Thailand imposes self-quarantine for passengers from 11 countries

Thailand imposes self-quarantine for passengers from 11 countries

There are confusions on multiple news report on Thailand imposes self-quarantine for passengers from 11 countries and territories yesterday. To update on this situation, we revert to the official statement by The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) website.

The TAT’s official statement can be found here at https://www.tatnews.org/2020/03/tats-recommendations-thailands-ministry-of-public-healths-travel-advisory-for-covid-19/.

The official statement from TAT is as below:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide recommendations regarding the Ministry of Public Health’s travel advisory for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Currently, the Ministry of Public Health has issued a “Level 3: Avoid Unnecessary Travel to Areas with Ongoing Local Transmission.” The countries and administrative regions at-risk for COVID-19 as determined by the Ministry are the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Italy, Iran, France and Germany.

However, in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s announcement on 30 January, 2020, Thailand does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions against China or other affected areas.

Source: https://www.tatnews.org/2020/03/tats-recommendations-thailands-ministry-of-public-healths-travel-advisory-for-covid-19/

Now, what is Level 3: Avoid Unnecessary Travel to Areas with Ongoing Local Transmission

Currently, people are recommended to avoid visiting mainland China in accordance with China’s announcement on 24 January 2020 halting all departing flights from Wuhan. The effective date of the announcement was extended to 31 March 2020.

• The Ministry of Public Health, Thailand recommended Thai people who arrive from affected areas and develop symptoms including coughing, sneezing, panting or runny nose within 14 days of return to seek medical care at the hospital immediately and inform the health care provider regarding the history of recent travel to China.

Source: https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/index.php

This is the news by The Star today and it clearly stated that only local Thais will have to work at home for 14 days.

Thai government spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat said that state officials have to suspend or postpone overseas official trips in countries and regions where the virus is spreading and those being monitored by the Public Health Ministry.

If they can not cancel the trips, they need permission from their heads or related agencies to go on the trips.

State employees who have returned to Thailand from countries and regions at risk or have transited these places or suspected to have contracted the virus can work at home for 14 days to observe their condition.

An information center will be set up at Thai Government House to integrate information from all agencies and receive feedbacks as well as provide the right information to the public regarding Covid-19.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/03/04/thailand-delivers-new-measures-to-contain-covid-19-outbreak

There are few things you should know about the situation in Thailand right now.

1. Thailand imposes self-quarantine for local Thai passengers only from 11 countries and territories. This is confirmed by another report by TheStar Malaysia.

2. Malaysia is not part of the regions at-risk for COVID-19 as mentioned by TAT. Malaysians are welcomed to visit Thailand.

3. If you are unsure with the news reports online, you can always refer to the official statements from TAT official website at https://www.tatnews.org/

Wilson Ng