News Forum - Thailand entry may be simplified by switching to antigen test

[Thaiger]

At the CCSA meeting on Friday, the Ministry of Public Health will propose easing entry requirements by replacing RT-PCR tests with a much cheaper and faster antigen test. Health authorities report that Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul will propose the revision at Friday’s meeting to be enacted from December on. The simplifying of the required Covid-19 test is part of an effort to relax entry restrictions to encourage tourists to come to Thailand. Currently, internationally arriving travellers transfer to an approved hotel where they will undergo an RT-PCR test and then be confined to their room until the test […]

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[Prosaap]

I think the results from the pattaya music festifal came a conveniënt time to keep the bars closed i can understand if the want them to stay closed but then close all not have dumb rules like now all the bars change for white light like covid is scared of with light it all make no sense can not sit at a bar but a music festifal bringing a lot people together can like tonight the fire work same thing happen they will buy beer in 7/11 and drink at the beach    

[Bob20]

The point to consider is speed against accuracy.

Would you rather get a more accurate result from a PCR test with one nights' wait?

Or would you rather know the result in minutes and spend more time in quarantine because of a far more likely false positive ATK test?

[Does]

With Covid Delta variant, the r naught is 6.0-7.0.  So one infected person can possibly spread it to 7, then to 49, then 343, to 2,400 people!  This is exactly what is happening in Austria, Germany and Netherlands. With tourists failing to wear masks or wearing them improperly (leaving their nose exposed), removing RT-PCR tests, may leave to a fourth wave in Thailand with another closure of borders.  

[Lawyers_Guns_and_Money]

Antigen tests have a less than 85% chance of accuracy. This is just another version of the same issue when it comes to testing positive after arrival. In my opinion, recreational tourists should hold firm on waiting until testing on arrival is eliminated and Thailand has demonstrated that there will be no backsliding on restrictions. In the meantime, relax and enjoy the holidays.

[AlexPTY]

tests, no tests doesn't matter. you create a crowd, nd it makes it easier to pass the virus, vaccinated or not... we can talk and talk about it, but we either learn to live with these numbers, or everything will need to lock down again. i have a feeling that we will

[Rick777]

Mr Does

sorry to disagree with you, but the standard surgical masks only stop about 15-18% of the air you are exhaling. Also, while the Delta variant is much more contagious and vaccine resistant the main reason that it is spreading is in the EU and most of the northern states in the USA are now experiencing cold weather and people don’t have the windows open and congregate inside, and in EU most houses and restaurants are small and crowded with no ventilation.

if Thailand decides to open they need to switch to rapid tests on arrival. if Bars  are to open they need to make mandatory social distancing inside with plenty of ventilation and close indoor bars from midnight as it become to difficult to enforce the rules. As it is proven their is near zero chance of spreading covid outdoors it is unnecessary to close outdoor bars. 

[PfizerModernaJohnson]

Antigen tests only show positive if your viral load is very high already. Typically 5-7 days after infection they can detect. 

 

if you have symptoms taking a AntiGen test makes totally sense , but to detect Covid in early stages PCR Test is needed. 

 

fasten your seat belts  and good luck Thailand. 
 

from a Germany hospital with love , 10hour shift ends soon :) 
 

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by PfizerModernaJohnson

[Prosaap]

My point is what ever you dicide follow up how is a bar that pay the police more save how make white light the bar more save how can you not sit at a bar but have a music festifal with a lot of people travel from every where i like the bars to be open but if not so be it but when look around and see the stupid rules that make no sense piss me off little bit open all or close all if science say open bars have less risk that make sense not withe light 

[Saltire]

39 minutes ago, Lawyers_Guns_and_Money said:

Antigen tests have a less than 85% chance of accuracy. This is just another version of the same issue when it comes to testing positive after arrival. In my opinion, recreational tourists should hold firm on waiting until testing on arrival is eliminated and Thailand has demonstrated that there will be no backsliding on restrictions. In the meantime, relax and enjoy the holidays.

Agree,  and the quarantine hotels will get more customers from the increase in 'positives'. Clever.

[ace035]

Do not take that COVID-19 ATK test, majority of the time it's a "false positive" & not accurate at all.

[Saltire]

If assuming I am correct and these ATK tests are DIY from a pharmacy, how are they date stamped? Can you prove it was taken within 72 hours? Assume they are taken at the airport and you just wait?

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by Saltire

[Wannabe]

Just returned from trip to HKT and can tell you insisting on the RT PCR test (there are many faster PCR tests such as NAAT) should be abolished. Abolished for entry via Thailand Pass and for arrival. All major jurisdictions allow PCR of various types. Some allow antigen such as US. It’s silly and time consuming. The paperwork and extra time makes a quick trip off the table. Plus if you need to change travel plans for emergencies it’s very difficult and adds a day since the labs only do RT PCR for exit testing. 24 hrs is shortest turnaround.

[TheDirtyDurian]

Just scrap all tests on arrival. We're talking about 0.08% infected arriving. Or less than one in 10,000. Compared to the infections in Thailand it's so negligible as to make no difference whatsoever. 

PCR pre travel and that's it. 

 

[Bob20]

2 minutes ago, TheDirtyDurian said:

Just scrap all tests on arrival. We're talking about 0.08% infected arriving. Or less than one in 10,000. Compared to the infections in Thailand it's so negligible as to make no difference whatsoever. 

PCR pre travel and that's it. 

When they take a swab for PCR testing, they don't always just test for general "Covid". They test for variants as well through genetic sequencing. That's how they found the S.African variant as well.

So no, they shouldn't stop testing.

[TheDirtyDurian]

29 minutes ago, Bob20 said:

When they take a swab for PCR testing, they don't always just test for general "Covid". They test for variants as well through genetic sequencing. That's how they found the S.African variant as well.

So no, they shouldn't stop testing.

I didn't say stop PCR tests. I said that the numbers of people testing positive on arrival is so small, so as to make tests on arrival irrelevant in the big scheme of things. Less than 1 in 10,000. 

South Africa is, along with the UK,  also a world leader in genome sequencing of Corona. You think Thailand is!?

 

[oldschooler]

Just Stop Testing Fully Western Vaxxed People ! 

They cannot fatally infect anyone nor put them in hospital.

[Bob20]

13 minutes ago, TheDirtyDurian said:

 

South Africa is, along with the UK,  also a world leader in genome sequencing of Corona. You think Thailand is!?

Certainly not bottom of the list!

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347915899_Genomic_surveillance_of_SARS-CoV-2_in_Thailand_reveals_mixed_imported_populations_a_local_lineage_expansion_and_a_virus_with_truncated_ORF7a

https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)32557-1/pdf&ved=2ahUKEwidwL7tvrX0AhUGTsAKHSagBZgQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0WCMA-PIL2R-2uA6UADryS

[TheDirtyDurian]

3 minutes ago, Bob20 said:

Certainly not bottom of the list!

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347915899_Genomic_surveillance_of_SARS-CoV-2_in_Thailand_reveals_mixed_imported_populations_a_local_lineage_expansion_and_a_virus_with_truncated_ORF7a

https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)32557-1/pdf&ved=2ahUKEwidwL7tvrX0AhUGTsAKHSagBZgQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0WCMA-PIL2R-2uA6UADryS

There's a lot of countries in the world!

Edited November 26, 2021 by TheDirtyDurian

[Bob20]

6 minutes ago, TheDirtyDurian said:

There's a lot of countries in the world!

And they all contribute, some more than others, as is usual in a shared effort.

[Cabra]

Antigen testing on arrival really only makes sense if you are PCR tested (72 hours) prior your departure. Otherwise the (in)accuracy of antigen testing will only increase the number of infected people entering the Kingdom. 

[TheDirtyDurian]

1 minute ago, Cabra said:

Antigen testing on arrival really only makes sense if you are PCR tested (72 hours) prior your departure. Otherwise the (in)accuracy of antigen testing will only increase the number of infected people entering the Kingdom. 

Which everyone would be. Double jabbed and PCR before travel. That's all it takes really. 

[TheDirtyDurian]

Just now, TheDirtyDurian said:

Which everyone would be. Double jabbed and PCR before travel. That's all it takes really. 

Maybe stricter rules for some higher risk countries etc.....

[TheDirtyDurian]

My country has been open for months with just a PCR pre travel for vaccinated people. There hasn't been some massive spike in infections, in fact they're running at around 50 a day, and have been for a long time. 

What we have instead are some of the toughest restrictions in the world on the unvaccinated. That's IMO the way forward, having seen it first hand. 

And actually, life is pretty much back to normal. 

[Shark]

5 hours ago, Does said:

With Covid Delta variant, the r naught is 6.0-7.0.  So one infected person can possibly spread it to 7, then to 49, then 343, to 2,400 people!  This is exactly what is happening in Austria, Germany and Netherlands. With tourists failing to wear masks or wearing them improperly (leaving their nose exposed), removing RT-PCR tests, may leave to a fourth wave in Thailand with another closure of borders.  

but unluckily not only tourists look at the pancake lady she also was not properly educated on how to wear a mask or dress up it appears!