Health ministry wants to extend suspension of Test & Go

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

The Public Health Ministry will propose that the government continue the suspension of the Test & Go entry programme for air travellers, in light of the continuing spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday.

Mr Anutin said he supported the recommendation made by health experts on Monday.

He would ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting on Tuesday to continue the suspension of the one-night quarantine scheme until the  end of this month.

No applications for entry to Thailand under the Test & Go scheme have been accepted since Dec 22. Entry is only through the Phuket Sandbox, and its quarantine system, due to fears over the rising number of Omicron-variant Covfd-19 cases worldwide.

The minister did not mention the future of other Sandbox schemes, which have also been temporarily shelved since Dec 22. They will also be under review on Tuesday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2241395/health-ministry-wants-to-extend-suspension-of-test-go

[caeron]

 

I'm personally hopeful that Omicron is the last of it. It's highly contagious, but noticeably less dangerous. I think pretty much everyone is going to get it at one point or another, and that plus the vaccine should mean most of us can go back to normal.  

[starbum]

Both me and my bf had our T&G rejected after the application was closed. The reason for both of us are different. We will hoping that it will reopen again this week but the news doesn't seems good at all. Our arrival date is 3rd Feb.

[vinapu]

key to travel in those messy covid times is to be prepared with documents and time off secured  and act fast if window of opportunity will open. When they started Test and Go in November I jumped on it right away, partially because I could but I could because I told bosses and co-workers I may need to take time off at short notice so they did not blink when I did.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Suspension of Test & Go continues amid Omicron spike

Thailand continues the suspension of the Test & Go scheme for travellers, as the country is battling the spike in Covid-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant, a senior Public Health Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the country will not reimpose the quarantine-free programme due to the spread of Omicron.

"Under the current circumstances, there's no plan to bring back Test & Go," Dr Opas told a media briefing.

He did not elaborate on how long the scheme will remain suspended.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Tuesday air travellers who had successfully applied for Test & Go can enter the country by next Monday.

The Phuket Sandbox is the only sandbox scheme in effect. Other similar schemes have been temporarily shelved since Dec 22. Another entry into Thailand is through the quarantine programme.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2241983/suspension-of-test-go-continues-amid-omicron-spike

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From Richard Barrow

"I spoke to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again and they say they haven’t been informed of any decision about Test & Go and as far as they know, discussions are still ongoing. The next CCSA meeting is on Wednesday and the big one on Friday. Please wait for official announcement."

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"There hasn’t been talk for a while about updating the list of approved countries. People coming from the US and the UK might want to take note of this tweet. You are leading the pack with the highest percentage of people testing positive on arrival. "

"Thai News Reports: The latest statistics show that this month so far, most international arrivals are coming from Russia (2,511), Sweden (1,359), Germany (1,143) and Kazakhstan (1,080). Most people testing positive are from the USA (7.91%) and the UK (7.35%)."