Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

By · Saturday, February 19, 2022 09:20

Despite rising Omicron infections, Thailand is forced to reconsider current restrictions

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Saturday, February 19, 2022 09:20

Another CCSA meeting this week as Thailand's Covid overlords determine the next stage of the two-year long strategy to cope with the pandemic. Will they allow bars and nightlife to re-open? Will they reduce the testing requirements for overseas arrivals? Will they get rid of the current 5th day test and stay in an SHA+ hotel?

At least in this week's lead up there is a bit more "chatter" from some of the leading voices in Thai government and health circles.

This week the public health minister and deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul met with Malaysia's AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, who, echoing the mantra from all sides of the regional tourism industry, suggested removal of the second test requirement (under the Test & Go program travellers have to undergo a pre-paid PCR test in a pre-paid SHA+ registered hotel on Day 1 and Day 5 of their arrival).

Anutin responded by referring the 'idea' to the Department of Disease Control.

Mr. Fernandez claims that many tourists, specifically from Malaysia and Singapore, "are interested in coming to Thailand, but are discouraged by the onerous procedures involved".

Results from a survey of 4,700 Thaiger viewers yesterday…

Despite rising Omicron infections, Thailand is forced to reconsider current restrictions | News by Thaiger

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For his part, Anutin reportedly admitted that "they (the arrival procedures) cause inconvenience for foreign travellers… there should be a balance between reviving the economy and the safety of the people".

Thailand is now facing a critical decision-making period for its battered tourism industry, with regional competition swiftly reopening the tourist gates – specifically Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia (but maybe delayed), Cambodia and Indonesia.

Singapore is easing Covid travel testing rules and launching new vaccinated travel lanes with the Philippines and Israel. The city-state is also starting VTLs next week with Qatar and the UAE and Saudi Arabia. A few weeks later the VTLs will kick off with the Philippines and Israel.

The Vietnamese government will fully reopen tourism to foreign travellers from March 15.

Under the current regulations, Vietnam will waive visa requirements for citizens of 13 countries… Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. In addition, Vietnam and 88 other countries and territories have reached agreement on visa exemption.

Incoming tourists will be required to be fully vaccinated or certifications showing their recovery from Covid-19, a negative RAT result certificate within 24 hours (or 72 hours from a PCR test before departure). A one day quarantine requirement will remain effective.

Cambodia and Philippines are already 'open' with minimal requirements. Malaysia spoke about opening up at the start of March but appears to be delaying that date.

So will Thailand miss out on some of the pent up international demand for travel into South East Asian destinations?

The Thai government has shown over the past 2 years to be very risk-averse when it comes to Covid 19. The statistics would support the country's tentative approach to any reopening and easing of restrictions, but now the pandemic has moved into a new phase where the latest Omicron variants, though aggressively transmissible, are also a lot less severe, or dangerous. Thailand's fast-rising vaccination numbers are also helping keep hospitalisations and death numbers low in the latest 'wave'.

That Thailand finds itself in the middle of rising numbers of Omicron infections, whilst also being forced to consider the re-opening of borders (with fewer restrictions) of its regional neighbours, will make this week's considerations of the CSSA very difficult.

Arrivals and new applications for the Thailand Pass continue to fall below predicted numbers, another situation that will be weighing on the minds of the CCSA this week. Yesterday tourism operators sent an open letter to the Thai PM demanding that all restrictions be lifted by the start of March. That's not going to happen – certainly not ALL restrictions. But with Songkran looming (the week around April 13), the pressure is on for some swift reduction in the current regime of paperwork, restrictions and curfews.

The government has also been forced to admit the shortcomings of its Thailand Pass system this week with many applicants questioning its security after receiving spam emails and hacked information.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Disease Control Director-General Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong says that the Thai medical system is still able to accommodate symptomatic Covid patients, "whether it is the availability of hospital beds or medications". He noted the swift rise of new infections but also said that "the numbers of new fatalities and severe cases have decreased".

Today Thai health authorities announced 18,885 confirmed new infections and 13,588 "probable cases" (from Rapid Antigen Tests). 29 people have died of Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, 749 remain in ICU and 184 are being artificially respirated.

The next formal meetings of the CCSA will be held this Thursday and Friday.

Vaccine side effects very rare, says DDC

BANGKOK: Few side effects have been reported among the 120 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director of the Emergency Health Hazard and Disease Control Division under the DDC, confirmed the number and distribution of reported adverse reactions as of Feb 13, reports the Bangkok Post.

The 120mn doses so far comprise: 26.4mn Sinovac, 46.8mn AstraZeneca, 14.7mn Sinopharm, 27.6mn Pfizer and 4.3mn Moderna doses, Dr Chawetsan said.

He said that 79 people were found to have developed allergic reactions to their vaccines. These comprise 43 affected by Sinovac, 22 by AstraZeneca, three by Sinopharm and 11 by Pfizer.

Dr Chawetsan said 31 people have reportedly suffered from pericarditis after receiving jabs with 29 being attributed to Pfizer and one each to AstraZeneca and Sinopharm. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia occurred in six people, five of whom were injected with AstraZeneca and one with the Pfizer vaccine.

The government has received 2,081 complaints of people dying as a result of side effects from COVID vaccines. But only four have been confirmed: two from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, one due to severe shock, and another attributed to Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Some 177 deaths reportedly stemmed from severe symptoms such as heart disease, intracerebral haemorrhage and thrombosis, while 938 deaths were attributed to an infected nervous system, pneumonitis, and other factors. However the underlying causes could not be confirmed.

Tourism Ministry plans to propose scrapping 2nd RT-PCR test

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

The second RT-PCR test required by the Test & Go scheme should be scrapped by March if the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) agrees with the proposal, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will propose a relaxation of entry requirements by replacing the second RT-PCR test with an antigen test kit, making the request at the next CCSA meeting on Feb 23.

If the proposal is approved, the new rule will be applied from next month, he said.

"The plan to eliminate all RT-PCR testing upon arrival will be made once the country officially declares Covid-19 an endemic disease," Mr Phiphat said.

In related news, he said the country has to seek more potential targets to support the industry during the off-peak season.

The ministry wants to reinvigorate tourism demand in Saudi Arabia following Ramadan in May, aiming to attract at least 200,000 tourists from the country this year.

Mr Phiphat said the renewal of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia sparked new opportunities for two-way tourism, particularly during the low season.

Thai Umrah pilgrims who travel to Mecca throughout the year are a key market for Saudi Arabia, in addition to those taking part in the annual Hajj gathering.

He said the ministry already submitted draft memorandums of understanding to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism to be signed during the official visit of Thailand's state authorities and the private sector to Saudi Arabia at the end of March.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" focuses on long-term partnership, with the TAT aiming to develop tourism cooperation to promote culture and sustainability.

The TAT hopes to welcome 200,000 Saudis to the country this year, generating 20 billion baht in tourism revenue based on average spending of 100,000 baht per person.

He said the tourism promotion should start in March to stimulate demand from those who usually travel before and after Ramadan, which takes place in April.

Some airlines are planning Thailand-Saudi Arabia routes in May, such as flag carrier Thai Airways and Saudia, which plan to sign memorandums of cooperation with the TAT.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, deputy governor of TAT for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said potential targets are millennials who may not be familiar with Thailand. This group is huge and has a high level of purchasing power, he said.

The TAT plans to host online webinars and familiarisation trips as well as attend business-to-business events such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 from May 9-12 in Dubai and the Post-ATM Roadshow in Riyadh and Jeddah to update tourism products for this market, said Mr Chattan.

Picture: INN

A battling health minister and DPM Anutin Charnvirakul came out all guns blazing yesterday when faced with a grilling by opposition MPs on the government's handling of the pandemic.

INN quoted Anutin as saying that Thailand's response was as good as any country in the world.

Everything that he and his excellent health services have done was for the benefit of the Thai people and others living in the country.

He said that the vaccine program exemplified this and in response to questions about how long it will continue he pledged that the program will continue until Thailand is as safe as it can get.

He reiterated that Thailand was being cautious in what age children received the vaccine; this was an example of the responsibility and standards shown by Thailand, he claimed.

The comments come as his leader - PM Prayuth Chan-ocha - boasted of Thailand's economic prowess insisting that Thailand is better able to handle inflation and the rising cost of living than other countries.

During Friday's general debate in the House opposition MPs blasted the government on several issues with the pandemic and the economy front and central.

Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J. - Palmtree

lördag 19 februari 2022

Vaccine side effects very rare, says DDC. Of the 120 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, 79 people were found to have developed allergic reactions and four deaths have been directly attributed... Phuket News

Tourism Ministry plans to propose scrapping 2nd RT-PCR test. The second RT-PCR test required by the Test & Go scheme should be scrapped by March if the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) agrees with the proposal, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Bangkok Post

Anutin: Thailand's handling of the pandemic "best in the world". ASEAN NOW

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