Thailand to tighten entry rules for all nationalities in virus fight

[snoop1130]

Thailand to tighten entry rules for all nationalities in virus fight

 

A health worker sprays disinfectant due to the coronavirus outbreak at inside Wat Suthat Thepwararam temple in Bangkok, Thailand March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will introduce new measures requiring all travellers to the country to present medical certificates and health insurance before gaining entry in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday.

 

Thailand reported 60 new coronavirus cases, the biggest daily jump in the number of cases so far to take its total infections to 272, a health official said on Thursday.

 

Travellers to Thailand have to now show authorities a health certificate, issued no more than 72 hours before travelling, confirming that they have been tested and are free from the virus. They must also present an insurance policy showing minimum coverage for coronavirus of not less than $100,000.

 

This measure was previously a requirement for countries the Thai government classified as "disease infected zones" which include China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Italy and Iran.

 

"We are blocking infection from coming into the country that is why people need medical certificate and health insurance to enter Thailand," Prime Minister Prayuth said.

 

"This will now include all countries to minimize infection so we can control it," he said.

 

It is unclear when the new measure will take effect and how it will be enforced at various border points.

 

The introduction of the new measure comes as dozens of civil society organizations in Thailand demand the government close the border and restrict people's movement to limit infection.

 

Thailand has recorded a large jump in the number of infections this week which the health authority has divided into new imported cases and those with connection to earlier cases.

 

The rise in the number of infections has led the government to close down schools, universities, and entertainment venues around the country which started to take effect on Wednesday.

 

Thailand has recorded one death since the outbreak, with 42 patients having recovered and gone home and 229 still being treated in hospital.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-19

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[fruitman]

Where can we buy mouthmasks?

[keemapoot]

The Thai Embassy in Tokyo states this will be effective from the 21st of March with respect to the health certificate, but as of yet there is no stated date for the proof of insurance coverage. The health certificate merely has to be a "fit to fly" certificate and state you have no fever or other symptoms, but does not require exactly that you have been tested and proven free from Covid-19, which would be impossible for most people.

 

In any event, this is pretty difficult for most people anyway, and almost impossible for many people coming from countries that do not have these available in English language. 

 

* Just reading a social media comment - A Thai spoke to the Okaka Thai consulate and they insisted it had to be a Covid-19 certificate. Obviously, this is very expensive, or just mostly not available in most places for a discretionary purposes like this. Another brilliant policy move.

Edited March 19, 2020 by keemapoot
add

[Aachen]

2 minutes ago, fruitman said:

Where can we buy mouthmasks?

At your local pharmacy. (A friend just got 50! without asking for it from his helpful pharmacist. He got the better ones.)

Edited March 19, 2020 by Aachen

[monkfish]

Where to get these medical certificates I've seen they are issuing them in Thailand after a negative test but are other countries also issuing them?
According to this source the requirement is also for Thai.
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/03/19/prayut-orders-all-travelers-to-present-virus-certificate/

Quote

BANGKOK — Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday said travelers, whether they are Thais or foreigners, must present their health certificates before boarding planes to Thailand, regardless of their flight origins.

This seems like a block on travellers without directly blocking them I wonder why.

[monkfish]

7 minutes ago, Aachen said:

At your local pharmacy. (A friend just got 50! without asking for it from his helpful pharmacist. He got the better ones.)

Went to the pharmacy yesterday and asked for some and they looked at like I was mad and laughingly said Mai Mee.
But from what I have heard if you are lucky and they have some you can only buy 5 so 50?mmm
 

Edited March 19, 2020 by monkfish

[calbts2]

Thailand is closing down now. Foreigners that leave now will have a very difficult if not impossible time to get back in.

[EricTh]

Most people will certainly be put off by the health cert and insurance. It is a covid-19 cert and not any medical cert.

 

That means if we go out of Thailand, it's going to be difficult to get in again.

[lamyai3]

5 minutes ago, monkfish said:

This seems like a block on travellers without directly blocking them I wonder why.

Indeed, the charming health minister mentioned in the CNA interview last night that Thailand was reluctant to receive foreign visitors right now. By requiring a form that is impossible for people to obtain they've effectively closed the door. 

[smedly]

my understanding is that medical insurance now excludes COVID-19

[NanLaew]

The Thai Consulate in Savannakhet started enforcing the medical certificate TODAY Thursday 19th. No certificate, no visa.

[smedly]

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/mar/12/three-more-travel-insurers-withdraw-coronavirus-cover-aviva-post-office-insureandgo

[GeorgeCross]

Quote

"We are blocking infection from coming into the country that is why people need medical certificate and health insurance to enter Thailand," Prime Minister Prayuth said.

 

too late infection is spreading locally now

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by GeorgeCross

[Gweiloman]

No big deal. According to TVF experts, no one wants to come to Thailand anymore anyway. The government should just impose a total ban like many other countries. 

[zydeco]

3 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

No big deal. According to TVF experts, no one wants to come to Thailand anymore anyway. The government should just impose a total ban like many other countries. 

Actually, they should. It's going to happen anyway. They're just putting a smiley face on it. That's okay. Everybody is shutting down. The only way to fight this thing. They actually did something good, to my mind.

[Kelsall]

Makes no difference.  Nobody is coming here anymore anyway.

[Justgrazing]

36 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

We are blocking infection from coming into the country

Forgotten about the Thai " labourer's " from S K who repatriated to Thailand before loads of 'em done a runner into the shadows has he .. 

[SpanishExpat]

 

Can someone for gods f***** sake tell the old man with the dyed hair, that those requirements are nothing else then a soft border close! Can`t believe they are keeping up with that medical certificate/Covid19 covered health insurance with 100k $ sh**. 99% can`t fulfill this specific requirement. So either the airlines have to block most of the few travelers left or they decide to stop flying to LOS.

 

I don`t care about the "loosing face" issue , but better loose the face, make a clear cut and reevaluate in 2-3 weeks. Malaysia is taking strict measures while LOS is still bullsh**** around. Whether a complete shutdown is needed or not, EVERY measure would be better now than changing the opinion multiple times per day . It`s just frustrating that there is no clear strategy in this country.

Edited March 19, 2020 by SpanishExpat

[eeworldwide]

This is a last desperate grab at avoiding reality. It's totally pointless.

Thailand needs to accept that it's game over for the time being and just impose a ban.

So ridiculous to keep imagining that people are chomping at the bit to enter thailand, and these requirements are practically impossible to implement and achieve.

[Misterwhisper]

40 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

They must also present an insurance policy showing minimum coverage for coronavirus of not less than $100,000.

There is no health insurance anywhere in the world that would specifically cover COVID-19 infections; and certainly not for a whopping $100,000 coverage amount. In fact health insurers far and wide - public and private - have all put COVID-19 on their exclusion lists.

 

But maybe the good prime minister - and his public health clown - are not aware of that; like of so many things.

[GeorgeCross]

23 minutes ago, smedly said:

my understanding is that medical insurance now excludes COVID-19

 

your understanding is incorrect, health insurance is available without covid19 exclusions

 

 

[CharlieH]

4 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

There is no health insurance anywhere in the world that would specifically cover COVID-19 infections; and certainly not for a whopping $100,000 coverage amount. In fact health insurers far and wide - public and private - have all put COVID-19 on their exclusion lists.

 

But maybe the good prime minister - and his public health clown - are not aware of that; like of so many things.

"There is no health insurance anywhere in the world that would specifically cover COVID-19 infections;"

 

Not strictly true, I was offered just that today by Kasikorn Bank, and Bangkok Bank have also been offering Virus insurance.

[Don Mega]

26 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

 By requiring a form that is impossible for people to obtain they've effectively closed the door. 

Sounds like a good thing to me.

[monkfish]

3 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

"There is no health insurance anywhere in the world that would specifically cover COVID-19 infections;"

 

Not strictly true, I was offered just that today buy Kasikorn Bank, and Bangkok Bank have also been offering Virus insurance.

Yes for 100k baht though not 100k $$$

[monkfish]

Question is will they enforce it or just baba I've heard they aren't enforcing the current restrictions..

[CharlieH]

Just now, monkfish said:

Yes for 100k baht though not 100k $$$

I have no idea as I have no interest in such insurance, the point being the statement made was untrue, and that Insurance IS available.

[madmitch]

13 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Makes no difference.  Nobody is coming here anymore anyway.

I posted this in another thread. The Russians are still coming to Phuket, even charter flights are arriving as well as the two daily Aeroflot flights.

 

Karon Beach this afternoon

 

 

[spiekerjozef]

4 minutes ago, madmitch said:

I posted this in another thread. The Russians are still coming to Phuket, even charter flights are arriving as well as the two daily Aeroflot flights.

 

 

 

Yes Russians for sure........ sunbathing while standing up.

[Chazar]

16 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

"There is no health insurance anywhere in the world that would specifically cover COVID-19 infections;"

 

Not strictly true, I was offered just that today by Kasikorn Bank, and Bangkok Bank have also been offering Virus insurance.

offering is  one thing but when there are  many infected  will they actually pay out

[KhaoYai]

40 minutes ago, smedly said:

my understanding is that medical insurance now excludes COVID-19

There will be some people that have pre-existing insurance that covers the virus - as far as I know, the insurers can't change that. However, there seems to be a consesus due to press releases etc. that insurers are specifically excluding this virus from any new poilcies - they'd be mad not to.