Thread: Thailand quarantine and entry conditions

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Why do you need to stay in hospital if you are asymptomatic? To get out of government quarantine?

Sorry just noticed that.

That has been procedure in ASQ. I was in the Facebook group "farangs stranded out of Thailand " or something like that as well as another FB group involving folks trying to enter. Back in sept-dec while I was involved with the group at least a dozen were hospitalized and asymptomatic. Many had trouble getting coverage because in their home country or their insurers home country asymptomatic does not require hospitalization. The ones hospitalized had to stay in hospital until they tested negative. That is why I contacted AXA, they cover that.

^
Good point.

Worst time to come to Thailand.

My wife is hospitalized, she can't breathe. She already has asthma. I wish I was in Canada with her so at least she can get non retarded healthcare.

Originally Posted by YourDaddy

My wife is hospitalized, she can't breathe. She already has asthma. I wish I was in Canada with her so at least she can get non retarded healthcare.

Get her in Bumrumgrat, Samitiwej, or Bangkok hospital on par if not better than any western hospitals IMHO. Simply transfer her. My wife fell from 4 meters 2 weeks ago and spent 6 nights in Bangkok hospital. Simply superior care from the neurologist to the eye doctors, to the ever vigilant nurses. Good luck to both you and her.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

But to blithely state one should transfer to Bumrungrad is idiotic unless you have really deep pockets. An ICU bed for a day will be in the region of 20,000 - 50,000 baht never mind the 'treatments'.

I was expecting that since he has a "hi/so" wife she would be insured. I do believe these international hospitals do provide a great standard of care. My wife's neurologist Dr. Poramet was the late kings neurologist so that was good enough for us. I dont continually put down Thailand its citizens SA. Once I realized this is home the wife and I have done all we can to make sure we are covered by good insurance and can be admitted to the best hospitals in the land.

Originally Posted by OhOh

What remains on your angst list?

As illustrated there are a number of members here, each with a nugget or two to share.

Many moons ago, when I was a lad, my first trip to Thailand was supervised by an excellent travel agent. All we had to do was pack and await the:

Taxi from home to Heathrow, sign bearing agents at airports, delivery to overnight Bangkok hotel, two days accompanied sightseeing. Transport to airport and check-in to a domestic flight, taxi to ferry, VIP cabin, taxi to 5* hotel. Same returning.

I am surprised that nobody?, is offering and managing today's travellers similarly.

As you post the first two days you will be enjoying your hotel room, basking in the glow that envelops all travellers who against all odds, reach the promised land of talcum powder covered beaches and sparkling Wats.

Days 3 to 6 sampling the delights the hotel and your companion provide. Don't forget to feed the cooing "doves" on your balcony.

Days 7 to ?, counting down to when that shiny freedom door is unlocked.

All we ask is a new TD thread of your return trip.

When the 7 day ASQ plan for vaccinated people was announced , it was said that after day 3 , with a negative covid test, you can leave your room and use the hotel facilities.
All the ASQ hotels I have looked into so far say " covid test day 5, test come back next day and if positive you can leave the room " I said but that's day 6 on a 7 day stay, What happen to you can leave your room on day 3 ??? This is pretty much, "You can leave your room after you complete the quarantine" well no shit!!
They advertise pool, and Gym, but you cant use them. WTF?
I know, I sound picky , but I don't do being locked up well. I know it is a defect in my personality, and I am working on it , at 63 I am almost there, another 30 years and I will be fine LOL.
Anyway, what ever happen to the "you can leave your room after day 3 if you are vaccinated?
end of rant !!

I got my 60 day Visa. Now the COE which is mostly completed, I've had my ASQ Hotel reserved for a couple of weeks.

I'm finding and been quoted to obtain an PCR test the cost runs around $500 to $700 US. There are many cheaper Covid tests, but the Thais are requiring a PCR Covid test. My Medical Coverage has told me they will reimburse me the cost of the PCR test. It just gets more expensive and the hassles!

Originally Posted by aging one

I was expecting that since he has a "hi/so" wife she would be insured. I do believe these international hospitals do provide a great standard of care. My wife's neurologist Dr. Poramet was the late kings neurologist so that was good enough for us. I dont continually put down Thailand its citizens SA. Once I realized this is home the wife and I have done all we can to make sure we are covered by good insurance and can be admitted to the best hospitals in the land.

Never said my wife is hiso.
Insurance explicitly states no Bumrumgrad and Bangkok Hospital (the "hiso" branch). Other hospitals are fine.

Originally Posted by aging one

I was expecting that since he has a "hi/so" wife she would be insured. I do believe these international hospitals do provide a great standard of care. My wife's neurologist Dr. Poramet was the late kings neurologist so that was good enough for us. I dont continually put down Thailand its citizens SA. Once I realized this is home the wife and I have done all we can to make sure we are covered by good insurance and can be admitted to the best hospitals in the land.

The greater proportion of vulnerable people, those with pre-existing conditions involving poor circulation, history of strokes and pulmonary disabilities and the aged will find it difficult to obtain COVID cover much over, say, indemnity for 100k baht, but certainly for most over 65-70 years old you can forget it unless you have inherited a track record with the same insurer.

Around 2.5% of the COVID infected will need hospitalisation and ICU care but for many it is a one way trip.

The UK has had around 5 million cases with 130,000 deaths. The UK's National Health Service has over a million staff with 1,200 hospitals receiving an annual budget of £120 billions funding 290,000 doctors equipped with only 4,000 critical care beds, a low number for western standards but certainly better than SE Asia. Recent stats showed over 25,000 cases received ICU care.

With roughly the same population but with a fraction of resources one can only imagine the consequences if this current outbreak is not curtailed immediately. But there is no lockdown to speak of, save for the closure of entertainment places.



And still no sign of a vaccination programme getting under way.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

"You can leave your room after you complete the quarantine" well no shit!!
They advertise pool, and Gym, but you cant use them. WTF?

These things change. Some are government announcements, some media interpretations.

They all may change tomorrow.

Again, the hotel facilities are available to non ASQ guests you suggest. It appears that this hotel has confirmed to you, they are not to ASQ guests.

Do other ASQ hotels allow their usage? If so book there but, "rules" may change tomorrow.

Originally Posted by marcusb

Sorry just noticed that.

That has been procedure in ASQ. I was in the Facebook group "farangs stranded out of Thailand " or something like that as well as another FB group involving folks trying to enter. Back in sept-dec while I was involved with the group at least a dozen were hospitalized and asymptomatic. Many had trouble getting coverage because in their home country or their insurers home country asymptomatic does not require hospitalization. The ones hospitalized had to stay in hospital until they tested negative. That is why I contacted AXA, they cover that.

That's why I bought AXA as well. Lots of horror stories about people getting big hospital bills and finding their insurance didn't cover hospitalisation with asymptomatic COVID.

Originally Posted by CalEden

I got my 60 day Visa. Now the COE which is mostly completed, I've had my ASQ Hotel reserved for a couple of weeks.

I'm finding and been quoted to obtain an PCR test the cost runs around $500 to $700 US. There are many cheaper Covid tests, but the Thais are requiring a PCR Covid test. My Medical Coverage has told me they will reimburse me the cost of the PCR test. It just gets more expensive and the hassles!

That's fucking nuts. Mine was about $100 (well it was free since it was through the company, but if I'd had to pay it would have been $100).

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

When the 7 day ASQ plan for vaccinated people was announced , it was said that after day 3 , with a negative covid test, you can leave your room and use the hotel facilities.

It depends who it was said by, doesn't it?

I don't ever recall seeing that.

Checking for my kids I came across this from about 10 days ago..

he new scheme started on 1 April as part of the country’s four-phase reopening rules. Here are the five things you should know about the shortened quarantine:

1. The 7-day quarantine will only apply to people who received full doses of the following vaccines:

• ARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (CoronaVac) by Sinovac (2 doses needed)
• AZD1222 by AstraZeneca/Oxford (2 doses needed);
• AZD1222 by SK BIOSCIENCE – AstraZeneca/Oxford (2 doses needed);
• BNT162b2/CORMIRNATY – Tozinameran (INN) by Pfizer/BioNTech (2 doses needed);
• Covishield (ChAdOx1_nCoV19) by the Serum Institute of India (2 doses needed);
• COV2.Sby the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (1 dose needed),
• mRNA-1273 by Moderna (2 doses needed).

The traveller must receive the vaccine at least 14 days before their arrival in Thailand.

1. The current 14-day period would remain for people arriving from countries where the COVID-19 virus had mutated.
2. When applying for a certificate of entry, travellers would still have to book and pay for 11 nights. The reason behind this is because verification will take place upon arrival.
3. Verification of vaccination certificate will be conducted at the airport by the immigration and doctors from the Ministry of Public Health. They will decide whether the traveller will spend 7 days or 10 days in quarantine. If the traveller will only spend 7 days in quarantine, the hotel will refund the difference of the amount to the guest.
4. Incoming foreigners and Thais returning to the country would be tested once after arrival and on days 5-6.

Apart from the aforementioned changes in quarantine rules, Royal Vacation DMC claimed that all other requirements such as negative COVID test and medical insurance.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

It depends who it was said by, doesn't it?

I don't ever recall seeing that.

"What will change from April?
According to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, which supervises the Thai government's coronavirus policies, Thais and others arriving from abroad will have to quarantine themselves for 10 days, shorter than the previously required 14 days.

Travelers must get two PCR tests: one between the third and fifth day after arrival, and another on the ninth and tenth day.

While in isolation, people will be allowed to move inside the facilities where they are staying. They can use fitness centers and swimming pools and make purchases at kiosks. Previously, those in quarantine could not leave their room. "
Thailand reduces quarantine period from April: 5 things to know -
Nikkei Asia

I Guess the provision to allow vaccinated travelers to leave their room after a negative covid test on day 3 must have changed, which is IMO counterintuitive if as the data seems to suggest , vaccinated people are of very limited danger to contract covid, and the new ASQ rules were enacted to promote tourism, who would want to spend their their vacation locked up in a hotel room , and pay trough the nose , and jump through myriads of hoops for the privilege?
even we , who have not been to our Thai home for over a year, and in view of the rising covid cases in Thailand ,are be reconsidering. Wife last night said. "Maybe we should wait a couple of months more"
If as they had said you could leave your room after 3 days, Well , you would think, First couple of days I will be jet lagged anyway, "I could use some stay in the room and catch up on my sleep time" then I will hung out by the pool, and work on my tan for a few days more, and then I can spend a few days seeing the country.
I am willing to bet, that aside from those of us who have to come to Thailand, very few people will come for vacation. Why then, are even advertising in their ASQ brochures gyms, and pools of you cant even use them?

I'm not too concerned about putting up my feet in a nice hotel for a week.

Getting ready to depart, so I'll report back from the other side once I have my feet up and the Firestick plugged in for the F1 and the Footy.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I'm not too concerned about putting up my feet in a nice hotel for a week.

Getting ready to depart, so I'll report back from the other side once I have my feet up and the Firestick plugged in for the F1 and the Footy.

Good luck and have a good trip,
Don't mind me and my rants, I am just expressing my frustration. I am looking forward to reading on your experience.

Greetings from ASQ!

Settled in and Firestick and tablets running off the Wifi, although both the F1 and the footy are going Pete Tong.

But the fact I can stream them both live is gratifying.

The stroll through the airport was surreal.

Only me and one other bloke in first, so we strolled through together and were pointed this way and that until we go to a holding area just short of the main drag (the one the arrivals leads from).

You are stopped and asked to sit, and then some bird goes through all your documents. I didn't have a completed TM8 because they didn't have any on the plane and I'd forgot to download and fill one out, but that didn't matter, she produced one and it took all of 30 seconds to fill out.

Then held back until a dozen or so people had collected, and waved on again.

Just before turning up the ramp, held back again, and Thais asked to move back and wait.

The farang marched up the hill, turned left, and another row of desks facing immigration, where they checked your documents again.

Then through immigration, I actually had a nice lady who was very cheerful.

Suitcase was off in no time, waved through customs, and then waved to Entrance 10 where each ASQ had a representative. I was on the list, so was escorted outside and over the road, then off to the right (snagged a cheeky smoke on the way) and at the end was put in an AOT Toyota with a perspex partition and off we went.

Walked off the plane at 12:05 and I was on the road at 12:38.

Got to the hotel and was asked to remove shoes and socks and given a pair of slippers.

Reg form and key was all waiting for me. Had to produce the vaccination certificate again and was then sent to Nurse desk in the lobby.

She asked me to register on Line so I can communicate with her, sign another couple of forms and then up to the room.

All very easy.

I was given a digital thermometer and asked to take my temperature by 9am and again by 3pm and report it to the Nurse on Line.

They send you an email with a Google Form to choose your food choices for the day ahead.

The food is passable, but Grab, FoodPanda, Tops etc. can be delivered as mentioned earlier.

The room is nice and big, balcony with an ashtray, I snuck in a bottle of Voddy in case I fancy a drink, and bought loads of snacks anyway.

It was a very easy process, the one thing I would say is bring two copies of the paperwork, although I kept one in the bag and never had to dip into it, but with the number of people handling everything, there is scope for someone to keep something by mistake.

I have until 23rd to find out/decide if I can get into a red zone (Chiang Mai) without another self quarantine (fuck off with that), and I have feelers out to find if it might be better heading for a Yellow zone down South and waiting to see how it develops.

I'm scanning the airwaves to find out how people getting out of ASQ and travelling directly are being treated, but there is nothing recent.

Just a suggestion maybe not taking any form of public transport to Chiang Mia you might avoid any second quarantine if required.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Greetings from ASQ!

Good to see you made it there. Hope you had a good flight. How was the seating in the plane?
Glad to see that getting through the immigration was easy.
You are a TD trailblazer, Thanks for sharing. I look forward reading more about it, knowing what to expect really helps take some of the stress off .
Wife is packing and weighting suitcases right now in front of me.

Originally Posted by CalEden

I have until 23rd to find out/decide if I can get into a red zone (Chiang Mai) without another self quarantine (fuck off with that), and I have feelers out to find if it might be better heading for a Yellow zone down South and waiting to see how it develops.

After the quarantine we are going to Khon Kaen, another red zone , recently announced. and I had the same concern, I have been told by everyone I asked that I should not have a problem
After all after being vaccinated, quarantined, tested before departure, tested two times during quarantine and certified covid clean ,you would probably be the safest person in Thailand. at least as far as covid is concerned.

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

How was the seating in the plane?

"Only me and one other bloke in first"....

Pointy end spacious.