Test and Go | Program Suspended

[Sundance2020]

Test & Go registration closed indefinitely, must enter before January 15.2022


Registration for Thailand’s Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme will be closed indefinitely. And travellers, who are already approved to enter Thailand under the Test & Go quarantine exemption program, have until January 15 to arrive. At its general meeting today, chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration decided to continue with the suspension of the entry scheme until further notice.

Those who have received a Thailand Pass QR code will be allowed to enter Thailand under the Test & Go program over the next few days, and the last group of approved Test & Go travellers will arrive on January 15. Those travellers will need to undergo two RT-PCR tests, one on arrival and another by their seventh day in Thailand.

But a bit of good news, more destinations were approved to welcome tourists under the Sandbox entry program, along with Phuket, which has remained open to tourists – Krabi, Phang Nga and the trio of islands off the Surat Thani coast (Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao)are approved for Sandbox schemes.

Last month, the CCSA urgently closed registration for the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes on December 21, with the exception of the Phuket Sandbox, following the emergence of the Omicron variant. Most of the initial cases involved travellers who had recently entered Thailand from overseas.

[Sundance2020]

Two foreign travellers wanted by Phuket authorities, Covid-positive and left hotel quarantine



Two French travellers are wanted by Phuket authorities leaving their hotel quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19. Thai media used a word meaning “escape” and posted mugshots of the man and woman like suspects on a wanted criminal poster. Authorities have asked those who have seen the travellers, who are both around 35 years old, to contact the Patong Police Station.

A report in the Thai media outlet Khaosod does not go into detail about what scheme the travellers entered Thailand under. Those who enter under the Test & Go scheme are required to spend at least a night in an approved hotel to isolate while they wait for their results from an RT-PCR test to come back. It can take about a day.

There have been other reports of travellers leaving their hotel before the results come back. Recently, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told the media that health officials plan to impose tough screening measures to let only “quality travellers” visit the country as there were some breaking quarantine and submitting fake insurance documents.

Following the emergence of the Omicron variant in Thailand, with the majority of the initial cases involving travellers from overseas, the government closed registration for the Test & Go programme.

[Sundance2020]

Do you have a Test & Go QR code to enter Thailand?

Details emerging from last Friday’s deliberations by the CCSA have now been published in the Royal Gazette, enacting them into law. Missing from the published guidelines about changes to the Thailand Pass, is any reference to a cut-off date which was both stated and then published by government representatives on Friday following a meeting of the CCSA.

“The date was shown through a PowerPoint presentation that was used in the CCSA meeting. It was actually a proposal only for discussion in the meeting, but as it was shown on television it was taken for a conclusion. As for arrivals after 15 January 2022 for those with Thailand Pass QR codes already, this will be assessed and announced in due course.”

As of today, and sifting through the tea leaves, it would appear that travellers who already have a QR code for the Test & Go program, will be able to enter the country, even after January 15. But we would urge anyone intending to travel to Thailand at this time to consult with their Embassy and keep abreast of any future changes. You should also check re-entry procedures into your home country, and any changes to flight schedules.

For the immediate future, and given the rise of new Covid infections, including Omicron cases, the Thai government have a history of being risk-averse and adding more restrictions, not revoking them at these times.

Apart from the changes to the Thailand Pass announced on Friday, 3 more Sandbox locations were announced, allowing travellers to still travel to Thailand, but by spending 7 days in the chosen Sandbox region, producing a negative test, then able to travel to other destination in Thailand. Those locations are Phang Nga, Krabi and Koh Samui (which will also include access to Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao). Registration for the 4 Sandbox regions opens on Tuesday, January 11.2022

The serving of alcohol was also banned in 69 provinces from today, but left the Blue Zones – Bangkok, Chon Buri, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang Nga and Phuket – able to serve alcohol in SHA+ approved restaurants, but only until 9pm.

So, bottomline, you can still travel to Thailand if you want or need to. But, with the Test & Go program now suspended indefinitely, you can only enter through the 4 Sandbox regions or submitting to a period of quarantine at a registered Alternative Quarantine.

This from the Tourism Authority of Thailand website…

Protocol for Test & Go travellers who have obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before 22 December, 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from 24 December, 2021, onwards…

• They must undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities on Day 5-6 of their stay in Thailand, or when they experience respiratory symptoms (no additional cost).
• Travellers must complete the TM6 Immigration Form (while on the plane).
• Upon arrival in the airport’s terminal, travellers must complete and sign the Quarantine Form before proceeding to the Health Control screening point. Children under 12 years of age can use the same form as their parents/guardians. *Soon this step will be conducted while on the plane.
• Present the required documents, including the Thailand Pass, arrival date and RT-PCR test results to the Communicable Disease Control officers to carry out the checks. Provided that all documents are in order, the officers will then affix the Quarantine Form with the official seal of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, along with instructions on either to under a quarantine or mandatory stay, and the 2 required RT-PCR tests.
• Travellers will receive a copy of the affixed Quarantine Form, along with a QR code indicating the list of government-designated hospitals/lab centres for their second RT-PCR test (no additional cost).
• Travellers can then proceed to the Immigration. As well as going through the Immigration procedures, travellers must also present their copy of the affixed Quarantine Form and passport to the Immigration officer to carry out the checks. Provided that all are in order, travellers will then be allowed to proceed to a prearranged transfer to the reserved hotel.
• Upon arrival at the hotel, travellers must present their copy of the affixed Quarantine Form to the hotel staff to carry out the checks on the type of entry scheme permitted to the travellers. The travellers’ information will then be registered on the COSTE system. Afterwards, travellers must undergo the first RT-PCR test (except for those who have already taken the test at government-designated hospitals/lab centres prior to their arrival at the hotel.)
• If receiving a negative RT-PCR test result, travellers must inform the hotel staff of their intended accommodation on Day 5-6 to be registered on the COSTE system.
• On Day 5-6, travellers must go to their appointment at the government-designated hospitals/lab centres to undergo their second RT-PCR test, and must bring along their affixed Quarantine Form.
• Travellers give their copy of affixed Quarantine Form to the hospitals/lab centres for billing. (There will be no additional cost for travellers who have obtained their TEST & GO Thailand Pass before 22 December, 2021.)

Remarks

• If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers are free to go anywhere in Thailand. However, they must undergo their second COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique at government-designated facilities on Day 5-6 of their stay in Thailand, or when they experience respiratory symptoms (no additional cost).
• If testing positive for COVID-19, travellers will be referred to a healthcare facility for appropriate medical treatment, for which the expenses must be covered by the required insurance, or national healthcare coverage for Thais and eligible foreign expatriates.
• All travellers must download and install the MorChana application, and set it on at all times for the COVID-19 precautionary measures and to record the result on Day 5-6 in the application.

[Sundance2020]

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry to propose reopening Test & Go registration by February 2022



It’s no surprise that Thailand’s tourism officials are pushing to reopen registration for the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme. The Tourism and Sports Minister told Thai media that the ministry, along with the Public Health Ministry, will make a proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to resume registration for the entry scheme by February 2022

The minister, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, told reporters that the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is under the control and past its peak, adding that Thailand is estimated to welcome 8 million visitors this year and generate over 480,000 million baht. The CCSA will hold a small meeting tomorrow and make final decisions during its general meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday.

Registration for the Test & Go scheme for the past month due to the Omicron outbreak in Thailand, but those who had already registered have been able to still enter under the scheme. Test & Go vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand with just a minimal quarantine period, typically up to a night stay at an approved hotel, while they wait for the results from an RT-PCR test to come back.

Pipat shared that it’s time to resume the scheme again as the Ministry of Public Health can control the spread seeing from the number of new cases which is decreased day by day. He continued saying that the number raised from 7,000 cases to 8,000 cases after the new year from January 10 to 14 January, adding that the infection rate has passed its peak. While Omicron has been on the rise, many people in Thailand who have been infected with the variant haven’t reported severe symptoms. He added that over 70% of the population have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

But the resumption of the scheme might come with tougher measures. According to the governor for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, officials are mulling over possible Covid-19 prevention measures for those entering the country under the scheme. After reports in Thai media of several travellers “escaping” from quarantine while they waited for their on-arrival test results, officials are now discussing whether to require travellers to download the Mor Chana application to track their location.