Thailand tightens entry requirements due to spread of omicron

BANGKOK – Thailand on Friday announced it is tightening some entry restrictions while expanding its ‘sandbox’ quarantine program, and urged people to follow social distancing and mask rules to control the spread of COVID -19 powered by omicron variant.

The government has not announced any lockdowns, but has issued restrictions on alcohol consumption in restaurants. He also called on people to avoid public gatherings, public transport and travel across the country. Most schools will remain open, while bars and nightclubs will remain closed.

The move came after daily reported coronavirus cases doubled to 7,526 within days of the New Year’s holiday, mainly because of the omicron variant. Nineteen new deaths have been recorded, the government said.

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, said it had indefinitely suspended the country’s “test-and-go” program, under which foreign tourists could only quarantine one night while waiting for them. test results, and that people already approved under the scheme can only enter the kingdom until January 15.

CCSA spokesman Taweesin Witsanuyothin said all other people arriving in Thailand must either self-quarantine at the hotel or use the “sandbox” program. He said the program will be extended next Tuesday from the island of Phuket to the provinces of Pang-nga and Krabi and three islands in the province of Surat Thai – Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

He said travel restrictions on eight African countries will also be lifted on that day.

Under the ‘sandbox’ program, fully vaccinated people are allowed to enter specific places such as Phuket. They must spend a week in an approved hotel, undergo a test on arrival and another a week later. Although their movements are tracked, they can move around freely.

The ‘test-and-go’ program allowed fully vaccinated people to enter Thailand, but they were subjected to a coronavirus test upon arrival and a second test seven days later. If the first test was negative, they could travel freely. They had to spend their first night in a government approved hotel while awaiting their test results.

Thailand had by far the most ambitious program in the region to allow travelers to enter and move around the country. It relaxed restrictions after a successful vaccination program in which 100 million doses were given to its population of around 60 million. Stimulus programs are underway across the country.