Thailand to Relax Rules for International Arrivals from March 1
Thailand is set to relax the entry rules for international arrivals from March 1st, despite the continued global surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has decided to change the second COVID-19 RT-PCR test, currently required for overseas arrivals on their fifth day in the country, to a self-administered rapid antigen test and will reduce the amount of required insurance coverage from US$50,000 to US$20,000.
No more day-5 PCR test for those entering Thailand on the #TestandGo scheme starting March 1. Good news for incoming travellers. Insurance requirements also reduced from USD50k to USD20K#Thailand #travel #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/NeBpJeymu4
— tammei (@tammeix) February 23, 2022
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today (Wednesday) that the average cost for the treatment of a COVID-19 patient in a private or state hospital in Thailand is about 300,000 baht, including those in a severe condition.
He explained that the original reason for the requirement for US$50,000 insurance coverage for overseas arrivals was because most of the COVID-19 cases were being imported at the time, but the situation now has changed. The infection rate among arrivals is now just one in every 1,000 arrivals.
The CCSA’s decision to reduce the insurance coverage requirement is, he said, to reduce the financial deterrent on travelers who wish to visit to Thailand for business or tourism and the revised coverage requirement is still adequate to cover medical bills.
He also said that the CCSA has decided to opt for rapid antigen tests for the second COVID-19 test for overseas arrivals, because it is widely accepted, is accurate up to a certain level and the Ministry of Public Health has been instructed to report back to the CCSA at a later date about the effects of the change of test type.
