The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will not scrap the “Thailand Pass” scheme, as has been widely anticipated, but will shorten the registration process for overseas tourists applying to enter Thailand as the “Test and Go” one-night quarantine scheme for the fully vaccinated is scheduled to come to an end on April 30, CCSA assistant spokesperson Sumanee Wacharasint said today (Thursday).
Dr. Sumanee added, however, that when COVID-19 situation in the country steadily improves, the CCSA may consider further easing of restrictions.
She explained that there are currently four steps in the “Thailand Pass” application process, namely checking of vaccination certification, checking of the evidence of advanced hotel bookings, checking of proof of insurance coverage while in Thailand, and proof of booking for RT-PCR testing.
To facilitate the entry into Thailand, she said that the CCSA has decided to drop the requirement for proof of advance hotel and RT-PCR test bookings.
The application process, to be applied from May 1, is as follows:
• Every visitor must register themselves via the “Thailand Pass” system with proof of their vaccination and insurance coverage worth US$10,000.
• RT-PCR testing upon arrival is to be scrapped.
• Without a mandatory quarantine and tests upon arrival required, fully vaccinated tourists are advised to self-administer rapid antigen tests during their stay in Thailand and, if infected, should enter the treatment process as specified in their insurance coverage.
• Those who are not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated must enter Alternative Quarantine (AQ) of five days and show proof of a hotel booking at government-approved hotels. They are to take an RT-PCR test on the 4th or 5th day. They can, however, enter Thailand without a quarantine, providing that they show proof of an RT-PCR negative test taken within 72 hours prior to departure, which must be submitted before departure in the “Thailand Pass” system.
• Those who have been in contact with an infected person, whether they are vaccinated, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, will be subject to five days quarantine plus another five days under observation and must submit to a rapid antigen test on the 5th and 10th day.
Dr. Sumanee said measures have also been adopted for arrivals by land, particularly through border checkpoints in Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Bueng Kan, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Trat, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Songkhla, Narathiwat, Yala, and Satun.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will personally oversee preparations by all agencies to cope with overseas arrivals, once the “Test and Go” scheme ends on April 30, according to Traisulee Traisoranakul, deputy spokesperson for Government House today (Thursday).
As the scrapping of “Test and Go” is considered to be an important turning point, which the government hopes will restore the battered tourism-related economy, she said the prime minister has instructed that any issues in the implementation of new measures must immediately be reported to him.
The prime minister is also seeking cooperation from hotel operators to explain to tourists the need to comply with the measures during their stay in the country.
As far as the general COVID-19 situation is concerned, Traisuree said the Ministry of Public Health has taken all the necessary steps, including the provision of manpower and medical supplies, to deal with the entry rules.
