New flight rules cause confusion among Thais overseas wanting to fly home
A health official checks the forms of incoming passengers during a health assessment at a checkpoint for people flying in from a list of countries and territories that include China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Iran and Italy, as a precautionary measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on March 9, 2020. (Photo by VIVEK PRAKASH / AFP)
The new anti-virus restrictions, just announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), requiring airlines to demand “fit to fly” health certificates from passengers before boarding a flight to Thailand, have thrown many Thai citizens overseas, who want to fly home, into confusion.
One Facebook poster, Sirada K. Ning, said that the Embassy he visited was crammed with Thai citizens asking how and where they can get health certificates at affordable prices.
They complained that the sudden implementation of the new restriction caught them off-guard and has caused confusion among ordinary Thais and embassy officials alike.
A compromise solution, agreed between the CAAT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is that the health certificates can be issued by Thai doctors, said Sarada, adding, however, that the certificates are not proof that the person, for whom the certificate is issued, is clear of COVID-19.
The CAAT’s new restriction is due to come into force on March 22nd (GMT +7).
Meanwhile, the Disease Control Department today disclosed a map showing the progress of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, up to yesterday (Thursday). It reveals that the contagion has now spread to 23 provinces, with most cases in Bangkok.
- Bangkok 213 cases in 15 districts
- Samut Prakan 12 cases in 4 districts
- Chiang Mai 7 cases in 2 districts
- Pattani 6 cases in 2 districts
- Chon Buri 5 cases in 2 districts
- Phuket 5 cases in 1 district
- Yala 3 cases in 2 districts
- Nakhon Ratchasima 2 cases in 1 district
- Narathiwat 2 cases in 1 district
- Pathum Thani 2 cases in 1 district
- Prachuap Khiri Khan 2 cases in 1 district
- One case each in Phetchabun, Krabi, Kalasin, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nonthaburi, Roi-et, Saraburi, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri and Surat Thani.
