News Forum - Thai officials attempt to track down 783 travellers from Africa for Omicron testing

[Thaiger]

Officials are attempting to trace 783 travellers who’ve arrived in Thailand from various African countries since November 15. Immigration police are working with the Public Health Ministry, who want to test the arrivals for the Omicron Covid-19 variant, according to a Bangkok Post report. However, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk says the public shouldn’t panic, adding that immigration officers and the health ministry are ramping up disease control measures at airports, while border officials are tightening security aimed at preventing illegal migrants from entering. “Don’t panic. The police are urgently working together with the Ministry of Public Health.” Dr Taweesilp […]

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[Fluke]

Its a bit too late now . 

If they have the new virus , they would already have spread the virus and it would already be  in Thailand in circulation  .

[Malc-Thai]

These people have been in the country for up to 17 days.. some 'could' have had it and recovered.  So testing now might not bring up anything.. but where had those people gone or travelled to in that time.. 

[Fluke]

11 minutes ago, Malc-Thai said:

These people have been in the country for up to 17 days.. some 'could' have had it and recovered.  So testing now might not bring up anything.. but where had those people gone or travelled to in that time.. 

783 people in 17 days , quite probably been all over Thailand and the people they have come into contact with , would have moved about as well .

   No point in trying to close the door now

[ace035]

"Don't panic" it's your government that kept on panicking Dr. Taweesilp, don't tell that to your people & the rest of the farangs. I am sure those 783 people need to be track down ASAP & do that PCR-testing. It's true that the virus already spread in Thailand & shall see for the next 2 weeks if another lockdown will happen which forced Thailand to close forever again.

[Pinetree]

Thailand authorities told us 3 days ago that the latest variant (and probably the next one after this one) was not in LOS. What they should have said is its here, we just haven't found it yet. 

[Prosaap]

So all the paper work entry cards and tracking apps are useless they still cant find them i try to count the things they do wrong but more easy to count what works or what they do right then i need only one hand amazing to see that they get something done here 

[Pete424]

Phuket just put 130  previous African countriy arrivals into Quarantine for 14 days. Wow, so now even if you landed and followed all the regulations, if a variant erupts you run the risk of being "jailed" in quarantine for 14 days regardless of a PCR on arrival.

 

Phuket just shut down its tourist opportunity in one fowl swoop.

Edited December 2, 2021 by Pete424
Typo

[Pinetree]

7 minutes ago, Pete424 said:

Phuket just put 130  previous African countriy arrivals into Quarantine for 14 days. Wow, so now even if you landed and followed all the regulations, if a variant erupts you run the risk of being "jailed" in quarantine for 14 days regardless of a PCR on arrival.

Phuket just shut down its tourist opportunity in one fowl swoop.

horses and stable doors come to mind.

[Cabra]

If immigration is unable to track down the majority of November arrivals (given all the paperwork,  double checking, document request, etc.) needed on arrival, then they need to seriously question just how (in)effective they are at what they trying to accomplish in the first place. Then again self reflection is probably not their strongest quality. 

[Dedinbed]

3 hours ago, Thaiger said:

Officials are attempting to trace 783 travellers who’ve arrived in Thailand

gonna need a lot of tracing paper for that amount .. 

[Chatogaster]

I'm always slightly amused when an official makes it a point to implore the public not to panic.

All those who were at ease until the concept of panic was mentioned might reassess and start looking for things to panic about (and suddenly feel the urge to check their supply of toilet rolls).

It's only a meaningful statement if ever there is the possibility an official might say "Ok people, now is the time to panic".

[AlexPTY]

it was discovered in most countries already. why not chase every tourist landed in Thailand?

[CNX]

Where did you find the information on Phuket quarantining those African travellers.?

maybe it is a joke with too much truth.

[Sarisin]

Should not be too difficult to find them, most will be around Suk soi 3 or hanging around Pratunam clothes outlets.

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

2 hours ago, Prosaap said:

So all the paper work entry cards and tracking apps are useless

So it should only take as long as the Thai Immigration Officer can type the name in the system for TM30 to find every single one of them. If not there should be fines coming for the establishments that they are staying in. 

[nobusinessofurs]

I'm curious as to where those deaths occurred from new 2 day variant.

[robsamui]

Don't worry - the miracle worker will save the day.

 

Edited December 2, 2021 by robsamui

[Stonker]

53 minutes ago, AdvocatusDiaboli said:

So it should only take as long as the Thai Immigration Officer can type the name in the system for TM30 to find every single one of them. If not there should be fines coming for the establishments that they are staying in. 

... and they've apparently all turned off the tracking app ... naughty, naughty ...

[Stonker]

1 hour ago, CNX said:

Where did you find the information on Phuket quarantining those African travellers.?

maybe it is a joke with too much truth.

Widely reported.

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/phuket-officials-order-quarantine-for-more-than-100-travellers-from-south-africa

The first PCR test is free, though ... ...

[Malc-Thai]

42 minutes ago, robsamui said:

Don't worry - the miracle worker will save the day.

Do You mean this same miracle worker

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

43 minutes ago, Stonker said:

.. and they've apparently all turned off the tracking app ... naughty, naughty ...

Or they have all turned their phones off to enjoy their “tourist” holidays!

[vlad]

You can already hear the excuses coming " its there fault they turned off there Tracking App its there fault our system works " . Peanut will soon go onto media and tell all the public don't panic our quarantine measures prevented Omicron entering Phuket and all the others who traveled from Africa were quickly traced and they were not infected with the new Omicron a government spokesman said. In reality its likely already there thanks to there blunders. They will lie and spread fake news, and pump out the old a TAT spokesman has predicted more than 700k travelers in December.