Rants, Stupid Shit and Coronavirus in Thailand

[LookingLooking]

So after a positive test on Day 1 are there not any other tests done where if you negative a couple of times you can leave? Scary that you may get a false positive and no follow up tests are done.

Which hospitals made your friends stay 14 days? This would be very helpful information so we know not to book hotels related to these hospitals.

No other tests were done after day 1. I know I have it because I was feeling really bad with symptoms including a burning fever and bad chills. I was shivering with the slightest movement of air around me. Pretty much recovered after 3 days just by taking medication available from 7-11. Throughout the 10 days I experienced almost all the symptoms of the Omnicon variant as they said in the news and research papers, including a lower back pain which was very unique.

After I recovered and returned to my country, I was tested positive on PCR again. Yes you can still test positive after recovery, up to the next 90 days. So this confirmed that mine wasnt a false positive.

Those I had been in close contact or should I say bodily contact with up to 4 days before I got tested positive, were all tested positive too and sent to quarantine. They self reported to authorities after testing positive. Don't worry, the authorities won't ask who your close contacts were and round them all up for quarantine. Even if you had a partner staying in the same room with you, she still won't be hauled into quarantined if she tested negative.

I do hear many patients (with no symptoms) complaining about conspiracy theories of making these tests turn up positive in order to sell more hotel rooms to them in the form of hospitels. PCR tests have a very low rate of error. Chances are these patients are just in denial mode of having to waste time and pay for 10 days of quarantine when they don't feel unwell at all. I must add that I have tested negative all along in many ATK tests I took from the day I was detected to 4 weeks later. In thailand, if you got a positive on ATK it would still have to be confirmed with another PCR test before they classify you as a positive case.

No idea which hospitals my infected friends stayed at. They were all thai and all admitted into private hospitals. Their english wasnt good so they all misspelled the hospital names to me and I have no idea which hospitals are these.

If you are not sure how many days you'll be spending in the hospital or hospitel, do ask the staff before you admit. They will tell you. If you are not happy with it, look for another hospital to admit into.

[Breadman]

So I'm sitting around yesterday talking to a few guys and one is an American heading home the following morning and I asked him where he got the covid test. He said he just walked into a clinic and they emailed him the results in a few hours. I said PCR test? He said 'No, antigen test. You only need an antigen test to fly into the USA'. Left it at that. Next morning it dawns on me that there are no direct flights back to the USA from Thailand, your flying on foreign carriers that might demand a PCR test to fly into their country (such as Japan, Korea etc). I wonder if he was able to board his flight this morning?

[Member #4753]

You are only allowed to bring 30 face masks with you in to Thailand. 50 if you have a medical note.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/air-tra...rseas-flights/

That means if I stay 60 days I have to use my N95 masks 2 days in a row. Pretty sure that isn't helping contamination in Thailand. Are they actually selling 3M N95 masks in Thailand now? Not interested in China KN95.

3 M N95 masks are not readily available in Thailand. The closest thing is the 3 M KF94 made in Korea which you can find at Watsons and Boots. The Chinese KN95 are everywhere but the quality is "variable" at best.

Just bring as many masks as you want. Thai customs are not going to see or care about how many masks you bring. They are only concerned with very illegal stuff or local Thai people exceeding their duty free allowance.

[ActionGene]

You are only allowed to bring 30 face masks with you in to Thailand. 50 if you have a medical note.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/air-tra...rseas-flights/

That means if I stay 60 days I have to use my N95 masks 2 days in a row. Pretty sure that isn't helping contamination in Thailand. Are they actually selling 3M N95 masks in Thailand now? Not interested in China KN95.

I think this article is saying that you cannot leave Thailand with more than 30 masks. They do not want you to export the masks from Thailand to other countries.

[Banana Boi]

You are only allowed to bring 30 face masks with you in to Thailand. 50 if you have a medical note.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/air-tra...rseas-flights/

That means if I stay 60 days I have to use my N95 masks 2 days in a row. Pretty sure that isn't helping contamination in Thailand. Are they actually selling 3M N95 masks in Thailand now? Not interested in China KN95.

[Banana Boi]

I was made to stay in the hospitel for 10 days.

So after a positive test on Day 1 are there not any other tests done where if you negative a couple of times you can leave? Scary that you may get a false positive and no follow up tests are done.

Some of my friends got quarantined for up to 14 days, so the quarantine period may differ according to hospitals.

Which hospitals made your friends stay 14 days? This would be very helpful information so we know not to book hotels related to these hospitals.

[HorseTrader]

I had the same experience as MissionAsia, except that I didn't have a room with such a good view and food for me was not as good.

Thank you for that great information. Sorry you had the illness and hope all is well now.

[LookingLooking]

Sorry for your illness, hope you are now fully recovered.

This is good information for us. It's very easy to learn how to get into Thailand, but there is very little detailed information regarding what happens if you test positive. (1) Do you get a choice as to where you go after testing positive? (2) How long must you stay in quarantine if your symptoms are mild? (3) Do you still need to pay for your original hotel while you are in a quarantine hotel? (4) Did your mandatory insurance pay for everything (hotel? hospital? transportation? food?)?

This information has been hard for me to find. Thanks for any insight that you can provide.

I had the same experience as MissionAsia, except that I didn't have a room with such a good view and food for me was not as good.

1) You can choose the hospital / hospitel to admit to. After your admission is confirm, you can no longer choose.

2) I was made to stay in the hospitel for 10 days. I admitted around 11 pm on day 1. 1 hour after I admitted is already day 2. On day 10 you don't get to leave like right after midnight of day 9. Ask the hospital / hospitel for discharge timing. Some of my friends got quarantined for up to 14 days, so the quarantine period may differ according to hospitals. But health ministry's advice is a minimum of 10 days. More serious symptoms have to stay longer in hospital of course, at least till you are no longer in danger.

3) The day I move to the hospitel was the last day of my hotel booking. So this question is not applicable for me.

4) I got my insurance from a Thai insurer. You may want to enquire about their insurer hospital list and choose from there which one to admit into. They have a system link with the insurer and claims will be made by the hospital on your behalf. You probably need to pay a deposit to get admitted first, usually range 100 k-250 k baht. After you get discharged, they will show you the bill and say how much is claimable form insurer and how much is not. They will refund your deposit amount less the amounts which are not claimable. My non claimable portion was about 4200 baht. Total bill turned out to be somewhere around 87 k baht (claim 83 k from insurer).

[HorseTrader]

I'm finally back in Thailand for the next few months, luckily made a window where there's only 1-day quarantine, and flew to Samui for a little non-mongering style relaxation.

And guess what? I caught covid, even though I have 3 vaccinations and I'm quite careful about wearing my mask, except when I eat at restaurants.

I took 2 brands of quick tests, both returned negative results, but I was feeling so bad I went to a hospital, and tested positive.

The entire experience (besides what was probably one of the worst flus I've had) wasn't terrible. The hotel they quarantined me in had an ocean view, and the food wasn't bad.

Still. It shows that even being careful and vaccinated you can get infected.

Sorry for your illness, hope you are now fully recovered.

This is good information for us. It's very easy to learn how to get into Thailand, but there is very little detailed information regarding what happens if you test positive. (1) Do you get a choice as to where you go after testing positive? (2) How long must you stay in quarantine if your symptoms are mild? (3) Do you still need to pay for your original hotel while you are in a quarantine hotel? (4) Did your mandatory insurance pay for everything (hotel? hospital? transportation? food?)?

This information has been hard for me to find. Thanks for any insight that you can provide.

[Member #4753]

My bigger concern is hotels in resort areas. Specifically 2 hotels in Samui and 1 in Hua Hin have their own requirements to demonstrate negative PCR test results within 72 hours of checking in at their hotels. I'm still looking for hotels in those areas without that requirement. Informal backchannel information with another poster confirms this concept, but indicates this is seldom done on Phuket. I may find myself spending more time on Phuket than ideal.

Phuket was relatively easy. I landed about 5 pm, Test at airport on arrival, at hotel by 7 pm. Had to stay in room until result which came 12 hours later at around 7 am. Forwarded the test email to hotel reception and was free from that point.

Test on day 5 was easy as well. Went to my predetermined testing location, got swabbed and result was back again in 12 hours.

My experience in Thailand is that paid for tests get given priority over say free tests administered by government. I have taken probably a dozen PCR tests in Thailand, all paid for and all back in 12 hours or less despite the standard disclaimer of 24 to 48 hours.

The good thing about Phuket is that you have to book the tests through another website. So hotels do not get involved.

[Member #4753]

New numbers out for Phuket Sandbox. 2% testing positive on arrival, 5% on day 5 PCR test. So out of 2800 arrivals per day 196 people will be hospitalized before 7 day Sandbox is completed. Thailand investigating a high proportion of tourists from Russia who are testing positive on arrival.

When I came back into Thailand through Phuket around Christmas / New Year Russians were the largest tourist group. They have a very relaxed view towards covid, masks were only worn when absolutely necessary and as soon as they hit Phuket Airport were in full on holiday / party mode.

[HorseTrader]

I've been reading stories of guys who have tested positive while getting a PCR test in order to board a plane home. They are then hospitalized for 10 days delaying their trip home. Not only that they are also being charged an overstay fee while they are in the hospital because they didn't go to Immigration to extend their Visa. Not sure how someone is supposed to get to Immigration if they are forced to go to the hospital.

New numbers out for Phuket Sandbox. 2% testing positive on arrival, 5% on day 5 PCR test. So out of 2800 arrivals per day 196 people will be hospitalized before 7 day Sandbox is completed. Thailand investigating a high proportion of tourists from Russia who are testing positive on arrival.

Those are among my concerns. I've scheduled my stay to be slightly longer than 30 days and will get the E-Visa (seems quick, easy, and free); I expect that will extend my time to 60 days. As mentioned below, I'll be very careful at home before going to the airport and will wear N95 mask during travel. Assuming I pass my day-1 PCR test, I'll stay mostly isolated until about day 4, if I'm exposed to COVID after day 4 it is unlikely that my day-5 PCR test will show a problem.

My bigger concern is hotels in resort areas. Specifically 2 hotels in Samui and 1 in Hua Hin have their own requirements to demonstrate negative PCR test results within 72 hours of checking in at their hotels. I'm still looking for hotels in those areas without that requirement. Informal backchannel information with another poster confirms this concept, but indicates this is seldom done on Phuket. I may find myself spending more time on Phuket than ideal.

[Banana Boi]

Many international travellers need a RT PCR test before boarding a plane.

I've been reading stories of guys who have tested positive while getting a PCR test in order to board a plane home. They are then hospitalized for 10 days delaying their trip home. Not only that they are also being charged an overstay fee while they are in the hospital because they didn't go to Immigration to extend their Visa. Not sure how someone is supposed to get to Immigration if they are forced to go to the hospital.

New numbers out for Phuket Sandbox. 2% testing positive on arrival, 5% on day 5 PCR test. So out of 2800 arrivals per day 196 people will be hospitalized before 7 day Sandbox is completed. Thailand investigating a high proportion of tourists from Russia who are testing positive on arrival.

[AdaeLover]

Many international travellers need a RT PCR test before boarding a plane. This is particularly true if flying from BKK to Cambodia. I am curious to know if such tests are available in the lower Sukhumvit area or at the airport. Turn around time and cost info would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance..

Near the Philippines Embassy in Sukhumvit soi 30 you have an option, 2900 THB, 24-36 hours.

Sukhumvit 21, the Japanese Pharmacy / clinic has the saliva one for 4000 THB, I think 48 hours.

[Member #4753]

On a related note, it is my plan to wear N95 mask while in airports and other places when close to people. I'll continue that process for about the first 3-4 days. I doubt the day 5 PCR test will be positive after a day 4 exposure.

That is exactly what I did when coming back on BKK a few weeks ago.