Thailand’s authorities on January 7 decided to extend the suspension of the Test & Go no-quarantine programme for air travellers indefinitely, but three provinces will be added to the sandbox scheme that currently applies only to Phuket.
A Bangkok city "thetsakit" inspector keeps a watch on office and shop employees on Khao San Road waiting for COVID-19 tests. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya via Bangkok Post)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s authorities onJanuary 7 decided to extend the suspension of the Test & Go no-quarantineprogramme for air travellers indefinitely, but three provinces will be added tothe sandbox scheme that currently applies only to Phuket.
The decisions were made at a top-level policy meeting,with the government opting for a compromise between needed tourism revenue andfears of a new COVID-19 outbreak, Bangkok Post reported.
The additional sandbox destinations are three islandsin Surat Thani province - Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan - and the entireprovinces of Krabi and Phangnga. No date was announced for their addition.
Spokesmanof the Centre for Covid-19 SituationAdministration (CCSA) Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the CCSA agreed to prolongthe suspension of the Test & Go one-quarantine-night-only entry programmeuntil further notice, with January 15 the last date for all pre-approvedarrivals.
About 10,000 people registered with the programme havenot yet entered the country, he said.
Test & Go and the sandbox schemes for alldestinations except Phuket were all put on hold on December 22, as thegovernment tried to control a spike in coronavirus cases and the arrival of theOmicron variant.
The CCSA kept the status of the eight provinces approvedfor tourism promotion unchanged, meaning they are allowed to serve alcoholicbeverages at eateries until 9pm.
The provinces are Bangkok, Chon Buri, Kanchanaburi, Krabi,Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phangnga and Phuket.
Taweesilp said the CCSA decided to step up publichealth controls in 69 other provinces. That included a ban on alcoholic drinksin restaurants./.
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A Bangkok city "thetsakit" inspector keeps a watch on office and shop employees on Khao San Road waiting for COVID-19 tests. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya via Bangkok Post) 
