Thailand Halts Quarantine-Free Entry Over Omicron Concerns

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Thailand is to halt its quarantine-free entry programme “Test & Go” in bid to prevent the spread of Omicron variant in the kingdom. All new arrivals, those applying after Dec 22, will need to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha on Tuesday ordered a temporary suspension of the application of Thailand Pass for all “Test & GO” and “Sandbox” programme (except Phuket Sandbox) starting Tuesday midnight until further notice. He said the measures would be reviewed on January 4. “To date, there are about 200,000 visitors registered for “Test & Go” and “Sandbox” programme, including 110,000 have been approved to enter without quarantine and 90,000 pending approval. “They will be allowed to enter (the kingdom). However, They must comply with additional measures including undergoing their second RT-PCR test at government-designated facilities. “These measures are temporary… this is not to shut off tourists,” he said at a briefing here Tuesday. He added that relevant authorities would closely monitor the COVID-19 situation as well as the latest development of Omicron variant in the kingdom. The announcement came a day after Thailand reported the first case of local transmission of the Omicron variant. To date, Thailand reported at least 63 confirmed Omicron variant cases while another 20 ‘potential’ cases. Starting Nov 1, Thailand has opened its door to fully-vaccinated visitors from 63 countries and territories via a quarantine-free programme where travellers are allowed to visit other provinces once they test negative upon arrival. Besides that, Thailand also welcomed visitors from around the world (except eight African countries - Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe) under the “Living in the Blue Zone” or known as “Sandbox Destinations” programme where they must stay at least seven nights within these approved “Sandbox destinations” before travelling to other provinces in Thailand. Under the “Test & Go” programme, a total of 227 COVID-19 cases have been detected this month compared to 83 cases in November. Besides that, a total of 27 Omicron cases were reported under “Test & Go”, “Sandbox” (three) and alternative quarantine (three). Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 2,476 COVID-19 cases, the lowest since June 10, and 32 fatalities, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 2,196,529 and 21,440 deaths to date. -- BERNAMA