Thailand postpones its quarantine-free entry program due to Omicron threat

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Thailand postponed its quarantine-free entry program after less than two months, due to concerns about the potential spread of the Omicron variant by arriving tourists.

The Covid-19 panel chaired by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha suspended quarantine-free entry of visitors till January 4 due to rising imported cases of the strain. The Covid panel will reassess the policy on January 4, said Deputy Prime Minister SupattanapongPunmeechaow.

Tourism-dependent Thailand waived the requirement for more than 60 jurisdictions last month if travelers were fully vaccinated with negative test results both before and immediately after arriving in Thailand.

About 200,000 visitors previously approved to enter without quarantine will still be allowed in, although they would be closely-monitored. They need to comply with additional measures like having more PCR tests while in Thailand, said Government Spokesman ThanakornWangboonkongchana.

Of the travelers approved for quarantine-free entry, 110,000 have already arrived. A lockdown would be the last resort, said Thai Health Minister AnutinCharnvirakul.

The baht dropped to its weakest in nearly three weeks, trading at 33.685 per dollar at 3:57 p.m. local time.

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