The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Anything and everything about Thailand
Post Reply
User avatar
2lz2p
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 8:08 am
Location: Pattaya, Thailand (Jomtien)
Has thanked: 148 times
Been thanked: 108 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by 2lz2p »

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/12/03/p ... staurants/

Pattaya and other Chonburi ‘Blue Zones’ officially allowed to sell alcohol in restaurants


Chonburi the Blue Zone:
Chonburi, Thailand
The Chonburi Governor has released new orders through their Public Relations Facebook page this evening allowing (November 3rd) alcohol sales and drinks which are now allowed in the Chonburi ‘Blue Zone’ areas including Pattaya and Banglamung.

Chonburi ‘Blue Zones’ are Banglamung, Pattaya including Koh Larn, Si Racha, Koh Sichang, and for Sattahip only in Najomtien and the Bang Saray sub-district.

Only restaurants in the blue zone and with SHA certificates are allowed alcohol sales and drinks inside. Alcohol sales are allowed from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. and from 5:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. These restaurants must clearly show their certificates.

Nightclubs, pubs, bars, karaoke, soapies remain closed.

The order is effective NOW until further notice.

The order had been in place previously for almost eight months but rising pressure from many business owners and sectors helped lift the unpopular ban.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

I'm sorry to say the Omicron variant has made it to Thailand. Maybe it was contained quickly enough, but one way or another I believe it is inevitable.
___________________________________________________

First case of Omicron variant officially reported in Thailand, but had limited movement, Public Health Ministry says

By Nop Meechukhun

6 December, 2021

The first known case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant infection was reportedly found in a U.S. national from Spain who traveled to Thailand last week under the Test & Go scheme, the Ministry of Public Health reported this morning, December 6th.

However, the person reportedly infected, who is asymptomatic, was immediately detected with the virus at their first Covid-19 test upon entry to the country and did not openly freely travel.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Supakit Sirilak revealed at a morning press conference that the infected traveler went through the first Covid-19 test on November 30th and the result showed positive with Covid-19 on the following day and the compatibility of the Omicron variant was reported up to 99.92%.

The official disease investigation revealed that the American traveler had proved negative results via PCR test in Spain before having dinner with friends on November 28th. He then flew from Spain to Dubai International Airport on the 29th and spent 9 hours there without contacting anyone and wearing a facial mask at all times.

He arrived at Suvannabhumi International Airport around midnight on November 30th and went through the first PCR test at the hospital counter before staying at the hotel.

The result was proved positive on December 1st and was confirmed with a high indication of Omicron variant on the 3rd by the Department of Medical Sciences.

According to the Department of Disease Control, the patient was asymptomatic and claimed not to have any medical condition. The patient has also reportedly disputed the fact they have been infected with the Covid-19 Coronavirus, as they are not symptomatic.

About 19 contacts were reported, including 17 hotel staff and 2 airport officers. No close contacts were reported. All of them were placed under strict quarantine.

TPN media notes that the specifics of Omicron are still under investigation although it has concerned epidemiologists primarily due to the number of mutations the virus has. Scientists around the world continue to study the disease to determine the risk of the virus in terms of transmissibility, seriousness, and potential to not be affected by vaccines.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/12/06/f ... stry-says/
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

3 Omicron cases confirmed, 1 more suspected

9 December, 2021

Three Omicron cases have been confirmed and a potential new one detected, according to the Department of Medical Sciences.

Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the department, said on Thursday that the first confirmed case was an American man, 35, who arrived from Spain. The two others were Thai women who returned from Lagos, Nigeria.

He said whole genome sequencing confirmed the Omicron infection in the two Thai women aged 36 and 46.

On Monday afternoon health officials found a new potential Omicron case in a Thai man, 41, who worked for the United Nations and had just returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the director-general said.

The man had received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and returned to the country through the Test & Go scheme.

An initial test found he was a potential Omicron case and officials were conducting whole genome sequencing with results expected in a few days, Dr Supakit said.

The new potential case was quarantined at a hospital and people who had come into close contact with him were being sought, he said.

"All the cases came from other countries. There has not been a locally transmitted case of Omicron," Dr Supakit said.

He also said that antigen test kits could be used to detect the Omicron infection, but they should be used repeatedly because initially the infections could be too weak for antigen tests to detect.

Omicron infections would spread worldwide but for the time being only four of about 1,600 people being monitored in the country might have the variant, Dr Supakit said. Omicron had yet to cause any deaths worldwide, so people should not panic.

"Basic infection prevention measures and vaccination can cope with it," he said.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported Omicron infections have been found in 59 countries: locally transmitted infections in 20 countries and imported cases in a further 39.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -suspected
Jun

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Jun »

Omicron is yet to cause any KNOWN deaths worldwide. Also, it started in Africa, which has a ridiculously high birth rate and hence low average ages. So people are less likely to die.

I would have thought the Thai authorities might have relaxed restrictions on incoming people earlier, when everywhere had delta. Then increased restrictions from high risk Omicron countries, just whilst they confirm if it really is low severity.

Of course, it's going to get here anyway, so all restrictions do is buy some time for vaccination, or whatever the response is.

In the case of the UK, the travel restrictions were shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Those who had 2 doses of Astra Zeneca might want to think about a booster dose of Pfizer now. I think they were applying a 3 month interval for eligibility in Bangkok, with walk in appointments.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

They are telling people not to panic. I doubt many people would panic due to fear of catching the disease. I think they would be more likely to panic if they believe Thailand is going to shut down everything again.
______________________________________________________________

Fourth possible case of Covid-19 Omicron infection reported in Thailand

By Nop Meechukhun

10 December, 2021

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported the possible fourth case of Omicron infection yesterday afternoon, December 9th.

Dr. Supakit Sirilak, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMS), revealed during the press conference that the new Omicron infection was a 41-year-old Thai UN personnel who was reportedly returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Thailand via the Test & Go scheme.

He was already fully vaccinated with two shots of AstraZeneca, according to the reports. The initial health examination detected the potential B.1.1529 of Omicron variant.

The person of concern is now isolated under close observation of the authorities while his samples would be further tested for the Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) detection for accuracy and confirmation.

Meanwhile, the Director-General also confirmed that two women who had traveled to Nigeria and were infected with the Covid-19 Coronavirus yesterday were also confirmed with Omicron variant, marking three confirmed cases of the new variant in Thailand so far.

All four cases, however, did not get past the initial Covid-19 entry test and Dr. Supakit has stressed that scientists are still studying Omicron and its mutations and peer-reviewed, final data on if it was more serious, could lead to more hospitalizations, or potentially evade vaccines were still not confirmed and would likely take several more weeks. Dr. Supakit advised citizens and residents of Thailand to continue regular precautions like social distancing and hand-washing, get vaccinated, and not panic.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/12/10/f ... -thailand/
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

Folks, I'm sorry to say that due to the Omicron variant, it looks like quarantining, rather than the current "Test & Go" for international arrivals in Thailand, is going to come back. If it does, I hope that doesn't adversely affect tourism or any of your own plans just when things were really beginning to be looking up. The fact is that tourists don't seem to mind the "Test & Go" very much, but if it's back to a 14 day quarantine, you can say goodbye to large tourist influx numbers.

We'll just have to wait and see what happens and whether Thailand will start imposing other restrictions again.
________________________________________________

Test & Go entry may be suspended on Omicron concerns

20 December, 2021

The Public Health Ministry will recommend the suspension of the "Test and Go" convenient entry programme for fully vaccinated air travellers because of the escalating Omicron variant situation worldwide.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday that he would put the proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Test and Go currently applies to fully vaccinated visitors from specific countries.

He said all arrivals should be through the Sandbox and State Quarantine schemes.

Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the ministry's Department of Medical Sciences, said one Omicron case who entered the country via Test and Go had tested negative for Covid-19 both before and upon arrival, but a few days later the visitor fell ill and tested positive for the new variant.

Therefore, Test and Go should be reviewed because the case had been within the window period of the infection, 6-7 days, he said.

"If Test and Go is not reviewed, then infected but undetected arrivals can right away travel farther inside the country and cause clusters of infections," Dr Supakit said.

Dr Supakit said that as of Sunday, Omicron cases were found in 89 countries and 39 states in the United States. Actually, it could be in more countries that were not capable of confirming the variant's presence.

"The infection rate will be expanding," he said.

He said Thailand had detected more than 80 Omicron cases to date. There were 11 cases from April to Dec 10, 52 cases from Dec 11 to 19, and more cases were reported on Monday morning.

"Most Omicron cases detected were arrivals at Suvarnabhumi airport and they formed a quarter of the Covid-19 cases found there. The case numbers increased quite quickly over the past week, which corresponded with the global situation," he said.

However, all Omicron cases were arrivals and there had not been a local infection of the new variant, he said.

According to Dr Supakit, there have been three sub-variants of Omicron but their infections remained limited.

The infections spread quickly, but there was insufficient information to determine if the new variant caused severe illness. Vaccines were less effective at containing the new variant, but booster shots could help protect recipients, he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... n-concerns
_______________________________________

First local transmission of Omicron confirmed

20 December, 2021

A 49-year-old-Thai woman is the first case of local infection with the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus, caught from her infected husband, a pilot who arrived from Nigeria, a senior health official said on Monday.

Sumanee Wacharasin, hazard communications director of the Department of Disease Control, said the woman's 62-year-old husband, from Colombia, had received two shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the second dose administered in Nigeria on July 1.

He arrived from Nigeria on Nov 26 and tested negative for Covid-19 upon arrival. He stayed at a hotel in Bangkok under the Sandbox entry scheme.

On Dec 1 he received a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine. On Dec 4-6 he stayed home with his wife, had a fever and sore throat and was tired. His antigen test returned negative on Dec 6.

When he did not recover, his wife took him to a hospital on Dec 7, where he tested positive for Covid-19 and the Omicron variant was then confirmed. He was admitted to the hospital and his wife returned home and began self-quarantine.

The wife's Omicron infection was confirmed on Dec 10 - the first local infection of the Omicron variant, Dr Sumanee said. There was only one high-risk person, the taxi driver who took them to the hospital on Dec 7.

The taxi driver tested negative, was quarantined and would be tested again on Dec 22.

Meanwhile, there were six other Omicron infections among 18 confirmed Covid-19 cases found in Muslim pilgrims returning from hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Dr Sumanee said they were among a group of 31 hajjis who returned last Wednesday. All the infected people were asymptomatic.

After arrival, the group stayed overnight at a hotel for RT-PCR tests, which found six Omicron cases and eight Delta variant cases.

Four other people in close contact with them tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and Monday, including two in Ayutthaya.

Another Omicron case was a Thai hajji who returned to Phuket via the Test & Go entry programme. The 36-year-old man had a headache and nasal congestion last Monday. He was admitted to hospital in Pattani.

Seven other Omicron cases were detected after their arrival at Phuket and Koh Samui airports. They were foreign tourists and Thais. Four of them arrived in Phuket on Dec 13 and three others on Koh Samui last Wednesday and Thursday.

The seven tested positive upon arrival and their Omicron infection was confirmed later, Dr Sumanee said.

There were now 63 confirmed Omicron cases and 20 more suspected.

Between Dec 11 and 19, Omicron cases formed 3.26% of Covid-19 infections nationwide but in Bangkok alone they accounted for 18.3% of all Covid infections, she said.

Dr Chakkarat Pitayawong-anant, director for epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control, said the first Omicron case in Thailand, an American businessman aged 35, had fully recovered and was already discharged from hospital. The man remained in the country for further observation of seven days.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -confirmed
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thai Public Health Ministry to propose “Test & Go” revocation, announces first local transmission of Omicron variant

By Nop Meechukhun

20 December, 2021

The Thai Ministry of Public Health is preparing to propose the reconsideration of the “Test & Go” tourist scheme and to reimpose quarantine for all travelers, following the rapid discovery of Omicron cases among arrivals in Thailand.

TPN media wants to make it perfectly clear that this is currently only a proposal to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration Administration. There is currently nothing final and no eta on when any decisions will be made.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated this morning, December 20th, via a televised broadcast that the Ministry of Health and its committee is considering reimplementation of the State Quarantine system for travelers, both Thais and foreigners, when entering the country. It is not clear if this proposal would be for a “room only” quarantine or would allow a “Sandbox” style in which a visitor could stay in one specific area for a period of time.

The Ministry of Public Health will also propose the cancellation of the “Test & Go” no-quarantine scheme to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) at an upcoming meeting due to the severe situation of Omicron infections around the world.

As of today, Thailand has found 63 Omicron cases and 20 of them are confirmed with full genetic analysis. Therefore, a possible reimposition of quarantine is to increase the potential of handling Omicron in the country, the minister stated.

The Public Health Ministry also announced the first local transmission of the Omicron variant in Thailand during the press conference today. The patient is a Thai woman married to a Colombian pilot who had returned from Nigeria on November 26th and arrived in Thailand via a sandbox program in Bangkok.

He was initially testing negative for the virus via RT-PCR upon arrival and throughout the sandbox program. He was already shot with two doses of AstraZeneca and had just received a booster shot of Pfizer on December 1st.

However, he reportedly became sick with suspicious symptoms after returning to his wife’s home in Pathum Thani on December 7th before being confirmed with positive results at a local hospital on December 10th.

His wife also tested positive for the Omicron variant and is the first known local transmission of the Omicron variant in Thailand, according to Jakrat Pittayawong-anon, the Director of the Communicable Disease of the Public Health Ministry.

The husband is now found with a lung infection but is not on a ventilator. His condition is improving. The wife has already received two doses of AstraZeneca and has no serious symptoms so far.

The spokeswoman for the CCSA stated at their daily press conference in the last hour that “changes to the entry program are certainly coming” in response to the proposal from the MOPH but that, again, there was no eta and no definitive information at this time. The announcement of the possible cancelation of Test and Go, which is the main program allowing tourists and visitors to enter without a strict quarantine, has driven anger and frustration on social media even as Thailand hits a daily record yesterday in arrivals under the program and travelers have increased ahead of the Christmas and New Year’s period.

https://tpnnational.com/2021/12/20/thai ... n-variant/
__________________________________________________________________________________

Thailand to consider reinstating quarantine for all foreign tourists after 63 Omicron cases found

By Bangkok Herald

December 20, 2021

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration this week will consider a proposal to reimpose mandatory quarantine for all arrivals due to the coronavirus omicron variant.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul – who does not have a vote on the CCSA – said on a television news program Monday morning that Thailand now has seen 63 cases of the omicron variant – 62 of which were found in quarantine. The other case is the wife of an airline pilot.

Another 20 cases are pending investigation, Anutin added.

Her coronavirus test results are being sequenced and, if found to be the omicron variant, the case would be the first of local transmission of the highly contagious variant in the kingdom.

As a result, Anutin said, the CCSA should cancel the “Test & Go” scheme it began Nov. 1 allowing tourists to spend only a single night in quarantine and reinstate full “sandbox” or alternative quarantine measures.

Under a sandbox scheme, tourists and returning Thais and expats would be confined to one city or district for a week and be forced to undergo at least two invasive and costly RT-PCR tests. Under an AQ scheme, arrivals would be confined to their hotels for 14 days.

Currently, under Test & Go, people must take a PCR test upon arrival and wait in their hotel until the test results come back. The system has worked as designed, so far, with omicron-infected arrivals – which include a good number of Thais who visited Africa – found upon arrival.

Airline crew are not subject to the Test & Go rules, which is how the pilot managed to infect his wife.

Anutin said he would make his proposal to the CCSA, which will consider it this week.

If approved, it will deal a crushing blow to Thailand’s tourism industry, which is only now coming back to life. Experience has shown that tourists are unwilling to go to places where mandatory quarantine is required.

It also is a first step toward reclosing the borders to tourists entirely. Should omicron catch fire in Thailand and spread as it has in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, and Denmark, Thailand’s overcautious former generals might simply choose to shut everything down again until omicron subsides.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he didn’t foresee imposing another national lockdown. But that could change should new daily omicron cases reach 50,000-100,000 a day.

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... und-383422
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

Thai government suspends “Thailand Pass” registration and cancels “Test & Go” scheme to prevent Omicron infections, effective today

By Nop Meechukhun

21 December, 2021

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has halted “Thailand Pass” registration and canceled the “Test & Go” no-quarantine tourism scheme for all international tourists, effective today.

About 90,000 registered arrivals who already declared their intention to visit the country can continue to arrive in the country but must go through additional health measures and an RT-PCR test at their expense as well as strictly follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Health to prevent the imported case of Omicron variant in Thailand.

New Year’s events and activities will not be ordered canceled but must abide by rules and restrictions of the Public Health, according to the order of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha.

The general committee of the CCSA will reportedly observe the situation of the Omicron spread closely and will reconsider the measures again on January 4th.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released. We will provide you with more details and official statements as soon as possible. Many details and specifics as to what happens for those arriving are still not clear and there have been mixed messages from different government ministers and spokespeople.

UPDATED as of 3:59 PM

Thai government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana clarified after the cabinet committee that the “Thailand Pass” system is initially closed for registration from December 21st, 2021, to January 4th, 2022. The remaining 90,000 tourists registered in the system can continue to visit Thailand but must test with a second RT-PCR test (when is unclear) and proceed with quarantine/health measures. (What these are exactly are also still unclear.).

He also stated that the government did not close the tourists’ arrivals in Thailand as the Phuket Sandbox is still operated normally. However, it is also not yet clear the status of sandboxes in other areas or if those can be used.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/12/21/t ... ive-today/
___________________________________________

PM: No new Test & Go, limited Sandbox approvals

21 December, 2021

The government has stopped approving new applications for Test & Go and Sandbox entries -- other than through the Phuket Sandbox -- but will let previously permitted visitors arrive in Thailand as planned, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday.

After chairing a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) at Government House, Gen Prayut said the resolution was based on fears of the spread of Omicron and the safety of people in the country.

The prime minister said about 200,000 visitors had applied for entry throught the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes, and about 110,000 of them had already arrived.

A further 90,000 have already been approved through the schemes, and they will be allowed to visit the country. Their health conditions will be monitored after arrival.

"There will be no new approvals for the arrival schemes until the situation is reviewed on Jan 4," Gen Prayut said.

He said officials had assured him that resources would be sufficient and health personnel capable of handling any Omicron outbreak that might result from those whose arrivals have already been approved.

"Importantly, although the Omicron variant spreads fast, its symptoms are controllable and treatment is easier," Gen Prayut said.

With the suspension of Test & Go and Sandbox entry options, quarantine would be fully restored for arrivals, he said.

The Test & Go entry scheme applies to visitors from specific countries, while the Sandbox scheme is open to all visitors from abroad. All arrivals must be fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 shortly before entering the country.

Apart from the decision to suspend the Test & Go and Sandbox entry programmes, the CCSA did not resolve to make any other changes related to the Omicron situation on Tuesday, Gen Prayut said.

Dr Kiatiphum Wongrachit, permanent secretary for public health, said new registration for all Test & Go and Sandbox entries, except the Phuket Sandbox scheme, would be suspended from Dec 21 to Jan 4.

Dr Kiatiphum said that the last group of previously approved arrivals via Test & Go and Sandbox would arrive on Jan 10.

Dr Kiatiphum also said that based on the Covid-19 infection rate of 0.1-0.2% among visitors, health authorities expect about 100 Covid-19 cases among the total 200,000 visitors arriving through the Test & Go and Sandbox entry programmes.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -approvals
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

It will be interesting to see how many restaurants comply with Number 2 below.
____________________________________________________________________

Chonburi (Pattaya) Governor releases late night updated orders around Covid-19 and food and beverage establishments

By Adam Judd

2 January, 2022

The Chonburi Governor released a new order late last night just before midnight specifically for food and beverage businesses, especially those that sell alcohol in Pattaya, Nongprue, and Banglamung.

1. All staff, including musicians, performers, entertainers, etc must take a rapid antigen Covid19 test daily.
-=-=-=-=
2. All customers, regardless of the size of the venue and regardless of the customer’s vaccination or recovery status, must take a Covid-19 antigen test within 72 hours of the current time period to dine-in. The venue can arrange for on-site testing or accept qualified test results.
-=-=-==-=-
3. If a venue is unwilling or unable to meet the first two points they must shut immediately until/if restrictions are eased.
-=-=-=-=-=
There is NO expiration date, the order is until further notice.

https://thepattayanews.com/2022/01/02/c ... lishments/
Jun

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Jun »

Firstly, if this rule is applied in Pattaya, I'll need a test every 72 hours. If I fail, presumably it's quarantine or hospital. Which isn't acceptable for a mild variant of COVID.
So if that rule is applied, leaving Chonburi is the obvious response for any tourists.

This is absolutely barking mad. Why shut down the main industry of Pattaya yet again for a very mild variant of COVID ? A late night order. Had the governor been on the Sangsom ?
If anything, they should encourage the spread of Omicron so that it displaces Delta and encourages some of the remaining anti-vaxxers to get a jab.

So far I've been to 2 coffee shops, which presumably fall under the definition of restaurants. There was no need to check in or test.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21459
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: The Latest - restrictions, visas, entry requirements, etc.

Post by Gaybutton »

Jun wrote: Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:28 am Firstly, if this rule is applied in Pattaya, I'll need a test every 72 hours.
Apparently, that's just what you'll need. I'll ask the obvious question with one word: WHY?

Why is it that every time Pattaya is beginning to get back on its feet, so far every time a higher-up imposes some sort of absurd rule to ruin it?

The following article, obviously opposed to this new rule, appeared in the Pattaya Mail about an hour before I posted it. I believe some serious re-thinking and clarification is needed. If this totally unnecessary edict is really going to be forced on restaurants and customers, the restaurants will probably lose a lot of business.

I don't have a problem about wearing the face mask, using the hand sanitation lotions, showing proof of two vaccination jabs, and having my temperature checked when entering a restaurant or any other venue. But a Covid test kit to enter a restaurant? Forget it. It's not worth the bother. I wonder if the governor took into consideration how many times using the el-cheapo test kits produced false positive results when there was nothing at all wrong with the person being tested.

Unless it is a restaurant I really have my heart set on and is an absolute must, for me it will be back to cooking at home and food delivery services. But if I do decide to comply with this, I'm going to make sure to call the restaurant first to see if they are even open. The effect of this edict is likely to mean many restaurants will be forced to close. For crying out loud, according to this rule, without this Covid test I'm not sure if you can even enter a restaurant for collecting a take-away.

And what about outside dining? If a restaurant has seating outside, will this test be required? The articles haven't addressed that and your guess is as good as mine.

If there is any logic to this, it goes beyond me, especially considering the numbers of other types of venues that get crowded, but you don't have to show a damned thing to enter. In my opinion this is just another knee-jerk reaction that has not been thought through. I don't know if this order is even enforceable.

In my opinion, this order reaches a spot on the top 10 list of the most ridiculous orders I've ever seen in Thailand. It definitely makes my "I Don't Get It" list.

I have a feeling that by tomorrow we're likely to see articles about restaurant owners raising holy hell and/or refusing to comply. I can't believe this order is really going to be imposed as stated. I hope we will see some sort of clarification - and very soon.
___________________________________________________________________

All Pattaya restaurants now require customers to show Negative Covid-19 Test

By Pattaya Mail

January 2, 2022

In a crushing late-night order, Chonburi’s governor mandated that customers of restaurants of all sizes produce a negative coronavirus test result before entering.

The arguably unenforceable dictate from Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai late Jan. 1 replaced a less-restritive proclamation issued earlier the same day that had spared smaller restaurants from the onerous unfunded mandate.

Both orders were issued in reaction to the coronavirus omicron variant, which has now made its way to Chonburi on its march to inevitably becoming the dominant strain in Thailand.

The original order had applied only from Dec. 31-Jan. 2 and required all staff, including entertainment performers, at restaurants – and the thousands of bars masquerading as restaurants – to be tested daily with rapid antigen kits.

Customers, however, would only have to produce proof of a negative coronavirus test from within the past 72 hours or take a test on-site before entering if the venue regularly served more than 100 people or “looked busy or congested” even without actually serving 100 people.

The new order, however, does away with the time limit – it’s now in force until further notice – and requires all customers, regardless the size of the venue or the customer’s vaccination status, to either take a test on-site or provide proof of a recent negative test.

Restaurant owners unable or unwilling to foot the testing bill or make customers wait 15 minutes outside for test results are given no other choice than to simply close.

With the extreme measure, Pakarathorn has stuck a shiv in the gut of every Chonburi restaurant owner, employee and entertainer. The province fought two months for the right for its venues to sell alcohol, which finally got them off the revenue mat.

Now, with one kneejerk move of the pen, the governor has put up a barrier to entry few customers will be willing to bear. Pakarathorn only needs to look at the thousands of empty seats at this weekend’s Pattaya Countdown – where only 8% of 2,500 seats were filled on the first two nights – to learn that people won’t put up with needless and pointless regulation.

Chonburi, at this point, has only a couple dozen documented omicron cases. And while daily case numbers have quadrupled to more than 200 over the past week, the increase was expected and easily handled by the province’s hospitals.

And, as pointed out early in last year’s outbreak, restaurants are an extremely minor contributor to the coronavirus wave. Tourism officials noted last year that only 3% of cases then were tied to restaurants. But now, as then, the food and beverage industry will take 100% of the hit.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/all-pa ... est-385022
Post Reply