Test

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has revised the conditions of the Phuket “sandbox” program, reducing the duration of the mandatory stay in Phuket to seven days, while allowing tourists to spend the following seven days on “Sealed Routes” in five other provinces.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phlipat Ratchakitprakarn said he has consulted the prime minister about launching the “Sealed Routes”, using Phuket as a hub from which tourists can expand their travel to other provinces.

He said tourists will have to spend seven days on Phuket and take the COVID-19 test twice, before they are allowed to travel through these sealed routes in Krabi, Phang-nga and Samui, which will open for tourists in August, while Chiang Mai and Lamphun will open in October.

Mr. Phlipat added that Hua Hin district, in Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Cha-am in Phetchaburi province are expected to welcome foreign tourists from October 1st. Bangkok and Pattaya, which are still “dark red” zones, will remain closed until the fourth quarter. Buri Ram province will also remain closed, with the cancellation of the Thailand Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The COVID-19 vaccination center at Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok will allow people over 18 years old to make a vaccination appointment via four telecommunication networks, starting tomorrow (July 29). This morning, many people, including the elderly, again arrived at Bang Sue Grand Station to receive their jabs.

The first gate of the vaccination center in Bang Sue is open to the elderly, pregnant women, and people weighing over 100 kilograms. The second, third and fourth gates are for people who have registered on the Mohpromt platform and mobile networks.

Previously, many people lined up outside the building, waiting to receive the vaccine. Each zone is now clearly separate, with chairs and tents provided to those waiting for their shots, and officials are providing assistance and making sure that everyone is seated.

People at the vaccination center said they were happy with the orderliness because the zones are clearly marked and they don’t have to wait too long. They said they are not concerned about possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Tomorrow, people can register for their first AstraZeneca dose via four mobile networks, including Advanced Info Service (AIS), True Corporation, Total Access Communication (DTAC) and National Telecom (NT). The conditions are as follows:

1. People over 18 years old will receive jabs from a reserved 10,000 doses per day.

2. People over 60 years old and people with any of seven chronic diseases, including chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, obesity, cancer and diabetes, will also receive shots from a reserved 10,000 doses per day.

3. Accompanying persons are excluded.

4. Reservations starts at 9 a.m. on July 29th, 2021.

5. People can check reservation methods with their respective mobile networks.

6. The vaccination period is between August 1st and 31st, 2021.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has sped up rapid antigen testing as the latest weapon in fighting the current wave of COVID-19 infections, which are threatening to overwhelm the country’s capital.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the BMA has, so far, deployed officials to conduct rapid COVID-19 tests on residents in six districts. The test kits provide results within 30 minutes and are over 90% accurate.

He said people who return a negative result will be allowed to return home, while those who test positive must take an RT-PCR test to confirm the infection.

The governor said this method enables the BMA to conduct tests on up to 2,000 people per day and laboratories to return test results within two days, adding that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) will offer home and community isolation services or hospitalisation to people whose rapid antigen test comes back positive.

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry will present a proposal to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) seeking approval to allow food and beverage (F&B) outlets in department stores and shopping malls to sell food via online delivery platforms.

Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul said the government is aware of the plight of F&B operators affected by the latest round of anti COVID-19 restrictions, in place since July 20th. The Public Health Ministry has already discussed the matter with the CCSA and will submit the proposal shortly.

She said, under the plan, F&B employees must follow all relevant hygiene procedures and commute on special “sealed routes.” Orders will not be available for customer collection and must be made and delivered via online delivery platforms.

In addition, department stores should provide a waiting area for delivery service staff who arrive to collect orders. The area must be open, well ventilated, not crowded and DMHT rules must be implemented. Employees who hand the orders to delivery drivers in the waiting area must always wear a face mask, practice social distancing, carry hand-sanitizing gel, check temperatures and log in to ThaiChana/MorChana apps.

The first Thai gold medalist at the  has arrived in Phuket on her return to Thailand, and a very warm welcome. The women’s taekwondo olympic champion will be spending her 14 days after arrival quarantine-free in Phuket as part of the Phuket Sandbox campaign.

Panipak Wongpattanakit, nicknamed “Tennis,” today arrived at Phuket International Airport after winning the the gold medal in the women’s taekwondo -49kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan on 24th July.

A celebration was held to welcome back the gold medalist, the national team coach Choi Young-seok, and men’s taekwondo olympian Ramnarong “Junior” Sawekwiharee from Japan, with the Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn greeting the team on arrival.

On this occasion, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, graciously bestowed flower bouquets via the Governor of Phuket Narong Woonciew on Ms Panipak, the other players and coaches in the national team, as well as the Taekwondo Association of Thailand.

Ms Panipak and other athletes arriving in Phuket from Tokyo are subject to the same rules and requirements as other international arrivals in the Phuket Sandbox campaign, including an arrival COVID-19 test conducted at the airport.

After completing the test, the olympic champion was greeted and congratulated by representatives of several organizations, including the Sports Authority of Thailand’s Governor, the Taekwondo Association of Thailand’s President, and other local agencies in Phuket.

Ms Panipak then thanked her father, the coaches, and the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, before traveling to Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra, where she and the team waited for the result of their arrival COVID-19 test in their rooms. The team will be cleared to travel freely within Phuket if the results return negative.

During her 14-day stay in Phuket, Panipak will be engaging in tourism promotion events, and a victory parade taking place on 5th August across the island.

The Minister of Tourism and Sports said the plan for Thai athletes to return to Phuket after their competition in the Tokyo Olympics will give them a chance to relax, while at the same time help promote tourism in the island province.