News Forum - Thailand News Today | Day 5 PCR test scrapped & Covid insurance reduced!

[Thaiger]

The Day 5 PCR test for the Test & Go entry scheme has been scrapped. Instead, on day 5, travellers are required to take a self-administered ATK test without the need to stay at an SHA approved hotel. The new measures go into effect on March 1. Travellers entering under the Test & Go scheme must still undergo a PCR test on arrival and stay at an approved hotel for their first night while they wait for their results. The requirement for a second PCR test was initially put into place due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant […]

The story Thailand News Today | Day 5 PCR test scrapped & Covid insurance reduced! as seen on Thaiger News.

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[AussieBob]

Not enough.  Get rid of all Covid testing and quarantines after arrival - then I will visit. 

[riclag]

No more restrictions ! Drop all of the covid revenue schemes ,kor hai kharp.

[HighSo]

México, El Salvador and now even Norway still the only free countries.

[AussieBob]

11 hours ago, HighSo said:

México, El Salvador and now even Norway still the only free countries.

Slovenia just added to that totally free list.  But the problem is that just like yesterday in Thailand, each country is constantly changing its requirements. Therefore there is no current up to date list anywhere - you have to go to each country and check. Eg. Maldives does not test after arrival if you are vaccinated and have a negative test prior to arrival. There are others too who do not test after arriving. That is the issue - being vaccinated and testing negative before getting on the plane will be around for most destinations for a lot longer than tests after arriving (and quarantines).  Personally - I dont want to get on a plane with people that do not have to be vaccinated and have not tested negative recently. 

[Soidog]

11 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Personally - I dont want to get on a plane with people that do not have to be vaccinated and have not tested negative recently. 

Totally agree. To be honest, I wish that testing for nasty pathogens before flying continues forever! The number of times I’ve flown and then had a cold or some other bug. Sitting in a confined space for 10+ hours with people coughing and sneezing is bound to spread all kinds of nasties 

[AussieBob]

10 minutes ago, Soidog said:

Totally agree. To be honest, I wish that testing for nasty pathogens before flying continues forever! The number of times I’ve flown and then had a cold or some other bug. Sitting in a confined space for 10+ hours with people coughing and sneezing is bound to spread all kinds of nasties 

Thanks - and I agree.  Whenever we flew before covid we always had hand cleaners and would wipe down all the surfaces, and even then we tried not to touch anything and never stuck our clean hands into those pockets - everything in bags.  Cant do much about the air recirculating - but the good news is that the standards and maintenance schedules for the air filter/cleaners has been upgraded due to covid. 

But if you fly CheapAir I doubt they will be maintained and the cabin cleaned as well as the 'first class' airlines - yet another reason to avoid cheap airlines.  The 3 major costs for airlines are 1. Labour (Pilots and Stewards etc.)  2. Fuel  They cant do much about fuel costs 3. Maintenance costs (of the planes) are pretty much controlled and not a lot of room (if they are done to the manufacturer's specs and schedule).  So what major cost do you think the cheap airlines cut to be able to offer cheap airfares?   

Me - I want highly trained and experienced Pilots and Stewards if something goes wrong - and then to know the plane has been maintained to spec by qualified and experienced Engineers.  I always wore a very good helmet when I rode a motorbike.  And I always buy the best quality and safest car I can afford.  The sweetness of a great deal, disappears when something goes wrong on a plane. Many people think they will never fall off their bike or have a serious car accident. 

[Marc26]

31 minutes ago, Soidog said:

Totally agree. To be honest, I wish that testing for nasty pathogens before flying continues forever! The number of times I’ve flown and then had a cold or some other bug. Sitting in a confined space for 10+ hours with people coughing and sneezing is bound to spread all kinds of nasties 

I will be wearing a mask for all my future flights to/from Asia

 

I've gotten sick so many times on flights 

With the Chinese hacking and coughing all the time

 

So will see if wearing a mask will help 

[Soidog]

8 minutes ago, Marc26 said:

So will see if wearing a mask will help 

Well it can’t do any harm that’s for sure. Maybe one positive from Covid is that it has raised the awareness of many responsible people about the spread of a virus. I think we are likely to see more hand cleansing, mask wearing and people keeping their distance for some time to come. I’ve also become use to not shaking hands with people (another reason why Thais are more protected). When you think about hand shaking, it is a pretty horrid thing to do

[DoUKnowWhoIAm]

48 minutes ago, Soidog said:

Totally agree. To be honest, I wish that testing for nasty pathogens before flying continues forever! The number of times I’ve flown and then had a cold or some other bug. Sitting in a confined space for 10+ hours with people coughing and sneezing is bound to spread all kinds of nasties 

It would be impossible to test for all kinds of viruses and bacterias. What should be done however, is to stop people with symptoms such as cough and fever to board the plane. Fit to fly certificates are useless to screen for covid or any other specific bug, and you can't expect airlines to demand that from each and every passenger. But the airlines should ask for a medical certificate if someone has suspicious symptoms, to prove that they don't have an ongoing infection, for example someone with chronic cough due to COPD. 

 

[Soidog]

26 minutes ago, DoUKnowWhoIAm said:

It would be impossible to test for all kinds of viruses and bacterias. What should be done however, is to stop people with symptoms such as cough and fever to board the plane. Fit to fly certificates are useless to screen for covid or any other specific bug, and you can't expect airlines to demand that from each and every passenger. But the airlines should ask for a medical certificate if someone has suspicious symptoms, to prove that they don't have an ongoing infection, for example someone with chronic cough due to COPD. 

Yes of course. I was just saying it would be nice not to have to travel with the risk of something nasty after the flight. What you describe would certainly help. Equally, a bit more sense and responsibility from people would help. But there is more likely to be a cure for all cancers before that happens

[AussieBob]

1 hour ago, Marc26 said:

I will be wearing a mask for all my future flights to/from Asia

I've gotten sick so many times on flights 

With the Chinese hacking and coughing all the time

So will see if wearing a mask will help 

Masks etc will help - but best bet is dont fly cheap asian airlines.

[AussieBob]

1 hour ago, Soidog said:

Well it can’t do any harm that’s for sure. Maybe one positive from Covid is that it has raised the awareness of many responsible people about the spread of a virus. I think we are likely to see more hand cleansing, mask wearing and people keeping their distance for some time to come. I’ve also become use to not shaking hands with people (another reason why Thais are more protected). When you think about hand shaking, it is a pretty horrid thing to do

I actually stopped doing it years ago.  Some blokes would be a little put off - but I always tried not to do it especially with strangers - except of course management and customers (remember to wash before food).  I had a hand dermatological issue (still do) so I used it as a bit of an excuse. 

[AussieBob]

27 minutes ago, Soidog said:

Yes of course. I was just saying it would be nice not to have to travel with the risk of something nasty after the flight. What you describe would certainly help. Equally, a bit more sense and responsibility from people would help. But there is more likely to be a cure for all cancers before that happens

Yep - you cannot get on a plane with nail clippers, but you can with TB etc.  Human stupidity and the Universe have one thing in common - they are both infinite.

[Soidog]

26 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Yep - you cannot get on a plane with nail clippers, but you can with TB etc.  Human stupidity and the Universe have one thing in common - they are both infinite.

The nail clipper one is utter madness. I flew with Qatar and when my meal arrived it came with three metal knifes. Anyone of which would have been a lethal weapon. Mind you, I also find it odd that if security find a bottle of water they take it from me and put it in a bin right next to them. If they suspect it’s a dangerous substance or even an explosive, wouldn’t it make sense for it to be removed to somewhere safe.

[AussieBob]

17 minutes ago, Soidog said:

The nail clipper one is utter madness. I flew with Qatar and when my meal arrived it came with three metal knifes. Anyone of which would have been a lethal weapon. Mind you, I also find it odd that if security find a bottle of water they take it from me and put it in a bin right next to them. If they suspect it’s a dangerous substance or even an explosive, wouldn’t it make sense for it to be removed to somewhere safe.

Yep - utterly ridiculous.  I got a good one.  One day in Melbourne after a business trip, I decided to buy a gift for the kids at the airport - I usually picked up something each trip.  Went through the check-in and luggage scan and all that.  On the way to the gates, I knew where there was a shop that sold tourist things. For the son I found a small old fashioned musket on a key ring (about 5-6cm long). At that time the airports were doing double xray checks - since removed - but there was another machine to go through before entering the departure gate area.   Pandemonium !!  There was a gun in my bag !!  Security everywhere suddenly - and I was told to 'come over here'.  I was taken aside and they opened the bag and found the little replica gun on a key string. I was given the third degree etc. and I said - wait a minute - I just bought it in that shop over there - pointing at it and showing the receipt from my wallet.  They had a chat between themselves while I waited - everyone staring at this because the whole boarding system had been stopped.  They came back to me and refused to relent - it was a replica gun and the rules said no replica guns - and they said I was lucky that I was not going to be charged. They confiscated the 'gun' and I was told to leave the area quietly - which I did.  It was very good practice for when I moved to Thailand - staying cool and calm when confronted with bureaucratic idiocy  

[Soidog]

2 minutes ago, AussieBob said:

Yep - utterly ridiculous.  I got a good one.  One day in Melbourne after a business trip, I decided to buy a gift for the kids at the airport - I usually picked up something each trip.  Went through the check-in and luggage scan and all that.  On the way to the gates, I knew where there was a shop that sold tourist things. For the son I found a small old fashioned musket on a key ring (about 5-6cm long). At that time the airports were doing double xray checks - since removed - but there was another machine to go through before entering the departure gate area.   Pandemonium !!  There was a gun in my bag !!  Security everywhere suddenly - and I was told to 'come over here'.  I was taken aside and they opened the bag and found the little replica gun on a key string. I was given the third degree etc. and I said - wait a minute - I just bought it in that shop over there - pointing at it and showing the receipt from my wallet.  They had a chat between themselves while I waited - everyone staring at this because the whole boarding system had been stopped.  They came back to me and refused to relent - it was a replica gun and the rules said no replica guns - and they said I was lucky that I was not going to be charged. They confiscated the 'gun' and I was told to leave the area quietly - which I did.  It was very good practice for when I moved to Thailand - staying cool and calm when confronted with bureaucratic idiocy  

Wow, what an utterly crazy situation. The trouble with many airport procedures is that they hardly seem to ever be reviewed. It’s like Health & Safety measures or Telco cables in Thailand. They keep on adding new ones but never remove any old and redundant ones 

[AussieBob]

5 minutes ago, Soidog said:

Wow, what an utterly crazy situation. The trouble with many airport procedures is that they hardly seem to ever be reviewed. It’s like Health & Safety measures or Telco cables in Thailand. They keep on adding new ones but never remove any old and redundant ones 

I know bureaucrats very well - they just love new rules and regulations - and they will fight to the death to keep all existing ones.  The covid bureaucratic impositions will take a lot longer to disappear than the covid virus itself.  9/11 started all this madness at the airports - that was 20 years ago this September. 

PS - when I pointed out to the 'security' that the pen in my pocket was a far more dangerous item than the tiny replica 'gun' - they looked at me all confused. Obviously they did not see the bar scene in Casino. Batman and John Wick later took it to another level. 

[Marc26]

3 hours ago, Soidog said:

Well it can’t do any harm that’s for sure. Maybe one positive from Covid is that it has raised the awareness of many responsible people about the spread of a virus. I think we are likely to see more hand cleansing, mask wearing and people keeping their distance for some time to come. I’ve also become use to not shaking hands with people (another reason why Thais are more protected). When you think about hand shaking, it is a pretty horrid thing to do

Here in North America it looks to ended the stupid culture of going to work sick to show how good of an employer you are

 

People would go into work coughing up a lung and we'd be ok with that before 

[Soidog]

2 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Here in North America it looks to ended the stupid culture of going to work sick to show how good of an employer you are

People would go into work coughing up a lung and we'd be ok with that before 

The UK got in to that in the late 90’s but it  ended  in and around 2010

[LoongFred]

3 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Here in North America it looks to ended the stupid culture of going to work sick to show how good of an employer you are

People would go into work coughing up a lung and we'd be ok with that before 

The staff then went out and  played golf.  The problem one staff had is that it made the papers that he had a hole in one. He got an extra two weeks off to help with his game. 

On the other hand I've sent staff home who were really sick.

[LoongFred]

5 hours ago, Marc26 said:

Here in North America it looks to ended the stupid culture of going to work sick to show how good of an employer you are

People would go into work coughing up a lung and we'd be ok with that before 

It's always a balance. In the company I worked at employees got up to 15 days off sick plus vacation time and holiday time. They got sick leave at the beginning of the year and some used it all the first three months. I guess they were too sick to hold a job and were let go. 

Some rarely called in sick and retired with a large balance that was converted to cash. 

Of course US companies need to watch the bottom line and must balance time off benefits with other costs. 

We always encouraged staff to take personal responsibilty for themselves and others. However, some staff really didn't want to stay home with a common cold, so we would reassign them to areas without patient contact. 

Sick leave abuse is a problem in all businesses. On the other hand if employee were truly sick, we could have them evaluated by a physician or nurse.

Ì realize that in the UK they'd probably have to go to a NHS physician and wait. As a health care organization we were able to have employee seen quickly usually within a hour or two.

 

[King Cotton]

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

It's always a balance. In the company I worked at employees got up to 15 days off sick plus vacation time and holiday time. They got sick leave at the beginning of the year and some used it all the first three months. I guess they were too sick to hold a job and were let go. 

Some rarely called in sick and retired with a large balance that was converted to cash. 

Of course US companies need to watch the bottom line and must balance time off benefits with other costs. 

We always encouraged staff to take personal responsibilty for themselves and others. However, some staff really didn't want to stay home with a common cold, so we would reassign them to areas without patient contact. 

Sick leave abuse is a problem in all businesses. On the other hand if employee were truly sick, we could have them evaluated by a physician or nurse.

Ì realize that in the UK they'd probably have to go to a NHS physician and wait. As a health care organization we were able to have employee seen quickly usually within a hour or two.

Thanks, Loong . . . that throws new light on the scrapping of the PCR test.