BANGKOK: Thailand to further ease its COVID-19 restrictions for international travellers from next month, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on Wednesday.
From next month, fully vaccinated international travellers entering Thailand will only be required to undergo one reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test upon arrival, followed by a self-administered antigen rapid test after five days. However, they still need to take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours before travelling to Thailand and spend their first night in a hotel quarantine or at other approved quarantine facilities.
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Thailand’s main virus task force chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, also lowered the minimum medical insurance coverage for visitors to $20,000 from $50,000.
Thailand is making it easier for travellers to its famed beaches, Buddhist temples and national parks after nearly two years of tight border curbs decimated its tourism industry. While the nation is battling a spike in omicron-led Covid cases, a low mortality rate compared to the peak delta wave means healthcare facilities can cope with the outbreak, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the task force, said at a briefing Wednesday.
On Feb 1, Thailand resumed its Test & Go tourism scheme after suspending the applications in December and January due to the widespread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.
Under the Test & Go policy, overseas travellers who have been vaccinated against or have recovered from COVID-19 are allowed to enter Thailand and travel freely if they test negative upon arrival.
