Thailand has cancelled RT-PCR testing for inbound tourists from May 1
Hanoi, Viet Nam -- Thailand's COVID-19 Management Center (CCSA) has released its updated COVID-19 prevention and control regulations for people entering the country, Viet Nam's Correspondent in Thailand reports.
According to the new regulation, rT-PCR testing requirements for tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be lifted from May 1.
Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's minister of Public Health, said earlier that his ministry would ask the COVID-19 management center to cancel the Test & Go program for foreign arrivals. "If the number of new patients hovers around 20,000 a day, I think we have a chance to relax the entry rules," Anutin said.
However, Minister Anutin believes that all foreign visitors still need to be tested for ATK rapid antigen.
Currently, travelers entering the country through the Test & Go program must be fully vaccinated. They must register with a Thai Pass and book an approved SHA Extra hotel on the day of arrival. They also need to buy insurance with a minimum of $20,000. In addition, all visitors are required to undergo AN RT-PCR nucleic acid test upon arrival.
The Thai Government's COVID-19 Management Center meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday decided to adjust the epidemic control zones and prevention and control measures at all levels across the country.
According to the request, 20 epidemic control zones will be canceled, the number of high-level epidemic prevention and control zones will be increased from 47 to 65, and the number of tourist open zones will be increased from 10 to 12. The same epidemic prevention measures will be implemented in the tourism open areas as in the epidemic prevention and control areas, and all areas must strictly implement the epidemic prevention regulations issued by the government.