A tourist has revealed his anguish at the possibility of being hit with a large bill after falling foul of Thailand’s test on arrival policy.
The tourist, named only as Kirovs, told blogger Richard Barrow how he had arrived in Thailand on Nov 7.
Kirovs tested positive on arrival in Thailand and was sent to hospital, where he will have to stay for at least 10 days, despite not having any symptoms.
His family - wife and two children - were sent to hotel quarantine and are due to take another test on day 3 or 4. If they test negative they may be able to continue on their holiday without him.
Kirovs estimates he may have to pay 350,000 Baht towards hospital and quarantine fees if his insurance provider won’t cover it.
“I knew that I was taking a gamble when I chose to buy plane tickets as soon as the Thailand reopening was announced,” Kirovs told Richard.
“We lost that bet.”
Richard Barrow also highlighted the plight of a man named James who found himself in an equally unfortunate situation after arriving in Thailand.
Despite himself testing negative, James shared a car from the airport with someone who tested positive, which for James meant he also had to go to hotel quarantine.
James said he was travelling to Thailand to be reunited with his wife. He was travelling with his friend who was visiting his girlfriend. It was his friend who tested positive.
“Upon arriving at the hotel, we both were tested at 2:30 p.m. and sent to our separate rooms. At midnight we both received a message, James said.
“His said that he had tested positive and will be transferred to hospital, and mine said that mine is negative, but I’d need to stay in quarantine for 14 days”.
James said both he and his friend were not showing any symptoms.
While the chances of testing positive on arrival in Thailand are small, it is perhaps a risk simply not worth taking for some tourists.
To date, approximately 25,000 tourists have entered Thailand since the country reopened to tourists on Nov 1.
Only 26 tourists have tested positive.
However, the issue is compounded by the fact that there is next to no official information about the risks of travelling to Thailand and testing positive on arrival.
Despite the myriad of infographics, Facebook posts and tweets from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and other related agencies on the requirements for foreigners to enter Thailand, there is very little about what a positive test on arrival could mean for foreigners, especially those travelling in groups, as a family or with young children.
Information regarding the impact of a positive test on arrival could (and should) be clearly publicised on the Thailand Pass website, which foreigners are required to upload documents to prior to travelling to Thailand.
Foreigners should also be urged to check with their insurance companies if their policy covers them for quarantine and other expenses in the event of a positive test.
Source - ASIAN NOW
VISA AGENT / How to register for: THAI PASS
