fredag 28 januari 2022

This is a special dispatch with the latest news about the Consular Department’s relaunch of Test & Go on Tuesday 1st February at 9:00 a.m. and the new Immigration rules for the special 60-day Covid extension that started on 26th January. Richard Barrow

 
Richard Barrow's Letters from Thailand
Richard Barrow's Letters from Thailand
@richardbarrow
This is a special dispatch with the latest news about the Consular Department's relaunch of Test & Go on Tuesday 1st February at 9:00 a.m. and the new Immigration rules for the special 60-day Covid extension that started on 26th January.

Relaunch of Test & Go on 1st February
It has been a long time coming, but the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that they will relaunch the Test & Go scheme with a few amendments. The main one being that the list of so-called "safe countries" has been dropped and the scheme is now open to everyone. However, you must be fully vaccinated. If you are not, then the quarantine hotel option is still available. 
Some people asked me why the Sandbox scheme is still running if Test & Go is open to people coming from all countries. The short answer to that is that it will be used as the back-up plan in case of a major outbreak and Test & Go is suspended again. Yes, you heard right. If you are willing to travel during a global pandemic, then you will need to accept the conditions that some things are subject to unexpected and sudden change.
A couple of days ago, the Consular Department released the above infographic in English and Thai with the following information. As it is too small for you to read, here are the links to download the files:
REQUIREMENTS:
  • Eligible countries/ territories
  • Vaccination
  • Insurance with minimum coverage of 50,000 USD for medical expenses
  • Fully paid SHA Extra+ / AQ hotel reservation confirmation for day 1 and day 5
  1.  Register on Thailand Pass via https://tp.consular.go.th (you are advised to register at least 7 days before your departure date)
  2. Get a COVID-19 test
  3. Do 1st RT-PCR test - Day of arrival (day 1)
  4. Do 2nd RT-PCR test - 5th Day of arrival (day 5)
 Thailand Pass FAQs: https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/thailand-pass-faqs-2
MEDIA BRIEFING
MEDIA BRIEFING BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently had a press briefing about the relaunch of the Test & Go scheme and the additional Sandbox areas. The following are the notes from that briefing:
  • From the outcomes of the CCSA General Meeting on 20 January 2022, there are important updates regarding measures for entering the country.
  • Registration for Test and Go will resume on 1 February 2022. Some adjustment in details have been made as follows;
  • Travellers from all countries/areas will be eligible to apply for this scheme.
  • Two RT-PCR tests will be required. One on the first day of arrival and the second on Day 5 of arrival.
  • Travellers must prepare documents for entering the countries such as proof of hotel (SHA Extra Plus/AQ/OQ/AHQ) booking with a confirmed payment for Day 1 and Day 5 including a pre-payment of 2 RT-PCR tests.
  • Hotel that travellers choose for your first and second test do not have to be the same hotel or even in the same province, as long as they are SHA Extra Plus/AQ/OQ/AHQ approved.
  • In case that travellers have duration of stay in Thailand less than 5 days, they can show the outbound air ticket instead of hotel booking and the confirmation of 2nd RT-PCR test.
  • From 1 February, the sandbox areas will be expanded to include areas in Chonburi province (only for specific districts and areas including Pattaya City) and Trat province (Koh Chang Island). Travellers who wish to visit these areas through the sandbox scheme will be able to register in the Thailand Pass system.
  • Travellers will now also be able to travel between Phuket, Krabi, Pang Nga, Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Pa Ngan, Koh Tao) within the 7 days. The hotel booking confirmation including a pre-payment of two RT-PCR tests will be required. Travellers can make no more than 3 hotel transfers during the 7 days.
  • Thai authorities continue to monitor and assess the situation closely. If the Covid-19 situation becomes more severe, the measures will be constantly adjusted. The Ministry will keep you updated.
WARNING OF FAKE EMAILS
WARNING OF FAKE EMAILS PRETENDING TO BE FROM THAILAND PASS
WARNING OF FAKE EMAILS PRETENDING TO BE FROM THAILAND PASS
Today, I sent out an urgent warning about emails that were being sent out pretending to be from Thailand Pass. It is not known yet whether their mail server was hacked, or they got hold of email addresses from another source. But the emails said that there was a problem with the recipient's application and that they needed to download a document. I immediately informed the Consular Department. Their IT team quickly checked their system and then they put out this urgent message on the Thailand Pass website:
"Applicants on Thailand Pass who received the following email, DO NOT scan the QR Code or follow the instructions described. The email does not come from Thailand Pass, and could compromise the security and privacy of your personal information."
They told me that email addresses may have been collected when people entered their personal information on a website that is pretending to be official. They also added that they have received complaints from some people who had paid a lot of money to get the Thailand Pass and they wanted their money back. If you apply for the pass at the official website, there is no fee. The Thailand Pass is 100% free. There is nothing wrong with paying an agent to help you, but please understand that it is possible to do it yourself for free.
While I am at it, the website www.thaiembassy.com is not the official website of the Consular Department. Like the previous example, they are just trying to make money from you. I have had so many people say to me that they thought these websites were official sites. The same goes for the SHA+ hotel sites. Many are just trying to make money from you. Sometimes, even government agencies have linked to these fake sites as they are so convincing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
As you can imagine, I get many questions every day. Sometimes, too many to answer as I have a day job and sometimes I am busy in the evenings. So, I put together this FAQ that you might find useful.
Q: What is the difference between Test & Go and Sandbox?
A: With Test & Go, you're free to go anywhere you like in Thailand once you have passed your 1st test. But you have to stay in a SHA++ hotel with a partner hospital on Day 5 while you wait for results of the 2nd test.
Q: What is the point of the Sandbox when Test & Go will now be open to people from all countries?
A: You must understand that the global pandemic is ongoing, and things can change. If there is a major outbreak, they could suspend Test & Go again and Sandbox will be the backup plan.
Q: I have already applied for a Thailand Pass for the Sandbox. Can I switch to Test & Go?
A: Yes, but you have to apply for a new Thailand Pass when registration re-opens on 1st February. Although some people got the QR Code straight away, it can take up to 7 days.
Q: I have a home in Thailand, do I really need to book a SHA++ hotel for the 2nd test?
A: Yes, there are no exceptions to this. The 2nd hotel can be anywhere, but it must have a partner hospital and you must wait in the room for the results like you did for the first test.
Q: I applied for Test & Go before the 22 December deadline and I have a Thailand Pass. Do I need to book a SHA++ hotel for the 2nd test?
A: You are an exception as you can do at a government designated facility for free. So far, they are not saying you must book a hotel.
Q: I will only be staying in Thailand for a few days. If I come in using Test & Go, must I stay until I do the 2nd test?
A: The RT-PCR tests are on Day 0-1 and Day 5-6. If you have a pre-booked return flight before Day 5, then you don't need to do, or even pay for, the 2nd test.
Q: Why do we have to book SHA++/AQ/OQ/AHQ accommodation for the 2nd test?
A: There have been many cases of travellers not waiting for their test results. It will be more efficient and quicker if people stayed in hotels that have a partner hospital that does the test.
TAT NEWSROOM
In addition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, another good source of information is TAT Newsroom which is the official news channel for the Tourism Authority of Thailand. 
OTHER RESOURCES:
For breaking news about what is happening in Thailand, Twitter is the best source as the short snippets are sent to you as and when they are posted. With Facebook, they don't always show you all the posts of a page you follow and sometimes they show you old news. Twitter shows the news in the correct order. You can follow me on these two accounts for free:
News about 60-Day Covid Extension of Stay
The other big news for this month is that the deadline to apply for the covid extension has been extended to 25th March. Which at first seemed to be good news for people who are stuck here in Thailand due to the Covid pandemic. However, reading the small print, it transpired that this time there were some important exceptions. 
So far, there has been no official announcement by the Immigration Bureau on their website or Facebook. Certainly not in English. The following are my own notes from reading the leaked internal letter and my conversation with senior Immigration officers. This is what I then posted on Twitter and Facebook.
The Immigration Bureau has approved an extension of time for visa extensions for COVID-19 reasons until 25th March 2022, under the following conditions:
Persons entering the Kingdom with VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA) cannot extend their visa for this reason
Persons entering the Kingdom with a TOURIST VISA can extend a tourist visa for an additional 30 days and then they can submit a reason to stay for COVID-19.
Persons entering the Kingdom temporarily with a NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, cannot be extended for reason of COVID-19
In the case of tourists already in the country. At the end of the 60-day period for permission to stay in the Kingdom, this time they must leave the country. Or if there is a necessity to stay, there are able to submit an application to stay in accordance with the laws, regulations, and rules set forth.
It is still early days, but people on VOA and all Non Immigrant visas are already reporting that they have been refused a covid extension and have been told to leave the country within 7 days. There may be some exceptions allowed, but I am told by Immigration that it's up to the discretion of the officer. 
It would seem that Immigration officers are only giving the 60-day covid extensions to tourists. For example, those who have a Tourist Visa or who came in on a free visa exemption. In both cases you must extend for 30 days before applying for the covid stamp. But no guarantees. You have to give a good reason. For example, if you cannot fly home. Again, this is up to the discretion of the Immigration officer. So, my advice is to have a Plan B.
A Final Note
Whenever possible, I try to get my information from the source. This means either press briefings in the Thai language which I translate or from my sources inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Bureau, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. I then send this out on my social media accounts. I have no paid affiliation or personal agenda. I don't gain anything if tourists come back to Thailand or not. 
I am not always correct, but I always try to do my best to help people to the extent of my ability. I am not your regular blogger or influencer. (A word, by the way I hate.) I am not motivated by fame or fortune. I refuse to do interviews and none of my websites have advertising or sponsored posts. My late parents were life-long volunteers who helped others. All I am doing is following in their footsteps. But I have a day job, and I like travelling in my free time, and so please forgive me when I am unable to answer personal inquiries. Thanks for your understanding.

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Fine Print of ‘Test & Go 2’ Released; Vaccination Conditons Updated. Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said the updated regulations for entering Thailand were adjusted in accordance with the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s Jan. 20 order. Bangkok Herald

Fine Print of 'Test & Go 2' Released; Vaccination Conditons Updated

Thailand Pass Test & Go

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday announced details for the revised "Test & Go" tourist-entry scheme that resumes Feb. 1.

Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said the updated regulations for entering Thailand were adjusted in accordance with the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration's Jan. 20 order.

Registration for the "Test & Go" using the buggy Thailand Pass website will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday with the following changes:

  • There are no registration limitations for any country or region.
  • The conditions for vaccination were updated. Tanee did not specify what changed.
  • Applicants with Thai citizenship do not have to buy insurance.
  • Travelers must provide proof of booking and payment for two nights of "SHA Extra Plus" certified or alternative quarantine hotels or accommodation on days 1 and 5. A return flight ticket must be provided if the period of the visit is less than five days.

Tanee said that Test & Go will be used as Thailand's main program for entry from Feb. 1 onwards. However, the CCSA can suspend the program and revert back to only "sandbox" and quarantine schemes depending on the severity of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the CCSA approved the opening of two new "sandbox" areas in Chonburi Province (Pattaya City and Banglamung and Sriracha districts, Koh Sichang, Na Chom Thian, and Bang Saray subdistricts in Sattahip District) and Ko Chang in Trat Province on Feb. 1.

Travelers will be allowed to move between the new and original sandbox locations within seven days of their sandbox stay, but they must book a seven-day SHA Extra Plus or AQ hotel with a two-time RT-PCR examination (on day 1 and day 5-6), with a limit of three hotels in the sandbox area.


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Chonburi announces 446 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and one new death - The Pattaya News

Chonburi announces 446 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and one new death

Highlights:

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

  • 553 people recovered and were released from medical care

  • One new death

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 446 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with one new death, January 28th, 2022.

This makes a total of 16,063 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 3,997 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 20 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections at the beginning of this year, January 2022.

Additionally, 553 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 12,046 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began at the beginning of this year, January 2022.

The one new death was the age of 80 with personal health problems and pre-existing conditions. The person received a double dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

In total, 1,944,327 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 83.48 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 301,373 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 81.47 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 71, Si Racha 124, Banglamung (Pattaya) 151, Panat Nikhom 5, Sattahip 25, Ban Bueng 9, Phan Thong 15, ฺBor Thong 1, Ko Chan 4, Nong Yai 1, and 40 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, 36 cases
  2. Cluster, Ito Thailand company in Banglamung, 24 cases
  3. Cluster, Daiso Aerosol company in Mueang Chonburi, 10 cases
  4. Cluster, Sungchul Hitech company in Si Racha, 3 cases
  5. Risky occupations meeting many people, 15 cases
  6. 11 medical personnel
  7. 7 back from other provinces from Bangkok (3), Trat (1), Loei (1), Surin (1), and Nong Khai (1)
  8. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 97 cases, in workplaces –71 cases, close personal contacts – 38 cases, and joined a party – 1 case
  9. Close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 13 cases
  10. 117 cases close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation)




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Govt readies to treat Covid as 'endemic'. The Ministry of Public Health is preparing to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease in Thailand by THE END OF THE YEAR. Bangkok Post


Govt readies to treat Covid as 'endemic'

The Ministry of Public Health is preparing to declare Covid-19 an endemic disease in Thailand by the end of the year, saying the country is capable of bringing the coronavirus pandemic under control, given the high vaccination rate.

The ministry's permanent secretary, Kiatiphum Wongrajit, said the national committee on communicable diseases has agreed in principle to start treating Covid-19 as an endemic disease.

Dr Kiatiphum said Covid-19 will be reach this status when the fatality rate reaches 1:1000, at least 80% of the population has received at least two vaccine shots, and effective treatment has become readily accessible.

Furthermore, he said, daily infections must consistently stay below 10,000 cases, and the hospitalisation rate should also be lower than 10%.

"In principle, [we acknowledge] the disease could still spread, but it won't be severe," Dr Kiatiphum said. "Most importantly, people must have adequate protection against Covid, both through vaccinations and effective treatments."

He said all other agencies will adjust their criteria to reflect those of the ministry -- the details of which will be announced before the end of the year.

When asked if such a move was premature, considering the World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to downgrade the threat posed by Covid-19, Dr Kiatiphum cautioned that it could be a mistake to wait for the WHO, and that the move concerns domestic matters.

"It might be too late if we wait for the WHO," he said.

According to the ministry's figures, of the 75% of the population who have received at least one Covid jab, 69.5% have received their second dose, while 19% have had three doses.

Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Emerging Diseases Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University, disagreed with the plan, saying it is still too early for such a move.

"I see no reason to rush into labelling the disease as an endemic, except that the government is now facing difficulties in subsidising treatment and relief for those affected by Covid," he said, adding that once Covid is declared an endemic, the government won't have to pay treatment costs.

"In the endemic phase, people should be able to go about their lives without masks and antigen testing."                               




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🔴 #COVID19 update on Friday: ⬆️ 8,450 new cases ⬆️ 28 deaths ⬆️ 83,698 in care. Richard Barrow


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