Test & Go to Resume February 1

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...red-fine-tuned

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The Test & Go programme will be reintroduced soon while entry rules under the scheme will be tweaked to allow close monitoring of overseas arrivals' health, said Gen Supoj Malaniyom, head of operations at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Gen Supoj, also secretary-general of the National Security Council, added that Test & Go rules need to be tightened. The CCSA is looking into ways to monitor the health of overseas arrivals during the first seven days of entry.

It appears that under the tightening of the programme, arrivals will undergo two RT-PCR tests during their initial seven days, the first upon arrival and the second on the fifth or sixth day.

Before the programme was suspended earlier this month due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, overseas visitors only had to spend one night at a hotel. If their Covid-19 test was negative, they were free to leave their accommodation and enjoy their holidays. Gen Supoj said the CCSA on Wednesday assessed the pandemic situation in the kingdom and found that daily caseloads, which had shot up previously, were now stabilising.

The centre is considering adjusting areas with varying degrees of Covid-19 prevalence and easing some restrictions to allow greater mobility. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted measures should be modified where necessary to help revive the economy.

Also on Wednesday, the Public Health Ministry suggested that overseas visitors take out comprehensive health insurance that covers all Covid-19 treatment cases. Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, the public health permanent secretary, said visitors must ensure they are fully covered for all types of Covid-19 treatments.

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But now must book 2 days at hotels for testing on day1 and day5!
But it does not have to be the same hotel for both testing days.

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Originally Posted by Manforallseasons

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...red-fine-tuned

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I think this is the link you were looking for:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...o-resume-feb-1

Both pleasing and disappointing. My March trip seems to be back on but having to spend another day in isolation is a blow. Not to mention the inevitable anxiety testing causes.

The second test that was required in December did not require any additional isolation, if the test was passed.
I didn't see anything suggesting a change to that part of the program, other than an earlier date for the second test. A second isolation period would be particularly stupid and illogical.

It seems the requirement for a second test with isolation is that most positive test results occur on the second test (currently at a government health facility unisolated). The inference is therefore isolate all these dirty filthy diseased tourists first because they'll need to be isolated anyway once they test positive.

Whether imposing a further 4 or 5,000 baht cost and the inconvenience of checking into a different hotel will be a disincentive to anyone except the dedicated sex tourist remains to be seen. Personally I'd avoid Thailand and travel to Cambodia instead ...

Positive Omicron test results have jumped by one-third in the past few days but hey mai ben rai