National –
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has halted new “Thailand Pass” registration except for Alternative Quarantine and Phuket Sandbox and suspended the “Test & Go” no-quarantine tourism scheme for all international tourists, effective tonight at midnight.
About 90,000 registered arrivals who already declared their intention to visit the country can continue to arrive in the country but must go through additional health measures and an additional RT-PCR test on their seventh day of arrival as well as strictly follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Health to prevent the imported case of the Omicron variant in Thailand.
New Year’s events and activities will not be ordered canceled but must abide by rules and restrictions of the Public Health, according to the order of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha.
The general committee of the CCSA will reportedly observe the situation of the Omicron spread closely and will reconsider the measures again on January 4th.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released. We will provide you with more details and official statements as soon as possible. Many details and specifics as to what happens for those arriving are still not clear and there have been mixed messages from different government ministers and spokespeople.
UPDATED as of 3:59 PM.
Thai government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana clarified after the cabinet committee that the “Thailand Pass” system is initially closed for registration from December 22nd, 2021, to January 4th, 2022. The remaining 90,000 tourists registered in the system can continue to visit Thailand but must test with a second RT-PCR test on day seven, which will be free, and proceed with quarantine/health measures. See update below.
He also stated that the government did not close the tourists’ arrivals in Thailand as the Phuket Sandbox and alternative quarantine is still operated normally. As for sandboxes in other areas, new applications to enter them are suspended as of midnight today, but applied/approved previously to enter can arrive on a passenger’s original plan.
UPDATED as of 5:17 PM. from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
According to the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, new measures apply for all applicants on Thailand Pass, starting immediately. Applicants who have already been approved for their Thailand Pass and have their QR code can enter on the original plan they applied for.
Those who have not received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered/approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered for.
Thailand Pass will as of midnight only accept new applicants seeking to enter Thailand under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox only.
Passengers who will arrive in Thailand under the Test and Go and Sandbox Programme must undergo their 2nd COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities with no additional costs on the seventh day.
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