Rants, Stupid Shit and Coronavirus in Thailand

[Breadman]

I must say in all of my research I never heard about this, assumed the visa setup was the same as its always been. Don't know how I missed it, guess I was thinking it was an over and done deal when COVID hit way back when. Maybe I was focused on finishing work and downsizing during the last year and a half. Anyway I went ahead and applied for a 60 day visa and expected to only be able to extend 30 days and then move onto Cambodia with a possible return to Thailand. It was when I contacted a visa agent about registering my residency at my airbnb that they said 'we can do a 30 day or a 60 day' and that threw me for a loop. I remember asking them over and over how can 60 days? Thinking it was some sort of error. I'd explain I was already on a 60 day and wanted another 30 and got the same response. I reached out to MonkeyPaw and he explained the setup and how they've been extending this special 60 day visa over and over again. So I chatted once again with the visa agent and explained again when my visa ended and got the same response "yes we can renew your visa for another 60 days". Landed here in early December and its now looking like I won't have to leave until early June. I am hoping they do another COVID extension, I've heard mixed reports but with Omicron pushing cases over 10 k the last few days my luck just might last another round.

I know, these extensions are most likely old news but if it helps a few people here already in Thailand know they can easily extend then its worth a repeat.

[Breadman]

When you are in anywhere in the world and have repeated negative ATG tests, the reasonable thing to do is seek medical attention.

Well that's a judgement call on that is how do I feel? Everyone has different reactions I'm sure, mine were just some extra coughing and fatigue (if that was indeed covid). A positive test told me I had it but afterwards I was informed I should have taken several tests to confirm the positive result on the first test. And that's what I was asking? How severe the symptoms are and when he decided to go to the hospital? Guy is lucky his insurance paid, he must have had symptoms vs being asymptomatic.

[HorseTrader]

Simple question is why? Why did you report it? Why not buy a bunch of self tests and self isolate? Were you symptoms that bad? And how much did you have to pay for your other accommodations? Were you able to cancel them? Imagine a guy paying $700 for an expensive non refundable airbnb and then finding out he's positive, what would he do in this case? My guess is not report it and self isolate.

Perhaps I confused the understanding by moving this conversation to this thread. MissionAsia previously reported that he tested negative with ATG but felt very bad so went to hospital, where he tested positive with RT-PCR. LookingLooking reported that he had same experience and that he never tested positive with ATG tests.

When you are in anywhere in the world and have repeated negative ATG tests, the reasonable thing to do is seek medical attention.

[Breadman]

This is thailand. It doesn't always have to make sense. Among those I knew:

1 waited 4 days to admit into hospital. So its 10 + 4.

Another one admitted 1 day after, stayed in hospital for 14 days and still have to stay at home for another 7 days. 1 + 14 + 7.

They're both Thai So the policy has nothing against foreigners.

Yes different hospitals apply different number of days. The govt's guideline is "a minimum of 10 days".

Simple question is why? Why did you report it? Why not buy a bunch of self tests and self isolate? Were you symptoms that bad? And how much did you have to pay for your other accommodations? Were you able to cancel them? Imagine a guy paying $700 for an expensive non refundable airbnb and then finding out he's positive, what would he do in this case? My guess is not report it and self isolate.

[LookingLooking]

That's 100% bullshit, although no doubt they try it on, there's a lot of money they stand to gain.

So, if you spend 9 days in a hotel after a positive test before being admitted, you have to spend 10 days in a hospital? No way that's the actual rule.

This is thailand. It doesn't always have to make sense. Among those I knew:

1 waited 4 days to admit into hospital. So its 10 + 4.

Another one admitted 1 day after, stayed in hospital for 14 days and still have to stay at home for another 7 days. 1 + 14 + 7.

They're both Thai So the policy has nothing against foreigners.

Yes different hospitals apply different number of days. The govt's guideline is "a minimum of 10 days".

[Crocodilexp]

your quarantine period starts on admission day, not the day you are tested positive.

That's 100% bullshit, although no doubt they try it on, there's a lot of money they stand to gain.

So, if you spend 9 days in a hotel after a positive test before being admitted, you have to spend 10 days in a hospital? No way that's the actual rule.

[Sir Lancelot]

No testing is required to get on a domestic plane, however they sometimes ask to see your vaccination certificate or record.

Thanks for such a thorough reply. Very useful.

[LookingLooking]

What special treatment did you receive that you had to be in a hospital? Did you have to stay hooked up to machinery or anything? Wouldn't it had been cheaper to quarentine in a hospitel if you did not need something that only a hospital could offer?

That was not my experience when I hurt my foot. They actually got angry that I would not stay. But I live around the corner and told them I could just come back tomorrow at whatever time they told me. I had remembered my friends telling me that if you ever need to stay in a hospital be prepared to pay $500 per day. So I felt they were trying to juice me. There was nothing they would be doing to my foot all night that I would need to be there instead of at home.

No special treatment. Its just quarantine and monitoring my condition. I was admitted into a hospital, not hospital. But everything was billed through the hospital. They have the hospital nurses stationed below the hospital 24/7 and hospital doctor to call your room and check your condition daily. Mild or no symptoms don't get to admit into the hospital.

When did you hurt your foot? During covid, hospital beds are pretty scarce. They have to save it for more serious cases. Ambulances will extremely busy even on emergency services. I waited another 3 hours for the ambulance to come and pick me up. Even that, I have to share the ambulance with other patients. My thoughts are that it used to be easy to admit into a hospital in Thailand. But because many white tourists choose not to pay their hospital bills after their stay, they are now reluctant to admit anyone who doesn't pay an upfront deposit first even with a valid insurance policy as some insurers find excuses not to pay too.

[Mr Enternational]

Patients who pays the deposit will be prioritized for admission. Meanwhile you are not sure what will happen to you if you don't get admitted on the same day. You can't leave your existing hotel room either since you are covid positive and your quarantine period starts on admission day, not the day you are tested positive.

What special treatment did you receive that you had to be in a hospital? Did you have to stay hooked up to machinery or anything? Wouldn't it had been cheaper to quarentine in a hospitel if you did not need something that only a hospital could offer?

Hospitals in Thailand are reluctant to admit foreigners who do not have a Thai social security number, even if you are willing to pay upfront deposit. It took me 9 hours (by phone) just to find a hospital willing to admit me on the same day.

That was not my experience when I hurt my foot. They actually got angry that I would not stay. But I live around the corner and told them I could just come back tomorrow at whatever time they told me. I had remembered my friends telling me that if you ever need to stay in a hospital be prepared to pay $500 per day. So I felt they were trying to juice me. There was nothing they would be doing to my foot all night that I would need to be there instead of at home.

[LookingLooking]

I'm wondering who your insurer was. And how to avoid making a 100000 to 250000 baht deposit.

Also how much did you end up paying for your hospital bill. Are you implying that you get back 83000 out of the 87000 baht bill from your insurer, so only pay 4000 baht for a 10 day hospital stay.

Did you get a 83000 baht cheque from your insurer.

The claim was made directly by the hospital as they are one of the insurer's preferred hospital. So I was reimbursed for the deposit amount minus the 4200 baht. The 83,000 baht was settled between the hospital and insurer. My insurer was Thai AXA.

You have an option to avoid paying for the deposit amount. But you may have to wait for days before getting admitted. This would depend on how long it takes for your insurer to produce a letter of guarantee to the hospital. I heard it takes at least 2 business days to do so, but often longer than that. Patients who pays the deposit will be prioritized for admission. Meanwhile you are not sure what will happen to you if you don't get admitted on the same day. You can't leave your existing hotel room either since you are covid positive and your quarantine period starts on admission day, not the day you are tested positive.

Hospitals in Thailand are reluctant to admit foreigners who do not have a Thai social security number, even if you are willing to pay upfront deposit. It took me 9 hours (by phone) just to find a hospital willing to admit me on the same day.

[Member #4753]

I've got a question about testing. I'll soon be in Thailand (Krabi's sandbox) and will have a PCR test on days 1 and 6. If clear, I plan to head to Pattaya, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

My question is, when might I get tested throughout my trip? For example, do tourists get tested before taking domestic flights / trains? How about bars? I remember reading a while ago that customers were required to get tested before entering bars but I assume that's no longer the case? How about the entrances to Nana Plaza / Soi Cowboy / large beer complexes in Pattaya?

Secondly, are rapid lateral flow tests easily available for tourists and if so, where from?

No testing is required to get on a domestic plane, however they sometimes ask to see your vaccination certificate or record.

Bars etc: To use Soi Cowboy as an example. About 3 weeks ago when more and more bars within the soi opened, there was no entry without taking a rapid Antigen test at both ends of the Soi. As this has an affect of reducing customer numbers by probably 90%, it was slowly done away with. Currently there is no testing or any other requirements to enter the soi or its bars.

This is the common pattern. They make a big point of opeing complexes with all sorts of testing and other ideas to demonstrate to the local public that they are doing everything to reduce covid transmission. Once the place is open for a couple of weeks all the testing seems to dissappear and it is business as usual until something brings more heat to the area.

You can buy Rapid Antigen Tests at pharmacies, supermarkets, 7 / 11 etc. There are no shortages at the moment due to supply issues. There seems to be a generic THB 75 version as well as more expensive versions which cost THB 200 or even THB 250. The general consesus is that the more expensive tests are of a higher quality.

[PinkPearl]

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).

I'm wondering who your insurer was. And how to avoid making a 100000 to 250000 baht deposit.

Also how much did you end up paying for your hospital bill. Are you implying that you get back 83000 out of the 87000 baht bill from your insurer, so only pay 4000 baht for a 10 day hospital stay.

Did you get a 83000 baht cheque from your insurer.

[Sir Lancelot]

I've got a question about testing. I'll soon be in Thailand (Krabi's sandbox) and will have a PCR test on days 1 and 6. If clear, I plan to head to Pattaya, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

My question is, when might I get tested throughout my trip? For example, do tourists get tested before taking domestic flights / trains? How about bars? I remember reading a while ago that customers were required to get tested before entering bars but I assume that's no longer the case? How about the entrances to Nana Plaza / Soi Cowboy / large beer complexes in Pattaya?

Secondly, are rapid lateral flow tests easily available for tourists and if so, where from?

[PedroMorales]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...la-Phuket.html

Singh got at least 18 bullets into him.

Note to self: Do not become a gangster, flee to Phuket and make serious enemies.

[Banana Boi]

Thanks guys. My bad. My speed reading and English as a 3rd/4th language doesn't help at times.