The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has made it mandatory for air operators from countries and territories announced as high risk for Covid-19 infection to take strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus, according to an announcement on Sunday (March 8).

A Ministry of Public Health announcement in the Royal Gazette earlier this month had named South Korea, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Italy and Iran as high-risk countries.

The CAAT announcement signed by director-general Chula Sukmanop states that incoming passengers from the said countries must remain in quarantine and follow other communicable disease prevention measures as specified by Ministry of Public Health. Furthermore, the air operators that provide flights originating from the countries at high risk of Covid-19 infection must screen check-in passengers by checking their health certificate to verify that they are free of Covid-19 and are not at risk of infection. If any passenger is unable to provide a valid health certificate, the air operators must not issue a boarding pass to them.

Air operators are also required to input information of passengers on a Tor 8 form as required by Communication Disease Act BE2558 and submit it to communicable disease control officials at the destination airport.

When the aircraft reaches the destination airport, it must remain in the designated bay until communicable disease control officials allow it to leave.

Meanwhile, passengers in the aircraft must undergo medical examination and be in quarantine at specified facilities for a specific time. The expense for passenger transport to quarantine facilities will be the air operator’s responsibility.