This week has seen the first in many people that have been denied entry to the kingdom. Airport authorities have blocked nearly 100 travellers so far with 73 of these people being turned away as they didn’t have the right documents to meet the immigration measures to combat the Covid-19 disease.
These few were among 4,533 passengers – Thais and foreigners who had entered Thailand on Sunday at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
There are reports that 6 more people are in the process of leaving the kingdom while another 15 people have been detained.
Rules now state, that in order to enter Thailand, both Thais and foreigners must show health certificates and related health insurance documents to guarantee their whereabouts to ensure that they are “fit-to-fly”
Dr Kajornsak has told media that all foreigners now must show medical certificates with lab results to prove that they have tested negative for the virus while Thais must have approval from doctors that they are healthy to travel.
All documents are to be issued within 72 hours before flights are due to depart.
Other documents include certificates from the Thai Embassies and details of where they will stay while in the 14-day self-isolation that is now required when they return to Thailand – Note that the Certificates from the Thai Embassy is for Thai nationals.
Medical experts along with the Thai government have both agreed to be more selective regarding all arrivals in an effort to curb the Covid-19 spread which has become more severe as of late.
Border checkpoints have also been temporarily closed although Monday and Tuesday saw some re-open briefly to allow returns of migrant workers.
The Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has also adopted “social distancing” for persons in 5 international airports. AoT on Tuesday had rearranged seating on order to ensure that each traveller is kept 1 or 2 meters apart.
