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From MSN Singapore aims to allow quarantine-free travel for all vaccinated visitors after omicron subsides SINGAPORE — Singapore intends to allow vaccinated visitors from all countries to skip quarantine on arrival when the omicron wave has passed, authorities announced on Wednesday during a virtual press briefing. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said travel rules were meant to prevent infections from being imported into the country, but that category of cases represents only 1% of daily cases and "no longer have a material impact" on Singapore's Covid situation. The focus in future will be on whether visitors to Singapore will fall severely ill and burden the health-care system, he said. "We should actually emphasize less on SHN and tests on travelers, [and] more on ensuring that they are fully vaccinated and boosted," he said. "Instead of having vaccinated travel lanes or VTLs with selected countries that we think are low risk, we should actually allow SHN-free travel for … fully vaccinated travelers from all countries," Ong said, referring to stay-home notices issued to visitors to Singapore. "We should make this transition not now, but after omicron wave has peaked and start to subside," he added. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/singapore-aims-to-allow-quarantine-free-travel-for-all-vaccinated-visitors-after-omicron-subsides/ar-AATVo8q

Bangkok will be officially called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon From Bangkok Post The Office of the Royal Society (ORST) has announced the change of the official name of Thailand’s capital, from Bangkok to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. However, the name Bangkok is still recognised. The cabinet on Tuesday approved a Prime Minister's Office draft announcement on updated names of countries, territories, administrative zones and capitals, as proposed by the ORST. The new official name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, will not come into effect until it is vetted by a committee in charge of scrutinising all draft bills. The cabinet also asked the panel to take into consideration additional observations from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The announcement, approved by the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, said that the ORST's committee on the dictionary of international geographic names, comprising experts from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, had updated the spelling of countries, territories, administrative zones and capitals to be in line with the current situation. The panel then submitted the list to the PM's Office to issue the announcement. In the ORST's announcement, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon will become the official name of the Kingdom of Thailand's capital. However, the name Bangkok will be put in parentheses. In the same announcement, the ORST also updated the official spelling for other countries, including Rome and Roma for Italy's capital, the change of Myanmar's capital from Yangon to Nay Pyi Taw and the change of the Kingdom of Nepal to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Government deputy spokeswoman Ratchda Dhanadirek on Wednesday said nothing had been changed in the naming of the capital. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2265087/bangkok-will-be-officially-called-krung-thep-maha-nakhon

From Vietnam News Vietnam agrees with proposal to reopen int'l tourism from March 15 HÀ NỘI — The Government has agreed with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s proposal to fully reopen international tourism activities in the new normal, starting from March 15 after two years of COVID-19-triggered border closures. In the latest announcement issued on Wednesday regarding the Tuesday meeting on the reopening, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam urged the tourism ministry to promptly finalise and make public a plan for resumption of tourism and provide detailed instructions for localities to implement the plan. He tasked the ministry to issue protocols for welcoming back foreign tourists. Đam also asked the ministry to work with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other ministries, agencies to design a new visa policy applicable to foreign tourists and report to the Government for consideration and approval. With the new tourism resumption plan, incoming tourists may only be required to have proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 and negative test result certificate issued within 24 hours (rapid test) and 72 hours (RT-PCR) before departure. Foreigners entering Việt Nam are expected to pay US$30 per person on average to enjoy the insurance benefits worth $10,000 for COVID-19 treatment in Việt Nam. In case a foreign tourist tests positive for the virus, the accommodation establishment will be responsible for working with health facilities and local authorities on quarantine and treatment for him/her. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1155355/govt-agrees-with-proposal-to-reopen-intl-tourism-from-march-15.html

From Richardbarrow.com THAI NEWS REPORTS: The infection rate of all travellers entering Thailand by air: · November: 0.13% · December: 0.45% · January: 3.73% · February: 2.82% · Test & Go: 0.86% · Sandbox: 5.27% Quarantine: 2.75% 89,858 international arrivals in February.

From The Thaiger Retiring in Asia is a dream for many, with fond memories of short or longer travel to some of the humid and exotic countries in the region. All that exquisite cuisine, diverse sceneries, fascinating histories, intriguing temples, tropical adventures, colourful nightlife, and markets and malls for shopping. Lots of shopping. So it’s easy to become enamoured with all things “Asia.” But living for a longer time, or retiring, is an entirely different proposition. Whilst we can recommend some good and bad points about some of your Asian retirement candidates, some things you simply won’t know until you give your prospective retirement choice a proper test drive — go and live there for a few months as a ‘local.’ All locations have different requirements and rules that make the paperwork either more difficult or easier. But once that’s over there’s a lot more to consider as regards renting properties, driving, cost-of-living, your adaptability to a different culture and opportunities to make new friends or establish a relationship. Asia is broken up into a lot of separate countries, each with their own culture, food, history and religious practices. It’s also grouped into different regions. Although there are noticeable similarities among them, no two Asian countries are the same and you would be well advised doing plenty of research — and travel — before making your final decision. That said, all the locations on our list fall within Southeast Asia specifically. In all cases there are visa agents who will prepare a lot of the paperwork and short-circuit the process of gaining an appropriate and legal visa. You should meet with these agents on one of your visits to go through the fine print of retiring or long-term stays in any of these countries. It’s best to get a recommendation for these services as the internet is littered with scams for visa services. To view the country list https://thethaiger.com/travel/best-places-to-retire-in-asia-2022

From Bangkok Post Highly contagious subvariant forms 18% of Omicron cases The faster spreading BA.2 subvariant of Covid-19's Omicron variant accounted for 18.5% of Omicron cases examined over the past week, the Department of Medical Sciences reported. Director-general Supakit Sirilak said on Tuesday that the department examined 567 Omicron cases from Feb 5 to 11 and found 18.5% were of the BA.2 subvariant and the rest BA.1. "There are some signs that BA.2 spreads faster than BA.1 looking at cases in other countries but there has not been any significant difference from BA.1 when it comes to severity and vaccine avoidance," Dr Supakit said. The department also found BA.2 in 19% of 42 imported Omicron cases sampled for examination over the same period. According to the director-general, BA.2 has been detected in 57 countries and is likely to replace BA.1 in India, Denmark and Sweden. BA.2 has already superseded BA.1 in Denmark and could replace BA.1 in Thailand given its faster spread. BA.2 was first recorded in Thailand among visitors early this year. Today there are rare cases of other variants of Covid-19 in the country. From Jan 30 to Feb 4, Omicron cases formed 94.2% of Covid-19 cases in Thailand and Delta the rest, 5.8%. Omicron was found in 99.4% of infected arrivals over the same period. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2264583/highly-contagious-subvariant-forms-18-of-omicron-cases

Try your luck at the outdoor tables at Starbuck's on Surawong (opposite the Patpong area). I've also spotted young African men at the coffee shop at bit further down the road (Coffee Club?). It's easy to start a conversation over a cup of bold brew. Look for the solo guys alone at a table. Or just look for solo guys walking around the Silom area. If they're interested, they'll make it known--not unlike the Thais.

Although the intended move affects those covered by the government health insurance system, and not international tourists, it illustrates the lack of an integrated approach how Covid cases is treated across the board. The multiple agencies with jurisdiction over the disease promulgate rules and regulations that frequently conflict with one other. In this case there is even in-fighting within the same ministry. From Bangkok Post Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insisted on Monday on moving ahead with a plan to change the conditions for Covid-19 treatment, saying the decision was in line with a policy to downgrade the coronavirus. He reaffirmed his stance after his deputy, Sathit Pitutecha, on Sunday called on him to delay the March 1 implementation for another month. He was worried about Omicron case surges in recent days. The Public Health Ministry plans to remove Covid-19 treatment from the list of conditions covered by the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme from the beginning of next month. The change means people who test positive for the coronavirus but do not need critical care have to go to the hospital where they are registered under their welfare scheme, to be covered for the cost. Only those with a critical, secondary infection brought on by Covid-19 will be covered by the UCEP. The UCEP allows patients to seek treatment at any hospital free of charge for three days and then they are transferred to their registered hospital. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2263951/anutin-confirms-covid-19-will-be-removed-from-emergency-treatment-list

From The Nation Thailand will go ahead with the controversial 300-baht “tourism tax” for international tourists, but implementation will be delayed until June, Tourism and Sports Minister Phipat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday. The National Tourism Policy Committee resolved last week to go ahead with the plan despite calls from the tourism and hospitality industry to drop the plan. Phipat said his ministry was working out details of the plan with relevant government agencies after which the matter will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. Once given the go-ahead, the regulation will be published in the Royal Gazette and go into effect 90 days later. He said the entry fee is in line with the 2019 national tourism policy and will initially only be applied to people arriving by air. The minister explained that of the 300 baht collected, 20 per cent will be spent on insurance, which will provide a 500,000-baht coverage in case of an accident and 1-million baht in case of death. The compensation will be provided within 45 days. The remainder of the fee will be split between airlines and the national tourism policy fund, which will spend the funds on infrastructure for top tourist destinations and basic facilities like public toilets. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012326

From The Nation As part of moves to develop the capital’s canals and improve the lives of residents, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is getting ready to launch an electric boat service in the Saen Saep canal. The new boat service will run from Wat Si Bun Rueang to the Minburi district office is expected to be launched this month. BMA has procured 12 electric boats for the project and has rebuilt eight damaged piers. The service will run from 5.30am to 8.30pm daily from Monday to Friday, with boats departing every 15 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes otherwise. The last boat will leave the pier at about 7.30pm. On Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, the service will be provided from 6am to 7pm, with boats departing every 30 minutes and the last boat leaving at about 6.30pm. The piers served by these electric boats are: • Wat Si Bun Rueang • Phrommitpittaya School • Seri Thai Pier 26 • Khlong Ras • Rom Sai Village • Red Mosque • Lo Lae Yai Community • Minburi Market • Minburi District Office https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012274

From Channel News Asia PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is powering up its new National Internet Gateway, a move activists say will allow the government to further silence the country's embattled opposition voices. UN rights experts warn the gateway, which will funnel all web traffic through a state-controlled entry point from Feb 16, will have a "devastating" effect on privacy and free speech. It is the latest move by authoritarian ruler Hun Sen to clamp down on dissent in a country that has arrested dozens for online posts in recent years, critics say. Internet gateways are the points on a network where a country connects to the worldwide web. Once fully operational, Cambodia's new National Internet Gateway will channel all traffic through a single entry point controlled by the government. Internet service providers will be ordered to block websites and connections that adversely affect "national revenue, safety, social order, morality, culture, traditions and customs". UN rights experts warned earlier this month that the sweeping new powers will further shrink what is left of the space for dissent in Cambodia, where Hun Sen has buttressed his 37-year rule by steadily rolling back democratic freedoms. The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) says the new gateway will give the former Khmer Rouge cadre yet more ways to silence opposing voices. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/cambodia-new-internet-gateway-surveillance-2496616

Hope they have the shooters' address abroad. They don't want to run into the same dilemma they had with Red Bull heir who remains at large. From Pattaya News A ‘Red Notice’ arrest warrant is being issued for two wanted alleged foreign shooters who are accused of killing a Canadian-Indian national at a Phuket villa in late January, the Royal Thai Police reported yesterday, February 12th. National police deputy spokesperson Kissana Pattanacharoen told the Associated Press that the identities of the prime suspects had been identified as Canadians Gene Karl Lahrkamp, 36, and Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, 26. An arrest warrant, issued by the Phuket Provincial Court, stated that they were facing charges of premeditated murder. The two were reportedly identified through confessions of some gang members who were previously arrested as well as GPS tracking from the suspects’ rented car and forensic evidence from the guns that were dropped in the sea. The Thai National Police now had coordinated with Interpol to consider issuing a red notice to inform all 195 member countries to help with more information regarding the wanted men. Their current exact whereabouts are unclear but Thai authorities felt confident they would be able to capture the men. https://thepattayanews.com/2022/02/13/interpol-red-notice-being-issued-for-two-alleged-foreign-shooters-who-killed-another-foreigner-at-phuket-villa-royal-thai-police-report/

It's not Barry Kenyon's knowledge of the trends in the Pattaya expat population, it's the manner in which he roundly characterized fellow expats. It's a condescending attitude that some well-to-do expats exhibit from time to time when they refer to their less wealthy contemporaries. In his case it was the use of bald heads and expanding waistlines that served to belittle those long-time retirees. I think if he had to do it over again, he'd reconsider that description.

From VN Express Vietnam will remove limits on the number of international flights coming and going from all markets starting February 15, restoring frequency to pre-pandemic levels. Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said Vietnam will end restrictions on international flights starting February 15, allowing flight frequency restoration to pre-pandemic levels. Son said other countries have acknowledged the new policy and only China has not agreed to resume commercial flights with Vietnam. On February 11, the Ministry of Transport assigned the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam to hold discussions with aviation authorities of other countries and territories on resuming regular international passenger flights with markets that had direct flights to Vietnam before the pandemic. Vietnam had already begun a gradual resumption of international flights from the start of this year while easing quarantine requirements. In particular, vaccinated passengers now only need three days of self-quarantine. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/vietnam-to-lift-covid-19-curbs-on-international-flights-4427004.html

There's much at stake going forward. If tourists lose confidence in the testing infrastructure, it will be a challenge to win it back. Under the original format, I don't recall any controversy. When it went into effect on Nov. 1, Omicron was not yet so dominant a factor. And although Thai authorities are not saying what percentage of new infections are the result of the Omicron variant, we know from trends in Europe and North America that it quickly became the dominant factor there. Testing positive for Delta was a legitimate cause for concern commensurate with the signs and symptoms exhibited by the individual. What's different with Omicron is that all international tourists who enter under Test and Go and the Sandbox are fully vaccinated. And although break through cases can and do occur, the symptoms--if any--are generally mild and consistent with a common cold. Yet health authorities continue treating Omicron infections among international tourists in the same manner that they did with Delta. This goes against a government doctor's advice this week that Thailand has to learn to live with virus. Public must be ready to 'live with Covid' The Public Health Ministry is preparing to propose a relaxation of measures to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) this week, to encourage people to live with the coronavirus as opposed to imposing lockdowns during outbreaks. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the ministry's Department of Disease Control (DDC), would not go into detail about the measures to be eased. However, he said Thailand was moving in line with trends elsewhere. "The global situation of Covid-19 seems to be moving in the same direction. Many countries have started to ease measures despite spikes in daily infections," he said. The ministry believes Thailand should no longer impose lockdowns as people need to learn to cope with Covid-19, which will reach an endemic stage soon, Dr Opas said. Despite the high transmission rate of the Omicron variant, its effects are less severe than those of Delta, he said. "We need to get people to understand that the number of daily new cases is nothing to worry about," he said. "We've lived with the disease for two years already, so it's about time to move on together." https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2259687/ministry-to-propose-relaxation-of-virus-curbs

Do these percentages appear way out of proportion? Is it the reporting system, the testing system or something else all together? From Richardbarrow.com THAI NEWS REPORTS: On 11th February, 182 international arrivals tested positive. This is the percentage according to which test. Test & Go: Day 0 (64.10%) Day 1-3 (2.57%) Day 4-7 (33.33%) Sandbox: Day 0 (32.79%) Day 4-7 (64.75%) Day 7+ (2.46%) ============================ THAI NEWS REPORTS: Infection rate of people entering Thailand by air by country of origin: 1. Russia 18.72% 2. Kazakhstan 7.03% 3. Sweden 2.5% 4. Germany 2.38% 5. France 1.85% 6. UK 1.51% 7. UAE 1.49% 8. USA 1.14% 9. Australia 1.09% 10. Singapore 1.03%

It was a cheap shot. The author could have made his point without making the retirees the butt of a poor attempt at humor.

Thanks for sharing the story of your trip, and the great photos. Deciding to keep N with you as you enter quarantine speaks volumes about your relationship. So long as Thailand insists on a second PCR test, outcomes like this will deter would-be tourists (myself included) from visiting. Omicron is with us until it runs its course and no country can test its way out of it. Looking at today's headlines in the Bangkok Post, the mixed messaging the government is sending couldn't be more evident, something I'd been doing (pre-covid) 2-3 times a year since 2002. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has approved a travel bubble with India in hopes of attracting high-spending young people (earlier this week it was announced that travel tours were being negotiated with China and Malaysia). Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority is wheeling out yet another version of "Amazing Thailand" to attract international tourists in an attempt to rebuild the economy. If the government would simply revert to the original version of test-and go it would realize a far greater yield than all the promotions combined.

From Thai Enquirer By Natcha Patanasophon Sex is a rarely discussed topic in Thailand, and it’s been like this for centuries. But conversations around sex education with a focus on gender identity and sexuality are finally starting to change. Chaitong Yingpeant, an adult content creator who prefers to use an anonymous name, told Thai Enquirer that the country suffers from a long history of distorted information about sex. It’s a problem rooted in conservative beliefs, he said, one where traditional opinion is that young Thais should avoid sensitive conversations about sex in their entirety. “Thai society now misunderstands sexuality,” Chaitong said. “Adults and the government need to focus on providing proper sex education. If people receive correct information, then there will be less misunderstandings about sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases.” He believes that people’s perceptions towards sex is changing quickly. Today, there’s more access to knowledge than ever, so there’s no reason why this should not be reflected in Thai schools as well. Continues at https://www.thaienquirer.com/37450/sex-talk-why-thailand-needs-to-have-healthy-conversations-about-sex/

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon While substantial Thai tourism will certainly resume once the pandemic subsides, the traditional expat market is already in steep decline. These are the guys who retired here on fixed pensions to enjoy the golden years before the prospect of the crematorium became a near-term possibility. Journalist Sarah Scuzzarello describes this group as “Elderly retirees enacting privilege over local people because of their superior wealth.” The immigration bureau does not publish meaningful statistics and retirees can hide under several visa categories, not necessarily those labeled as such. But their numbers have shrunk from perhaps 400,000 ten years ago to a small fraction in 2022. Mostly Europeans, Brits and Scandinavians in particular, the retirees that remain are now mostly in their 70s or older. Thai lawyers these days deal with more enquiries about post-mortem probate than about how to get married here. The reasons for the slump are many. An American media-sponsored survey in 2019 found that the main issues were the rising cost of living, fears that hospital treatment would bankrupt them and the fact that “Thailand isn’t what it used to be” for various reasons. These were mostly about traffic congestion, Chinese tour buses in Pattaya or overweight gogo dancers. Of course, the pandemic has encouraged the downward trend as few people consider resettlement abroad during an international health crisis. Desperate publicity about Brits stuck in Thai hospitals, dependent on crowd-funding to save their lives, has finally killed off the nonsense that the embassy will ride to the rescue. Pattaya illustrates these themes very well. It is beyond debate that the retiree market has slumped and that bald heads and expanding waistlines dominate in the residual expat population. Of course some wealthy retirees are still around, but the nightlife centers such as Soi Buakhao are teeming with short-term tourists, “Covid” visa-extension perpetual survivors and budget-conscious retirees looking for food and drink bargains. Many of those remaining in Thailand claim to have nowhere else to go. Meanwhile, the Thai tourist minister Phiphat Rathchakitprakarn has made it very clear that the welcome expats of the future will be high-net-worth individuals such as multi-millionaire pensioners, well-heeled investors and foreign professionals and executives who can transfer their work skills to boost the Thai economy. In return they will have a 10-year visa and the perk of avoiding three-monthly trips to immigration to report their whereabouts. Other bonuses are still under wraps. Many doubt the scheme will work. But that’s not the point here. The squeeze is already on against retirees who think that 800,000 baht in the bank is a tremendous sum. That would disappear after a few days in the intensive care unit. The compulsory insurance net is slowly closing – howbeit with multiple loopholes for now – whilst the assumption that third parties and visa agents will be able for all time to arrange extensions of stay for those unable to fund themselves is speculative at best. Whatever Thailand’s future in international immigration, the traditional retiree is past his prime. Pattaya is no exception. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-can-longer-rely-on-elderly-retiree-expats-388987

From Richardbarrow.com The Covid-19 task force approved lower fees for COVID-19 tests that would take effect on March 1. An antigen test kit that people will buy will be priced at 55 baht, down from 80 baht. The fee for an RT-PCR test by service units will be cut to 900 baht from 1,200 baht.

From Bangkok Post Police have thrown a wide net in the search for a man who assaulted and robbed a German TV presenter, the wife of a prominent German footballer, on a beach in Phangnga province. Pol Lt Gen Amphon Buarabporn, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, said on Thursday that the robbery occurred in Khokkloi area of Phangnga province, not in neighbouring Phuket province as incorrectly reported in foreign media. According to media reports in Germany, Cathy Hummels, a German TV presenter and the wife of German International and Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels, was assaulted and robbed while walking on a beach at night in Phuket. Ms Hummels was in Thailand to film her TV show Battle of the Reality Stars. The attack occurred while she was relaxing after completing production last week. According to German newspaper Bild, the attacker hit her on the head several times before stealing her mobile phone. She ran back to the hotel, with her injuries. She told her team members and filed a complaint with local police before leaving the country the next day. Pol Lt Gen Amphon stood firm in saying the investigation would be swift and thorough and the thief would be brought to justice. The incident had tarnished Thailand's tourism image. He also said the victim had left without giving a statement to police. The assault happened at Na Tai beach, about 800 metres from Aleenta Hotel in tambon Khokkloi of Takua Thung district in neighbouring Phangnga province, about 9pm on Feb 5. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2262071/police-net-cast-for-thief-who-attacked-visiting-german-tv-presenter

It's becoming more apparent by the day that some of the more reliable information on this topic is being provided board members who actually worked their way through the process, or are in the process of doing so. This article about authorities attempting to get insurers interested in offering 10 days of coverage for those who test positive illustrates the confusion that exits between ministries, hotels and hospitals. From Bangkok Post Insurers avoid travellers after heavy Covid losses Insurance companies have become reluctant to offer Covid-19 coverage to foreign tourists as the industry was beset by a liquidity crunch after issuing many policies and experiencing a high number of cases the past year. Tourists remain interested in the country, as new registrations for the Test & Go programme reached 119,807 as of Feb 8. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for marketing communications at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said following discussions with the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) over optional Covid-19 insurance for international tourists, only a few companies expressed an interest in joining the programme. Only 4% of inbound tourists have tested positive for Covid-19, most of which have been mild cases. Many insurance companies are facing losses from Covid-19 claims from local cases and are unsure about offering policies to foreign tourists, particularly in terms of reimbursement based on possible scenarios, he said. The Public Health Ministry is dealing with insufficient or expensive hospital beds in major provinces by allowing each provincial communicable disease committee to grant permission to hotel operators to establish isolation rooms on their properties to host asymptomatic guests. Mr Siripakorn said the 10-day hotel isolation price starts from 20,000 baht, including three meals a day and telemedicine from a partner hospital. "While waiting for the OIC to conclude an insurance package, we have to increase affordable hotel isolation as an option for infected tourists so they don't have to pay more than 100,000 baht for treatment, as happened before," he said. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said hotels in many provinces have not yet applied for isolation rooms as they are unsure about the procedures. Hotels in Bangkok are still waiting to hear from the Department of Health Service Support regarding rules, she said. "We were told there is an act that grants permission to hotels to serve as isolation centres, but according to provincial authorities, the partner hospital has to take charge of this process, not hotels. At present, few hospitals are aware of this rule," said Mrs Marisa. She said the obstacles of Covid-19 insurance and hotel isolation are weighing on the domestic situation, with local cases rising sharply to 13,182 on Wednesday. After Test & Go resumed on Feb 1, the flow of tourists has not been as strong as in November, when the scheme was first introduced. "The fifth-day compulsory Covid test is hampering tourism," Mrs Marisa said. "Locals may hesitate to book trips if infections spike." https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2261703/insurers-avoid-travellers-after-heavy-covid-losses

+1

You're not going to find country-specific detail in policies that cover many different countries. You can ask agent by phone for clarification, but the protocols followed in Thailand can be interpreted differently from hospital to hospital and hotel to hotel. I would anticipate that if I tested positive and was asymptomatic that I may well end up eating the extra expense myself. You can try to minimize the uncertainties but you can't protect against all of them. It's an inherently cumbersome process. At some point you have to leave the outcome to fate.