News Forum - Phuket officials alarmed by number of tourists testing positive on arrival

[Thaiger]

Officials on the holiday island of Phuket have expressed alarm at the number of foreign tourists testing positive on arrival and are pointing the finger at allegedly fake results from pre-departure PCR tests. Deputy governor Pichet Panapong raised the issue during a call with the CCSA, in which he urged the government’s Covid-19 task force to improve screening measures for overseas arrivals. “False Covid-19 RT-PCR test results are assumed to have something to do with the sharp rise in the number of post-arrival positive tests among tourists. These problems are something beyond Phuket’s authority to deal with and help is […]

The story Phuket officials alarmed by number of tourists testing positive on arrival as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[DFPhuket]

I arrived into Phuket via the Sandbox three times - twice from the US and once from Germany. I could have easily created a fake RT-PCR lab report, as could anyone with rudimentary computer skills. All three PCR reports were emailed to me so that I could print them. Each was formatted differently. It would be impossible for an airline check in agent to know if one was legitimate.

But only an idiot would come to Thailand with a fake negative PCR report, risk a positive test on arrival and be shuttled off to quarantine. 

[Charlie]

My understand most of them are Russians. Stop them coming in. Russia has a HIGH rate of covid cases. 

[ace035]

Those 344 tested positive this week, I'm sure they had a fake PCR-test when they left from where ever the country they from. Lack of facts of too, are they from Phuket, Suvarnabumi or Krabi airport? Which nationalities? Nothing

[Saltire]

I read somewhere that these PCR tests vary from country to country so this may be highlighting that the Thai tests are more sensitive? It could be an explanation but that would mean they can't point the finger at someone else.

[francoa]

omicron is a super mild flu, noone should care anymore. Majority of those are asymptomatic because this variant does literally nothing. 

 

My friend got it, one day he felt it, that was all. That is the reason why europe is already ending this charade.

 

If you keep counting numbers of people with flu, you will never get back to normal.

 

Btw, what happened to the nightlife? Not opening rwst of the bars and lifting thr opening time by 2 hrs would annihilate thr country?

 

pathetic incompetent government 

[DWiener]

1 hour ago, francoa said:

omicron is a super mild flu, noone should care anymore. Majority of those are asymptomatic because this variant does literally nothing. 

My friend got it, one day he felt it, that was all. That is the reason why europe is already ending this charade.

If you keep counting numbers of people with flu, you will never get back to normal.

Unless you are a scientist or doctor specialising in pathogens your opinion about the severity of Omicron has ZERO credibility (and is also contradicted by the scientific community and the WHO). Also your anecdotal evidence about your friend has zero relevance (which is why scientific research largely ignores anecdotal evidence). 

[dingdong]

1 hour ago, francoa said:

omicron is a super mild flu, noone should care anymore. Majority of those are asymptomatic because this variant does literally nothing. 

My friend got it, one day he felt it, that was all. That is the reason why europe is already ending this charade.

If you keep counting numbers of people with flu, you will never get back to normal.

Btw, what happened to the nightlife? Not opening rwst of the bars and lifting thr opening time by 2 hrs would annihilate thr country?

pathetic incompetent government 

yes correct

[francoa]

1 hour ago, DWiener said:

Unless you are a scientist or doctor specialising in pathogens your opinion about the severity of Omicron has ZERO credibility (and is also contradicted by the scientific community and the WHO). Also your anecdotal evidence about your friend has zero relevance (which is why scientific research largely ignores anecdotal evidence). 

lol, europe is opening up, most countries are opening up..ending with the nonsense….i dont need to be scientist to read their news haha. 

Maybe you need a scientist to read you information about the world, but I can actually reas by myself, without a doctorat haha

 

You stay brainwashed and simple, I dont mind that

[francoa]

1 hour ago, DWiener said:

Unless you are a scientist or doctor specialising in pathogens your opinion about the severity of Omicron has ZERO credibility (and is also contradicted by the scientific community and the WHO). Also your anecdotal evidence about your friend has zero relevance (which is why scientific research largely ignores anecdotal evidence). 

like literally, where have you been, are you not aware about what is happening in the world? Your comment looks like you live in a hole without an access to internet

[DWiener]

1 minute ago, francoa said:

lol, europe is opening up, most countries are opening up..ending with the nonsense….i dont need to be scientist to read their news haha. 

Maybe you need a scientist to read you information about the world, but I can actually reas by myself, without a doctorat haha

You stay brainwashed and simple, I dont mind that

Can someone explain the simple difference between Pandemic and Endemic to Mr I Get My Facts from The News here? He seems a little overwhelmed by the concept of education, clearly having none and substituting with a highly inflated estimate of his own opinion. Thanks.

[DWiener]

3 minutes ago, francoa said:

like literally, where have you been, are you not aware about what is happening in the world? Your comment looks like you live in a hole without an access to internet

Name one country that has declared Covid to be endemic. Any one will do...

[Cabra]

There is mounting anecdotal data that suggest the current testing is not entirely accurate or fit for purpose. There is no doubt the world needs a better testing strategy to fully grasp where the virus is surging, and allow for more informed public health policy decisions (w.g., who to vaccinate). Moreover, there needs to be smarting interpretation of the test results, as no one with the sniffles should be in a hospital. Until then more THA tourist are rolling the dice entering under any scheme (with the 7 or 14 day ASQ being probably the lowest risk from a travelers perspective).

[francoa]

27 minutes ago, DWiener said:

Name one country that has declared Covid to be endemic. Any one will do...

UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Ireland, Netherland…and the list goes on.

 

EU health organization is announcing and recommending end to covid passes, mandates and restrictions. The pandemic is over for all of them.

 

But simple commies and totalitarian lovers like you can keep locked at home…dont go to pub, dont go shopping, wear 5 masks. Even better for the world to be honest

 

[Alavan]

1 hour ago, francoa said:

UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Ireland, Netherland…and the list goes on.

Wrong.
They did not call Covid endemic, and that was the question.
Some countries are opening up, but in your f.i. The Netherlands and France still have restrictions.
In France you need a covid pass and only can go to restaurants, café's, movie theaters if you have been vaccinated, and your last vaccination was less than 5 months ago. Ask Macron.

[LoongFred]

4 hours ago, DWiener said:

Unless you are a scientist or doctor specialising in pathogens your opinion about the severity of Omicron has ZERO credibility (and is also contradicted by the scientific community and the WHO). Also your anecdotal evidence about your friend has zero relevance (which is why scientific research largely ignores anecdotal evidence). 

You are correct in saying anecdotal evidence is not convincing proof. It's interesting and could be true but is not convincing by itself. Normally, a blind study is needed that eliminates biasis.  In normal studies we expect some outliers, it's normal. Omicron can cause significant temperatures and general discomfort. The difference is that it normally stays in the upper respiratory track and doesn’t normally proceed to the lower respiratory track like Delta,  but it could. It's still dangerous especially in older aged groups and patients with comobidities. 

Saying it's not dangerous is plain wrong. Information on covid is evolving and we learn new things all the time.

 *My speciality was infectious and communicable disease. 

[Rangers]

6 hours ago, francoa said:

omicron is a super mild flu, noone should care anymore. Majority of those are asymptomatic because this variant does literally nothing. 

My friend got it, one day he felt it, that was all. That is the reason why europe is already ending this charade.

If you keep counting numbers of people with flu, you will never get back to normal.

Btw, what happened to the nightlife? Not opening rwst of the bars and lifting thr opening time by 2 hrs would annihilate thr country?

pathetic incompetent government 

Exact same as me and my family. One day of an upset stomach and nothing else. Omicron is best forgotten about, time to scrap any restrictions and get on with normal life. 

[DWiener]

3 hours ago, francoa said:

But simple commies and totalitarian lovers like you can keep locked at home…dont go to pub, dont go shopping, wear 5 masks. Even better for the world to be honest

The only thing LESS useful in a debate than anecdotes is Ad Hominids.

Also I've been in Thailand travelling for the last SEVEN months **rolls eyes** At least the Thai people are perfectly OK with mask wearing (and don't hoard toilet rolls), unlike many idiot Westerners who react to having to wear a mask as if it's the greatest infringement on human rights ever!

[DWiener]

10 minutes ago, Rangers said:

Exact same as me and my family. One day of an upset stomach and nothing else. Omicron is best forgotten about, time to scrap any restrictions and get on with normal life. 

Wow. You managed to totally miss the point about anecdotes, AND your reasoning is exactly the opposite of the scientific advice about Omicron. The 'just let Omicron rip through the population because it's milder than Delta' approach being tried in several countries atm is a POLITICAL decision. Economics and limits on what voters will put up with are overiding scientific prudence. As long as Covid is running freely among the population the risk of another (possibly more deadly) mutation remains high. It's not over by a long shot.

[MrNovax]

So there is "an alarming number" of people testing positive who are entering through the sandbox scheme.  The sandbox requires all entrants to have the required shots.  

On the other hand, I have not seen any headlines about "alarming numbers" who enter under alternative quarantine.  

 

[Rangers]

5 hours ago, DWiener said:

Wow. You managed to totally miss the point about anecdotes, AND your reasoning is exactly the opposite of the scientific advice about Omicron. The 'just let Omicron rip through the population because it's milder than Delta' approach being tried in several countries atm is a POLITICAL decision. Economics and limits on what voters will put up with are overiding scientific prudence. As long as Covid is running freely among the population the risk of another (possibly more deadly) mutation remains high. It's not over by a long shot.

I hate to break it to you but politics has played a huge part in all this long before Omicron. The virus has now become that mild that it doesn't merit the restrictions. Thankfully most of the world has started to see that and normality is just around the corner. However, if it makes you feel safer then you should continue to hide and let the rest of us enjoy what's left of our one chance at life.

[satpete]

since Omicron is in Phuket already,
there is no need to check arrivals, even if they are positive,
you have to live with Omicron next weeks,

if you test locals as much you will see more infections, maybe about 5000 or more,
nobody can stop this

but government keeps official numbers low, for Thai people only,
foreigners live with 200.00 to 400.000 infections per day at home

Edited February 4, 2022 by satpete

[Guest1]

As long arrivals need  "A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.", the test might be done about 3.5- 4 days before arriving! There is PLENTY of space/time, to get infected. Also the 5. day AFTER arrival, lets a lot space, to have infected people run some days around on the island, without knowing.  So ask for Tests 24h before departure (Oh, that would scare tourists away, 'cause it is expensive), the numbers should go down a bit. on the other hand, do not only on arrival (day1) and 5. day a test,  do one after 3 days also. That way, you may find "local infections" of foreigners. Sorry, forgot, no one wanna find such cluster!

[Guest1]

1 hour ago, MrNovax said:

On the other hand, I have not seen any headlines about "alarming numbers" who enter under alternative quarantine. 

Perhaps b/c they are in quarantine, anyway?

[MrNovax]

1 hour ago, Guest1 said:

Perhaps b/c they are in quarantine, anyway?

I went through it just two weeks ago, first thing they did when we got to the hotel was test us.  they retested us again on day 9.