Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Bongmab69 · Post by **Bongmab69** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:05 pm

i promissed an update on arriving in phuket sandbox proramme:
CHeck in and flights where better then 2 yearsago, just the facemask is the only anoing (somebody advised longtime-ago here, think about a comfortable mask, thanks for that, thats indeed important !!). Flight AMS-DXB was at 50% loaded and DXB-Phuket only 25%: i loved it !! Arriving in phuket ariport, they do a big document-check, what takes time of course, but nothing un-overcommabel. Had myself an issue with my brand-new smartphone i bought last week, it was colpletely dead, and couldnt let them check the 2 loaded apps, but after some dsicution, they let me go without checking that !! Then the swabtest outside the terminal, and on to the bus from my hotel, but they didnt come, had to catch taxi, at pre-arranged price from 640 bht to PATONG. Landed 12.30 and was 15.00 at hotel, was heavy raining on the road. And just now, 21.00 they called me in the room that my test is negative, i am back a free man !! First get over the jet-lag and tmomorrow have a look in town !!

Cowshed Cowboy · Post by **Cowshed Cowboy** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 6:29 am

Bongmab69 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:05 pm i promissed an update on arriving in phuket sandbox proramme:
CHeck in and flights where better then 2 yearsago, just the facemask is the only anoing (somebody advised longtime-ago here, think about a comfortable mask, thanks for that, thats indeed important !!). Flight AMS-DXB was at 50% loaded and DXB-Phuket only 25%: i loved it !! Arriving in phuket ariport, they do a big document-check, what takes time of course, but nothing un-overcommabel. Had myself an issue with my brand-new smartphone i bought last week, it was colpletely dead, and couldnt let them check the 2 loaded apps, but after some dsicution, they let me go without checking that !! Then the swabtest outside the terminal, and on to the bus from my hotel, but they didnt come, had to catch taxi, at pre-arranged price from 640 bht to PATONG. Landed 12.30 and was 15.00 at hotel, was heavy raining on the road. And just now, 21.00 they called me in the room that my test is negative, i am back a free man !! First get over the jet-lag and tmomorrow have a look in town !!

Thanks for your report, always good to hear first hand experiences directly. Maybe you could continue to update us on your ongoing experiences via the Thailand Travel restrictions thread. It's a changing situation at the moment so interesting.

yong · Post by **yong** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:43 am

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coron ... 4&si=44594

Thailand scrambles for COVID-19 antiviral as vaccines run short
Bangkok to import more Favipiravir as patient numbers surge

The Thai government began converting an air cargo warehouse into a field hospital at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok on July 28 as the number of COVID-19 patients climbs. © Reuters
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writerAugust 10, 2021 15:20 JST

BANGKOK -- After a botched vaccine rollout that saw a third wave of COVID-19 wash over Thailand, the country is rushing to secure supplies of the antiviral medication Favipiravir as the number of patients and fatalities spirals higher.

The Pharmacy Council of Thailand has issued a warning letter to the Public Health Ministry about a possible shortage of Favipiravir, as demand for the drug is forecast to surge as high as 30 million pills per month and could reach more than 50 million pills if the number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise.

"Although the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has successfully developed our own [version of] Favipiravir, production capacity is only 2 million pills per month," Jiraporn Limpananon, president of the council, said in a statement, referring to the GPO's drive to produce Favipiravir since last year, when the first wave of the coronavirus hit.

Favipiravir, sold under the brand name Avigan, is approved as a treatment for new and emerging influenza in Japan. It is also being studied as a treatment for other viral infections, including SARS and COVID-19. Thailand began importing it, mostly from Japan, to treat COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic last year.

Japan's Fujifilm Holdings restarted a clinical trial for its antiviral medication Avigan, which has not yet been approved by the country's health ministry as a COVID-19 treatment. © Reuters

In mid-2021, the GPO successfully developed its own version of Favipiravir, which it markets under the brand name "Favir" (200 mg per tablet). It was registered by Thailand's Food and Drug Administration in early August. In the first phase, capacity is up to 2 million tablets per month, with the aim of continuously expanding production.

"The Public Health Ministry should urgently seek additional medicine from other sources as soon as it can, otherwise Thailand will face a serious shortage of Favipiravir at a time that the number of new patients is forecast to rise sharply in August," she said.

Favipiravir has been a key medication in the treatment of patients suffering from severe COVID-19 infections in Thailand. The government has secured supplies of the drug specifically for the pandemic, as it is available by prescription only and is not sold over the counter.

GPO Director Dr. Vitoon Danwiboon has sought to reassure the public, saying the GPO has secured about 43.1 million pills for August, when the number of COVID-19 patients is forecast to peak, through imports from Japan.

On Tuesday, daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 remained high at 19,843, while the daily death toll hit a new record high of 235, causing a wave of concern in Thailand, particularly in Bangkok, the center of the outbreak. Some epidemiologists and virologists forecast the number of new confirmed cases could reach 40,000 per day this month.

Health care workers move a body as a hospital morgue, overwhelmed by COVID-19 deaths, began storing them in refrigerated containers, in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on July 31. © Reuters

Vitoon said the capacity of the GPO is expected to rise, reaching 40 million tablets per month by October. However, that has not eased public fears. Counterfeit Favipiravir is being sold online as desperate COVID patients, isolating themselves at home, seek treatment.

Favipiravir, which was originally developed by Fujifilm Holdings subsidiary Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, has not yet been approved by Japan's health ministry for the treatment of COVID-19. In December, the ministry said it needed to see more data to evaluate its efficacy. In response, Fujifilm launched a new clinical trial in April.

Toyama Chemical developed Favipiravir in the late 1990s. The drug was approved in 2014 to treat new or re-emerging influenza infections, but it has not been approved for the treatment of seasonal influenza. One area of concern is birth defects seen in animal tests on the drug.

Despite the setbacks, Fujifilm sold 1.6 million Avigan tablets for the financial year ended in March. The Japanese government is stockpiling Avigan and providing it to hospitals as part of an observational study. As of February, hospitals had administered Avigan tablets to nearly 11,000 patients, according to Fujita Health University, which is leading the study.

Additional reporting by Wataru Suzuki in Tokyo.

Post by **Clutch Cargo** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:13 pm

^^

Fujifilm Holdings subsidiary Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, has not yet been approved by Japan's health ministry for the treatment of COVID-19. In December, the ministry said it needed to see more data to evaluate its efficacy. In response, Fujifilm launched a new clinical trial in April.

Toyama Chemical developed Favipiravir in the late 1990s. The drug was approved in 2014 to treat new or re-emerging influenza infections, but it has not been approved for the treatment of seasonal influenza. One area of concern is birth defects seen in animal tests on the drug.

Jeez..I hope the Thais know what they're doing..desperation or they've found a drug that works?

cambo swa · Post by **cambo swa** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 7:13 am

Bongmab69 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:05 pm i promissed an update on arriving in phuket sandbox proramme:
CHeck in and flights where better then 2 yearsago, just the facemask is the only anoing (somebody advised longtime-ago here, think about a comfortable mask, thanks for that, thats indeed important !!). Flight AMS-DXB was at 50% loaded and DXB-Phuket only 25%: i loved it !! Arriving in phuket ariport, they do a big document-check, what takes time of course, but nothing un-overcommabel. Had myself an issue with my brand-new smartphone i bought last week, it was colpletely dead, and couldnt let them check the 2 loaded apps, but after some dsicution, they let me go without checking that !! Then the swabtest outside the terminal, and on to the bus from my hotel, but they didnt come, had to catch taxi, at pre-arranged price from 640 bht to PATONG. Landed 12.30 and was 15.00 at hotel, was heavy raining on the road. And just now, 21.00 they called me in the room that my test is negative, i am back a free man !! First get over the jet-lag and tmomorrow have a look in town !!

Thank you for the report. I know you just arrived, but will there be a negative sentiment from the locals about allowing farang into the country? Will they consider foreigners as a risk of spreading Covid with or without data to confirm that? I know my colleague in Indonesia has received very negative comments and the evil eye almost on a daily basis. I want to transfer over to Thailand for a few months to get out of the Cambodia for a change of pace. Best wishes.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 4:39 pm

cambo swa wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 7:13 am
Bongmab69 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:05 pm i promissed an update on arriving in phuket sandbox proramme:
CHeck in and flights where better then 2 yearsago, just the facemask is the only anoing (somebody advised longtime-ago here, think about a comfortable mask, thanks for that, thats indeed important !!). Flight AMS-DXB was at 50% loaded and DXB-Phuket only 25%: i loved it !! Arriving in phuket ariport, they do a big document-check, what takes time of course, but nothing un-overcommabel. Had myself an issue with my brand-new smartphone i bought last week, it was colpletely dead, and couldnt let them check the 2 loaded apps, but after some dsicution, they let me go without checking that !! Then the swabtest outside the terminal, and on to the bus from my hotel, but they didnt come, had to catch taxi, at pre-arranged price from 640 bht to PATONG. Landed 12.30 and was 15.00 at hotel, was heavy raining on the road. And just now, 21.00 they called me in the room that my test is negative, i am back a free man !! First get over the jet-lag and tmomorrow have a look in town !!
Thank you for the report. I know you just arrived, but will there be a negative sentiment from the locals about allowing farang into the country? Will they consider foreigners as a risk of spreading Covid with or without data to confirm that? I know my colleague in Indonesia has received very negative comments and the evil eye almost on a daily basis. I want to transfer over to Thailand for a few months to get out of the Cambodia for a change of pace. Best wishes.

I live in Bangkok and I traveled to the South of Thailand earlier this year. If anything, Thais I've been dealing with have been friendlier since the pandemic started. No negative comments or evil eyes whatsoever.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 5:23 pm

this is very distressing news an if true we wont see borders open this year
and as things go in Thailand, cant see; Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indo and of course Burma opening either.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand could see coronavirus cases double to 45,000 per day by early next month, even with current lockdown measures in place, its COVID-19 taskforce said on Friday, as authorities urged people to stay home to reduce infection risks.

Thailand has been struggling with its worst outbreak so far, with a daily average of 20,000 new infections and 180 deaths in the past week, compared to 70 new cases and single-digit daily fatalities less than five months ago.
Current travel restrictions and containment measures in place over the past month have yet to make an impact, the taskforce said

A record 23,418 new cases were announced on Friday, taking overall cases to 863,189, with 7,126 deaths.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 021-08-13/

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 5:27 pm

Any news from about the conditions in the "sandbox" ? Are the tourists there free to move around and go to restaurants and bars etc ?

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 5:39 pm

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 5:27 pm Any news from about the conditions in the "sandbox" ? Are the tourists there free to move around and go to restaurants and bars etc ?

ur free to move around after ur first result is in on ur arrival tests ( seems to average around 6-8 hours)

they hit 104 positive infected the other day, Mostly thais, as one would expect, travelling back to the island to seek work plus abut 20% returning Burmese migrants. They were very very lacks on arrivals via the bridge an they should have shut it down last month

so far ONLY about 35 overseas travelers have tested positive out of the 15,000+ arrivals

They will NOT shut down the sandbox, to much at stake an as shown its not ,( as everyone But the authorities expected) its not the international arrivals that are causing the problems

Bars still closed, alcohol banned ( of course special "coffee" is available) the major markets in town were shut this week for 7 days
NO domestic flights in or out, NO long haul bus's, in fact very difficult for anyone to get in domestically.

jaynewcastle · Post by **jaynewcastle** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 11:55 pm

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 5:27 pm Any news from about the conditions in the "sandbox" ? Are the tourists there free to move around and go to restaurants and bars etc ?

Of course they are free to go wherever they want in Phuket, thats the whole point of the Sandbox scheme, as an alternative to spending 14 days quarantine in a ASQ hotel room

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