A health service panel of Thailand’s CCSA has agreed to reduce the mandatory quarantine period to 10 days for foreign tourists arriving from countries classified as low risk for COVID-19.

Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit said today that the decision of the Directorate of the Centre for Emergency Health Operations (DCEHO) has been sent to the CCSA for consideration.

He said that the DCEHO also endorsed a new format for quarantine for tourists in specific tourist destinations, to accommodate those issued with Special Tourist Visas (STV), under which those in quarantine need not be confined to their hotel rooms, but can use the hotel’s grounds, albeit separated from other people.

After completion of the isolation period, the tourists can travel as normal, initially in selected provinces, but they will have to observe preventive measures.

Countries considered as low risk for COVID-19 include China, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Kiattiphum said that the quarantine period for tourists from high-risk countries remains unchanged at 14 days.

Studies have shown that there is not much difference, as far as risk is concerned, between 10 or 14 days in quarantine.