Sandbox could be revised, cancelled if Covid-19 outbreaks occur

[Thaiger]

With Phuket scheduled to reopen to international travellers next Friday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has put together a “Plan B” for closing the Sandbox in case of outbreaks. Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information Natapanu Nopakun, who also acts as the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, outlines possible scenarios in an English address during the CCSA national Covid-19 briefing yesterday. The Deputy Director-General said that if things worsened considerably after reopening, plans could be reconsidered or halted. If outbreaks increase rapidly in Phuket once the province opens to international travellers on July 1, revisions to […]

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[HRPuckinfutz]

If Phuket is to experience an outbreak of COVID after the sandbox is opened, it won't likely be from vaccinated tourists.  It will be from allowing unvaccinated domestic travelers to travel from BKK to Phuket.  All of the restrictions on vaccinated tourists don't apply to domestic travelers.  That is the Pandora's Box that the Thai government is planning to open.

[Faz]

Domestic travellers from elsewhere in Thailand to Phuket have to have a negative RT-PCR test before entry.

Still there have been cases of vaccinated foreigners and Thais staying in ASQ hotels, testing positive for Covid. It breaks the ideology of opening Phuket to vaccinated tourists only, then allowing unvaccinated locals to enter, albeit with an RT-PCR test.

The scheme will be closed by the end of August in my opinion due to outbreaks of Covid.

The Governments priority should be to vaccinate the majority of it's own population before considering tourism, but money makes the decisions here, not common sense. 

[Kevod]

Sealed routes, they can't even seal the borders for smugglers bringing covid into the country and the government should be doing more to roll out the vaccine it's not the foreigners you need to be scared to be scared off its the Thais themselves. Spreading everywhere and charging people fortunes for tests ridiculous.

[King Cotton]

29 minutes ago, Kevod said:

Sealed routes, they can't even seal the borders for smugglers bringing covid into the country and the government should be doing more to roll out the vaccine it's not the foreigners you need to be scared to be scared off its the Thais themselves. Spreading everywhere and charging people fortunes for tests ridiculous.

Excellent debut post, Kevod. And, as for 'sealed routes', I doubt if Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, Natapanu Nopakun, even knows what the term means. Go on, ask him, someone . . . and watch him turn red through lack of face.

 

Hello, Kevod and and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

[Objectivance]

And there's "the out" that most people familiar with the shenanigans were waiting for.

[charliebb1]

When will the final final rules for the sandbox be published, does anyone know, following approval by the Govt yesterday?

We are a Thai/Irish family keen to get back to see family this summer after doing the 14 days in Phuket and need to see the final rules before we can book anything given the ongoing changes.

Thank you!

[Paco]

And there it finally is warming you up to say it will be cancelled, I was waiting for it, it is a habit of governments not to tell the plain true directly in your face... the excuse to not say we not ready....

 

Next  excuse please for other topic

[vlad]

First and Formost a big Thumbs up to all at TheThaiger talk team and the Moderation team for allowing this Forum to be set up, and i hope it grows into a operation aimed at Tourists and expats on or about to visit Thailand and the locals who are welcome to post also.

Well as i reside in the UK and not an Expat living in Phuket I have traveled many times to Phuket and i love to ride a hired bike from Patong to Cape Panwar.

Anyway onto the Sandbox Scheme unfortunately it will not Succeed because Phuket has not inoculated its locals sufficiently enough to fight this pandemic. The Governor of Phuket needs to  understand the virus is Transmitted by Thais traveling to Phuket and the surrounding Islands who have not had any vaccines.  Tourists who leave there Country are only allowed to leave once they are fully vaccinated and fit to fly they simply cannot bring it with them to Phuket any spread now is from Thai's painful to hear but the truth has to be told. We in the UK are very close to full opening without masks even why ?? because we listened and acted on the advice of our top Scientist's and PM. We had to suffer Lock downs, and only allowed to leave our homes for food shopping or Doctor appointments. Sadly we lost 180,000 people due to Covid. We made mistakes that cost us many lives but through Mass Vaccination of the best Vaccine we have recovered, However we understand we can never be rid of Covid 19 so like the Annual flu jab we will have to live with the Annual Covid shot. The Governor of Phuket must understand that the Tourists will inject cash into the local Economy ie no tourists no economy. Instead of insulting us by calling us Dirty falangs who should never be allowed in Thailand. Does his Tourist minister think he can say things like this? does he understand the damage and reputation that he has caused by coming out with these comments. So basically you must vaccinate your local population before you even think of opening up for Tourists. You must have sufficient amounts of reliable vaccines, and most of all be sincere and honest with the people you are relying on to save your Island show us we are welcome and keep us safe and not to be allowed to be ripped off.

[Geo]

One big flop, no tourism if no provinces can meet the 70% immunity because if no vaccines all bullshit

[Stonker]

The problem won't just come from "unvaccinated domestic travellers" rather than "vaccinated tourists " but from everything that "tourism"  requires: no masks, parties, free travel, nightlife, socialising - basically, "normality".

You can't have that without Covid unless you have herd immunity, and you can't have that by giving half the population just one vaccination when two (or three) are required of 70 -85% of the population. Pretending that one dose is "vaccinated" and moving the goalposts from 70% of the full population to only 70% of the "target population" is just being stupid.

[King Cotton]

47 minutes ago, vlad said:

First and foremost a big Thumbs up to all at the Thaiger Talk team and the Moderation team for allowing this Forum to be set up, and i hope it grows into a operation aimed at Tourists and expats on or about to visit Thailand and the locals who are welcome to post also.

Well as i reside in the UK and not an Expat living in Phuket I have travelled many times to Phuket and I love to ride a hired bike from Patong to Cape Panwar.

Excellent debut post, especially coming from not a mere Brit, but a biking Brit! And some valid points, too . . . thanks for those.

 

Hello vlad and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

[King Cotton]

38 minutes ago, Stonker said:

The problem won't just come from "unvaccinated domestic travellers" rather than "vaccinated tourists " but from everything that "tourism"  requires: no masks, parties, free travel, nightlife, socialising - basically, "normality".

You can't have that without Covid unless you have herd immunity, and you can't have that by giving half the population just one vaccination when two (or three) are required of 70 -85% of the population. Pretending that one dose is "vaccinated" and moving the goalposts from 70% of the full population to only 70% of the "target population" is just being stupid.

Many valid points, here, in an excellent debut post . . . thanks for that.

 

Hello, Stonker and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

[vlad]

4 hours ago, King Cotton said:

Excellent debut post, especially coming from not a mere Brit, but a biking Brit! And some valid points, too . . . thanks for those.

Hello vlad and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

Thanks KC just read the rules. all sound information and clear. Anyone who has used websites knows full well not to post material that is derogatory, or Trolling members. Banter is ok as long as it doesn't turn into an argument and insulting.

I hope we can post in a constructive manner and free to say what we like to say as long as its within the rules.

ps 

 

Can we start a quiz or a pop quiz.

[bushav8r]

No one saw this coming..

[King Cotton]

7 hours ago, vlad said:

I hope we can post in a constructive manner and free to say what we like to say as long as its within the rules.

ps 

Can we start a quiz or a pop quiz.

Glad that you're happy with the T-T rules which, as you'll have perceived, are all geared towards members enjoying positive exchanges and with freedom & respect being the key watchwords.

As for starting quizzes, etc, . . . Yes by all means; they will just add to the exchanges and enjoyment . . . quiz away, chaps!

[Patnou]

How the tourist sector will manage the vaccination of hundreds or thousands staff needed to restart operations ?  If not, outbreaks will surely come back with that staff, not the tourists

[Guevara]

17 hours ago, charliebb1 said:

When will the final final rules for the sandbox be published, does anyone know, following approval by the Govt yesterday?

We are a Thai/Irish family keen to get back to see family this summer after doing the 14 days in Phuket and need to see the final rules before we can book anything given the ongoing changes.

Thank you!

There is unlikely to be an absolute 'final' rule due to the changing nature of Covid. However nothing is signed, sealed and delivered until it is approved by the Head of State and published in the Royal Gazette early next week (hopefully).

[PohTou]

Other possibility would be adding a hotel quarantine to reduce the incoming spread of Covid 19???????  There is no risk of a spread of Covid 19 from incoming tourists! They have to be fully vaccinated before arriving! The risk will originate with Thai residents of Phuket, not fully vaccinated tourists!!!

[Faz]

16 hours ago, vlad said:

Anyway onto the Sandbox Scheme unfortunately it will not Succeed because Phuket has not inoculated its locals sufficiently enough to fight this pandemic.

In order to vaccinate, you need the vials of vaccines in the first place.

Despite what the Government stated which was to vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable first, they actually vaccinated medical staff (obviously), but Police, Army and Government officials first. Anutin was the first to receive a jab - he was under 60and not in the vulnerable group they initially identified.

The big general public roll out of vaccinations started on June 7th. By June 14th appointments were cancelled across the Country because of a lack of vaccines. I had a hospital appointment for 15th for the AZ, but it was cancelled on 14th. To date 24th June, still no news of when vaccinations will be resumed.

If you go back to old news articles, the Thai government procured 25M AZ vaccines back in November, with a further 35M procured in January. 3M Sinovac supplied free, with a further 500,000 procured in May. I make that 63.5M without any J&J or others they may have received. Why then after administering a just a few million doses (less than 10M)  have they had to delay the roll out due to a lack of vaccines - there is of course an obvious answer.

[vlad]

I have read this morning on 1 of the biggest Websites in Thailand that Governor Wooncien has formed the EOC  Operation Center  for all Networks to Track and Follow up all Tourist's who stay in Phuket.  Well has he not realized that ALL Britt's leaving the UK require fully vaccinated paperwork meaning two jabs and a PcR Check hours before boarding there plane. So according to the Governor of Phuket inbound Tourists must pass a Negative test 72 hours before arrival and a Negative test 72 hours once in Phuket. So if someone tests Positive once they have had there test 72 hours once there in Phuket he or she will have been infected from a Thai local who has not received his first or even been tested not a Tourist. Does he understand we have worked hard and spent a large amount of Money  just to get here ? Has it not sunk in no one will travel from the UK to a holiday destination where your locked down for 2 weeks then have to be forced to wear a Tracking device and then if that's not bad enough find all the Entertainment venues closed ?? . Has the Governor formulated a contingency plan to be be put in place once the arrival figures are dropped on his Table.  

[vlad]

The Simple answer to open up Phuket is forget all this Sandbox Nonsense, this stupid tracking device, Covid Insurance.  Entice Tourists to return give us a reason to return and send a message that Phuket is the Dream destination that will bring mass Tourism back, but Firstly you must contain the Pandemic that means inoculate every body residing and working in Phuket. Only then you can open up. This means a total ban on all domestic and International flights and ALL border crossings closely monitored. If you are not committed to this Plan then your staring into 2022 before a tourist steps into Phuket International.

[Guevara]

36 minutes ago, vlad said:

I have read this morning on 1 of the biggest Websites in Thailand that Governor Wooncien has formed the EOC  Operation Center  for all Networks to Track and Follow up all Tourist's who stay in Phuket.  Well has he not realized that ALL Britt's leaving the UK require fully vaccinated paperwork meaning two jabs and a PcR Check hours before boarding there plane. So according to the Governor of Phuket inbound Tourists must pass a Negative test 72 hours before arrival and a Negative test 72 hours once in Phuket. So if someone tests Positive once they have had there test 72 hours once there in Phuket he or she will have been infected from a Thai local who has not received his first or even been tested not a Tourist. Does he understand we have worked hard and spent a large amount of Money  just to get here ? Has it not sunk in no one will travel from the UK to a holiday destination where your locked down for 2 weeks then have to be forced to wear a Tracking device and then if that's not bad enough find all the Entertainment venues closed ?? . Has the Governor formulated a contingency plan to be be put in place once the arrival figures are dropped on his Table.  

I couldn't agree more Vlad. Having jumped through all the hoops before you board a plane bound for Thailand you then expose your jugular to of an unknown quantity of people who are carrying the virus and/or have not had any vaccination.

As for 'contingency plan', I doubt it is in the Thai Governments terminology.

[vlad]

2 minutes ago, Guevara said:

I couldn't agree more Vlad. Having jumped through all the hoops before you board a plane bound for Thailand you then expose your jugular to of an unknown quantity of people who are carrying the virus and/or have not had any vaccination.

As for 'contingency plan', I doubt it is in the Thai Governments terminology.

Ha Ha there is Guevera its called the " Don't blame me plan " i just implement what i'm told from above.

[satpete]

I promise that there will be more than 90 infections per week because of half or not vaccinated people,
but this is not a real problem, even for thai citizens, in Europe we had more infections
but did this  > take care for people above 60s

it will not help to test vaccinated people, even infected have load of virus for about 1 or 2 days,
most not, so even PCR test will not show it always,

give rapid tests for thai people for free, than you will find the clusters of infections,
because clusters will be at thai citizens, not at travellers