reader Posted March 25, 2020 Posted March 25, 2020 From Bangkok Post Emergency decree bans entry to foreigners Foreigners will be banned from entering the country under the emergency decree being invoked to combat at the coronavirus pandemic. The emergency decree comes into effect at midnight on Wednesday, and remains in force through April 30. The decree bans all foreigners from entry at all entry points - the exceptions being shippers, diplomats, drivers, pilots and others permitted by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Thais stranded in other countries will be allowed to return, it added. People under the age of five years and over 70 are encouraged to stay home, and public gatherings are banned, under the announcement. The decree authorises Gen Prayut to chair the centre to fight the virus, with the permanent secretaries of public health, interior, commerce and foreign affairs to help him. The supreme commander of the armed forces has been given responsibility for security affairs. "Only necessary measures will be issued, to prevent the spread of the virus," the announcement said. Gen Prayut said all shops selling food and essential consumer goods can remain open. He warned that anybody taking advantage of the situation for their own benefit will face stern action - an apparent reference to hoarders. More measures are expected to be announced. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1886270/emergency-decree-bans-entry-to-foreigners vinapu 1 Quote
reader Posted March 25, 2020 Author Posted March 25, 2020 From Nation Multimedia Foreigners in transit given grace period on documents Covid-19 preventive measures have been relaxed for the next few days for foreign travellers transiting via Thailand to a third country within 24 hours. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced on Wednesday (March 25) that transiting foreigners no longer need to produce a medical certificate proving they are free from infection and an insurance policy to cover medical treatment. They do, however, need to show a “Fit to Fly’’ health certificate and must remain in a designated transit area and strictly comply with applicable disease-control measures. The exemption takes immediate effect and will be withdrawn on March 31. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384815?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=internal_referral Quote
gerefan Posted March 26, 2020 Posted March 26, 2020 How are expat farangs going to return to their homes in Thailand? Quote
spoon Posted March 26, 2020 Posted March 26, 2020 30 minutes ago, gerefan said: How are expat farangs going to return to their homes in Thailand? They might or might not includes those who have permenant residency in thailand or not. And retirement visa too. Better ask immigration directly. Quote
anddy Posted March 26, 2020 Posted March 26, 2020 16 hours ago, gerefan said: How are expat farangs going to return to their homes in Thailand? 15 hours ago, spoon said: They might or might not includes those who have permenant residency in thailand or not. And retirement visa too. Better ask immigration directly. as so often, they issued new rules without thinking them through and thus leaving many details and questions open. Work permit holders were mentioned as allowed to enter, but haven't seen visa holders such as retirement visa. Glad I'm just here and don't have to worry about any of that. Except the upcoming extension (end April) which may be a challenge; who knows if Immigration is open then... Quote
DivineMadman Posted March 26, 2020 Posted March 26, 2020 28 minutes ago, anddy said: as so often, they issued new rules without thinking them through and thus leaving many details and questions open. Work permit holders were mentioned as allowed to enter, but haven't seen visa holders such as retirement visa. Glad I'm just here and don't have to worry about any of that. Except the upcoming extension (end April) which may be a challenge; who knows if Immigration is open then... My read of it is that visa holders (other than work permit or people who fall into the other specific categories) are simply not permitted to enter. There is no mention of visa people being allowed in, and that is consistent with how many other countries have behaved when they have shut their borders. You can't come in even if you have a previously-issued visa. That is also how the CAAT and IATA have read the rule. Only the "enumerated" classes of people can come in. As a result, even if you have a previously granted visa, you can't come in. That would pick up O and 0-A (and and TR and PE and ED) visas. Retirement extension folks I think are all either 0 or 0-A (a topic that got a lot of attention when the new health insurances rules were announced for one of those). I am sure that there will be lots of difficult fact patterns that they haven't addressed or possibly even thought of. For example, someone who is out of the country with a re-entry stamp but intended to come back to renew his or her extension but now cannot. Will he have to start the whole process over? And some people will almost certainly be royally screwed. But I think that often happens with emergency decrees - it's the nature of fallible humans around the world operating in chaotic times. splinter1949, anddy, reader and 2 others 1 3 1 Quote
vinapu Posted March 27, 2020 Posted March 27, 2020 still probably better to have admission to Thailand problems than being infected and having breathing problems, possibly even leading to reducing overpopulation Quote
reader Posted March 27, 2020 Author Posted March 27, 2020 From Coconuts Bangkok Health minister under fire again After scolding foreigners who don’t wear masks and saying that they’re “dirty”, the public health minister was in hot water again yesterday when he criticized healthcare workers who are infected with COVID-19. Answering a question to a reporter on Thursday regarding measures to prevent medical personnel from becoming infected with COVID-19, Anutin Charnvirakul criticized infected medical staff for not “taking good care of themselves.” “We’re not happy,” Anutin said. “Health personnel should set an example for the public [on how to protect themselves against the virus]. They should always be on alert and, especially at this time of an outbreak, they should best protect themselves.” Eleven healthcare professionals in total were reported to have been infected with COVID-19. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/health-minister-under-fire-again-saying-infected-medical-staff-werent-being-careful/ vinapu 1 Quote
reader Posted March 27, 2020 Author Posted March 27, 2020 CNN Headline of the day: Why Walmart is seeing a rise in sales for tops, but not bottoms during the coronavirus crisis GWMinUS, splinter1949, DivineMadman and 2 others 4 1 Quote
