phayam only Rayong Koh Samet only Loei Chiang Khan district only Samut Prakan Suvarnabhumi airport only

Surat Thani Koh Samui Koh Phangan Koh Tao Nong Khai Muang Sangkhom Sri Chiang Mai Tha Bo Udon Thani Muang Ban Dung Kumphawapi Na Yoong Nong Han Prachak Silapakhom

HERE'S information about the 46 countries now allowed quarantine-free arrival in Thailand (except for the first night). Also a chart with all the conditions, even if you're unvaccinated.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post 

📣📣 22 October 2021-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

 📣📣 22 October 2021-- An update from the Thai government regarding Thailand's #COVID19 situation, reporting from the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)

1. Schemes for Entering Thailand from 1 November 2021

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the list of 45 countries and 1 territory where individuals are permitted to enter Thailand without quarantine, based on specified guidelines, as shown on screen.

The CCSA and related agencies have carefully considered this list based on many factors. This includes coherence with other countries' reopening plans and international travel regulations, to ensure safety for everyone residing in Thailand and incoming travelers from abroad. Even though some countries/areas are not on this first list, but if you are fully vaccinated you can enter the Sandbox scheme which you can still travel freely within the Sandbox area.

The list will be revised in the middle of November and again at the beginning of December so hopefully there will be more countries/areas added during this very short period.

Starting from 1 November 2021 onwards, there will be three channels for those who wish to enter Thailand. First, fully vaccinated individuals who have been residing in these 45 countries and 1 territory for at least 21 consecutive days may enter Thailand without quarantine on the following conditions. They must have a negative RT-PCR test result issued within 72 hours before traveling. They must also undergo a RT-PCR test on their arrival date and wait for the result at a SHA Plus hotel or Alternative Quarantine (AQ) hotel for 1 night or until they receive confirmation of a negative result. Those who have just travelled out from Thailand will be exempt from the 21 days stay requirement in the listed countries and territory.

Second, fully vaccinated travelers may enter Thailand via the Sandbox scheme, but must stay in the Sandbox area for at least 7 days. Travelers under this scheme will have to undergo two RT-PCR tests. The first test is on the arrival date and the second test is on day 6 or 7 of their stay.

Third, Thai and foreign nationals who have not been fully vaccinated may enter Thailand, but will have to undergo Alternative Quarantine (AQ) for 10 days if they travel by air, and 14 days if they travel by land. They will have to take two RT-PCR tests on the arrival date and on day 8 or 9 of their stay.
More details can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facebook page.

2. Curfew to be lifted in Sandbox Provinces

In line with the gradual relaxation of measures towards Thailand's reopening, the current 11 pm – 3 am curfew will be lifted in the 17 pilot tourism provinces starting from 11 pm on 31 October 2021.

The 17 pilot tourism provinces include (1) Bangkok; (2) Prachuap Khiri Khan; (3) Phetchaburi; (4) Samut Prakan; (5) Chiang Mai; (6) Buriram; (7) Loei; ( 8 ) Nong Khai; (9) Udon Thani; (10) Chonburi; (11) Trat; (12) Rayong; (13) Krabi; (14) Phang Nga; (15) Phuket; (16) Ranong; and (17) Surat Thani

Please note that for some provinces, the curfew will only be lifted in specified low risk areas, not the entire province.

3. Requests for Vaccine Certificate through the Mor Prom application

The Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute has opened a new channel for requesting a vaccine certificate for international travel. From 18 October onwards, people who wish to apply for a vaccine certificate can register via the Mor Prom application.

After registering, users can select their preferred delivery channel, which includes self-pickup, postal delivery, or e-mail for a digital copy of the certificate. Payment can be made upon self-pickup, or by e-payment via QR code.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) also announced that, as of 6 October 2021, 31,340 people walked in to request a vaccine certificate. Thus, an online platform for requesting vaccine certificates aims to reduce congestion and facilitate the application process. For more information, please contact the DDC hotline at 1442.

Vaccination report October 22nd



🔴 TAT Newsroom has just posted an official press release about the re-opening of the country. Lots of good details here. Follow them on TATNews.org for updates. ♦️ Quarantine-Free Thailand Reopening for Vaccinated Tourists From 1 November 2021 https://www.tatnews.org/2021/10/quarantine-free-thailand-reopening-for-vaccinated-tourists-from-1-november-2021 #Thailand. Richard Barrow



Nov 1st: Quarantine free countries named - one night must be in SHA+ or AQ hotel - curfew lifted, bars stay shut. But bars and pubs and other entertainment like karaoke remain shut for now. This includes the euphemism "sathan borikan" - essentially places of prostitution. ASEAN NOW

Picture: Sanook

 

Thai media was having a field day reporting on Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha's lifting of quarantine to 46 low risk countries.

 

But one day of a SHA+ or AQ hotel must be booked while travellers wait for confirmation of their Covid test in Thailand according to a Sanook infographic.

 

Graphic: Sanook

 

This stated that at least one night's hotel accommodation MUST be booked or until a negative test result comes in.

 

Travellers must be double vaxxed at least 14 days prior to travel and have the RT-PCR Covid tests before and after they arrive. Hence the need for the hotel stay. 

 

Minimum medical insurance of US $50,000 is required.

 

Daily News listed 17 provinces including Bangkok that will have curfew lifted from the end of this month; 11 pm on October 31st to be precise.

 

But bars and pubs and other entertainment like karaoke remain shut for now. This includes the euphemism "sathan borikan" - essentially places of prostitution.

 

Sanook listed the 46 countries for the reopening in full.

 

Here is the list:

 

Europe:

 

Greece

Cyprus

Denmark

Norway

The Netherlands

Bulgaria

Belgium

Portugal

Poland

France

Finland

Malta

Germany

Latvia

Lithuania

Switzerland

Sweden

The UK

Czech Republic

Spain

Slovenia

Austria

Italy

Estonia

Iceland

Ireland and

Hungary

 

The Americas

 

Canada

Chile and 

The United States

 

Middle East

 

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Bahrain

The UAE and

Israel

 

Asia Pacific

 

Cambodia

South Korea

China

Japan

New Zealand

Brunei

Bhutan

Malaysia

Singapore

Australia and 

Hong Kong

 

Curfew is lifted in the following provinces as well as the Thai capital Bangkok:

 

Krabi

 

Chonburi (limited to Banglamung, Muang Pattaya, Sriracha, Koh Si Chang, and Sattahip (only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray))

 

Chiang Mai (limited to Muang district, Doi Tao, Mare Rim and Mae Teng)

 

Trat (Koh Chang only)

 

Buriram (Buriram district only)

 

Prachuap Khirikhan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae sub-districts)

 

Phangnga

 

Phetchaburi (Cha-Am municipal area only)

 

Phuket

 

Ranong (Koh Phayam only)

 

Rayong (Koh Samed only)

 

Loei (Chiang Khan only)

 

Samut Prakan (only area of Suvarnabhumi Airport)

 

Surat Thani (Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan only)

 

Nong Khai (Muang district, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai and Tha Bo only)

 

and 

 

Udon Thani (Muang district Ban Dung, Kumphawapee, Na Yung, Nong Han and Prajak Silapakhom only)

 

Restrictions remain in place for gatherings of 500 up. 

 

Discover Cigna's range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

 



🔴 What happens when Thais or expats go abroad for a short holiday and then return to Thailand? Here are your answers. (Expats, don’t forget you also need to take out medical insurance with minimum coverage of $50,000). Richard Barrow



THAI NEWSROOM - Curfew ended in 17 province from 11 p.m. Oct. 31 October 22, 2021 TNR Staff. The 17 provinces and districts and sub-districts where curfew ends thenceforth are as follows:

Curfew ended in 17 province from 11 p.m. Oct. 31

October 22, 2021 TNR Staff

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha's Operations Centre Facebook page this morning (Oct. 22) posted the publication in the Royal Gazette of regulation number 36 issued under Article 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) ending curfew in 17 provinces from 11 p.m. October 31 onwards, Siam Rath newspaper said.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive committee had last Thursday Oct. 14  reduced curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. from Oct. 16 onwards

The 17 provinces and districts and sub-districts where curfew ends thenceforth are as follows:

1) Bangkok; 

2) Krabi;

3) Chonburi (only Pattaya City. Bang Lamung, Si Racha, Koh Sichang and Sattahip districts and Na Chom Thian and Bang Saray sub-districts);

4) Chiang Mai (only Mueang Chiang Mai, Doi Tao, Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts);

5) Trat (Only Koh Chang);

6) Buriram Province (only Mueang Buriram district);

7) Prachuap Khiri Khan (Only Hua Hin and Nong Kae sub-districts);

8) Phang Nga;

9) Phetchaburi (only Cha-am municipality);

10) Phuket;

11) Ranong (only Koh Phayam);

12) Rayong (only Koh Samet);

13) Loei (only Chiang Khan district);

14) Samut Prakan (only in the area of ​​Suvarnabhumi International Airport);

15) Surat Thani Province (only Koh Samui, Ko Pha Ngan  and Koh Tao);

16) Nong Khai (only Mueang Nong Khai, Sang Khom, Si Chiang Mai and Tha Bo districts);

17) Udon Thani (only Mueang Udon Thani, Ban Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yung, Nong Han and Prachaksinlapakhom districts). 

THE NATION -TAT offers guidelines for people wanting to visit Thailand. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said though people from low-risk countries do not have to undergo the 14-day quarantine, they are required to:…

TAT offers guidelines for people wanting to visit Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier this week issued guidelines for people heading to Thailand from low-risk countries once it partially reopens on November 1.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said though people from low-risk countries do not have to undergo the 14-day quarantine, they are required to:

• Stay in Thailand for at least 21 days.

• Provide proof of having received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine that has been approved by either the World Health Organisation (WHO) or Thailand's Public Health Ministry.

• Provide a negative Covid-19 result taken no more than 72 hours ago. If they test positive, they must provide evidence proving they had contracted the virus over the past three months and provide proof of US$50,000 insurance coverage.

• Provide evidence of reservation in a SHA-plus hotel on the first night.

• Download the MorChana application as soon as they land in Thailand.

The authorities have also released guidelines for travellers from other countries as well as those who have not been fully vaccinated.

Yuthasak said travellers from countries outside the low-risk list can stay in any of the "blue zone" areas for seven days before they can travel to other parts of Thailand.

As for those who have not been fully vaccinated, Yuthasak said those arriving by air will be quarantined for 10 days and those arriving by land for 14 days.

The blue zone comprises areas that are considered safe based on the number of local residents vaccinated and the number of Covid-19 patients currently in hospital.  

🔴 Two important updates after I was watching Channel 3 news. Richard Barrow

 🔴 Two important updates after I was watching Channel 3 news:

1️⃣ For vaccinated people arriving from the 46 countries on the list, you must book a SHA+ hotel for the first night within a two hour drive from the international airport. For example, if you land at Suvarnbhumi, you can go straight to Pattaya, but for Hua Hin, you must stay in Bangkok first for one night.

2️⃣ According to Channel 3 news, there's an exception to the vaccination rule for people coming from 46 countries. Children under the age of 18 who are not eligible for vaccination, and are travelling with parents, only need to do a RT-PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure.
Richard Barrow