Thailand removes quarantine for vaccinated tourists from low-risk countries

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha said Thailand will remove the quarantine requirement for foreigners who have been fully vaccinated and come from low-risk countries from November 1.

“I have ordered the Covid-19 Situation Control Center (CCSA) and the Department of Health to review this plan together,” Prayut said. Asia Channel News, Tuesday (12/10).

According to Prayut, at least 10 countries will be exempt from quarantine requirements, including Britain, China, Germany and the United States.

The local government will add a list of countries that will be released from quarantine on December 1.

Tourists will only be asked to show a negative Covid-19 result through a PCR test performed in their respective home countries, after which a PCR test will be performed. at the arrival when tourists arrive in Thailand.

“After that, they will be able to travel freely to various regions like Thais in general do,” he said.

However, quarantine obligations will still be applied to tourists arriving from countries outside the safety list established by the Thai government.

Prayut explained that opening entertainment venues and selling alcohol was still banned in some high-risk areas like Bangkok.

The government will consider allowing the resumption of entertainment venues and alcohol sales on December 1.

“I know there are risks involved in such decisions. It is almost certain that when we start various relaxations it can cause more transmission of Covid-19 in the meantime,” he said.

This easing of the quarantine is an effort by the Thai government to boost foreign tourist visits. Thailand is a country that derives most of its income from the tourism sector.

He said the government would continue to monitor the situation closely after several relaxations were implemented later.

However, if within three to four months a new variant is highly contagious and dangerous, the Thai government will again consider easing.

Meanwhile, Singapore has also removed mandatory quarantine requirements for arrivals that have been fully vaccinated from eight countries, including Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States (United States).

This provision comes into effect on October 19. The Singapore government has said the easing marks a major step in Singapore’s strategy to continue international relations.

Singapore is the most important business and aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Singapore is also one of the world’s commercial and financial centers, where thousands of global companies have long relied on Singapore’s connectivity as part of their operations.

Reported from ReutersThe country of 5.45 million people has reported a record daily Covid-19 infection of more than 3,000 in recent days.

Even so, almost all cases are asymptomatic or mild. About 83% of the population is fully vaccinated, this is one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore will reach a new normal and may ease restrictions when cases stabilize, even if the number remains in the hundreds.

“We’re going to need at least three months, and maybe up to six months, to get there,” Lee said in his speech.

Singapore’s travel program for fully immunized people started in September with Germany and Brunei, and will cover South Korea from next month. Up to 3,000 travelers will be able to enter daily via a vaccinated travel itinerary or vaccinated travel line (VTL).