BANGKOK, Jan 7 — Thailand today announced more Covid-19 restrictions and measures including the suspension on its quarantine-free ‘Test & Go’ entry programme extended until further notice, in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections.
Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said, however, the current Thailand Pass holders would not be affected as they could still enter the kingdom without undergoing quarantine until Jan 15.
He added the new applications for the ‘Test & Go’ quarantine programme will not be approved until further notice.
“We will make changes if the situation improves,” he said at a press conference here today.
Starting December 22, Thailand halted its quarantine-free entry programme ‘Test & Go’ and also most of the ‘sandbox’ programme except ‘Phuket Sandbox’ in a bid to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, Dr Taweesin said the ‘sandbox’ programme will be expanded to other resort islands – Koh Phang-nga, Krabi, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan (Surat Thani province), starting January 11.
Under the ‘sandbox’ programme, tourists are allowed to move freely during their stay but will remain in the specific location for seven days before travelling to other provinces.
The announcement came after the CCSA meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha.
Covid-19 cases in Thailand continue to surge and over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 7,526 new Covid-19 cases and 19’deaths, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 2,252,776 cases and 21,799 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Dr Taweesin said Thailand would also lift an entry ban on travellers from eight African countries – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe – it had designated as high-risk starting January 11.
To contain the local transmission, Dr Taweesin said entertainment outlets remain closed.
He said restaurants and eateries in eight tourism provinces including the capital Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, and Phuket can serve alcoholic beverages until 9pm starting on Sunday.
However, he said the other 69 provinces have been banned from serving alcoholic beverages.
Besides that, Taweesin said the government also advised public and private sectors to continue working from home until the end of this month.
— Bernama
