Illustrative image (Source: thainews.prd.go.th) Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Department of Disease Control(DDC) of Thailand indicated the COVID-19 situation after the New Year’s period is less troublingthan earlier expected. However, the department will assess the situation againafter the Lunar New Year period when Chinese tourists are expected to arrive inThailand in numbers. Health authorities are also preparing to open vaccinationpoints for foreign tourists next week, with the price of one vaccine shot to bein the range of 800-1000 baht.
DDC Director-General Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwongspoke of monitoring measures for COVID-19 amid increasing foreign touristnumbers and with Chinese tourists now making up a significant portion ofarrivals. He said airports are implementing rigorous screening measures forinternational arrivals and these measures will be expanded to land bordercrossings.
Dr. Tares said travelers who are required by theircountry of origin to take an RT-PCR test before re-entry would need to possesshealth insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment. At present, the countriesrequiring this are India and China.
Dr. Tares said the collection of wastewater fromaircraft for testing so far yielded samples of the Omicron BA.5 strain, whichis found in Thailand. Results from these random tests are yielded about one weekafter a flight.
In Bangkok, the DDC has prepared two vaccinationsites for foreign tourists who want to get vaccinated. The first is the BangRak medical center on Sathong Tai Rd. The other is the Institute for UrbanDisease Control and Prevention in Bang Khen district. The sites are expected tocommence service next week and will also offer RT-PCR testing. Coordination isbeing made with health agencies in tourism cities such as Phuket, Chonburi, andChiang Mai in setting up similar vaccine service points.
The DDC chief explained that internationaltravelers who purchased health insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment will beable to get treatment at any hospital. They will also be able to enter hotelquarantine if they only display mild or no symptoms. Dr. Tares said there iscurrently no need to open hospitels for COVID patients./.
