New anti-virus measures for foreign visitors and Thais returning from high risk areas

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry, via a ministerial announcement, has designated nine countries and two territories as high risk areas for COVID-19, and visitors to Thailand from these areas will be subject to 14-day home quarantine and will have to adhere to health related follow-up measures.

The nine countries, defined by Thailand as “high risk”, are Japan, South Korea, Germany, China, Taiwan, France, Singapore, Italy and Iran, and the two territories are Macau and Hong Kong.

Ministerial announcements specify the following four measures for enforcement:

Visitors and Thai citizens returning from the high risk areas will be subject to 14-days home quarantine, even if they are cleared of the disease, unless they have permission from health officials.

Those who do not have a permanent residence or lodging in Thailand are required to show officials, upon arrival, evidence of where officials can locate them during the 14-day period.

Those who have flu-like symptoms upon their arrival, such as a body temperature exceeding 37.5oC, a runny nose, sore throat or breathing difficulties, will be sent to state hospitals for further testing, treatment or quarantine, depending on the seriousness of the illness.

For those who cannot produce evidence of a formal lodging, such as a hotel or hostel, during their visit in Thailand, immigration officials are authorized to send them back home or to allow them entry subject to 14-days of self-quarantine.

Foreign visitors or Thai returnees from the high risk areas are required to file a daily report on their health with designated health officials during the quarantine period and, if they become unwell or suspect they may be sick, they must inform health officials within three hours so that they can undergo further testing, receive treatment or be isolated.

All the medical expenses incurred will be borne by the individuals themselves.