Thailand Coronavirus in Thailand: what impact and when to expect a return? Travel to Thailand 4.6 (10)For once, I thought I would write a news article. A way to tell you about the current situation here in the face of this health crisis, but also to try to answer the big question, when will you be able to travel to Thailand again?[Updates to this article concern recent news, particularly on the question of a return of tourists to Thailand, find this paragraph at the end of the article]Crisis management quite effectiveYou can like a government or not, but you have to see the results. As I write these lines, France is preparing to begin a deconfinement, certainly gradual, but still records hundreds of deaths per day. This remains lower than the peak of the crisis, that's for sure, but by comparison in Thailand, we have not exceeded 3 cases and only 000 deaths.Information updated every day on the official website: https://covid19.ddc.moph.go.th/enSo some people directly mention the lie, not having confidence and assure that hiding the truth helps to avoid scaring away tourists... Completely illogical reasoning because whatever the real figures or not in Thailand, the tourists are no longer there anyway, and I do not see how low figures will necessarily make tourists more confident to come back afterwards. If Thailand were at this point of strategy, considering the tourism industry vital, it would not have even tried to close its borders if we push the logic further.Image: https://www.tatnews.org/If tourism does indeed represent a significant share of Thailand's GDP (around 14%), it is not in proportions that completely prevent the country from functioning. The fact remains that some regions are clearly more dependent on the income generated by this industry and the damage remains considerable, especially since the resumption of activities is not yet for now. The fall in GDP in Thailand is estimated at 6,7%, which is enormous and will have repercussions once the crisis has passed... The worst recession since the Asian crisis of 1997.But to put things into perspective, the first figures are intended to be reassuring. If Thailand has indeed entered a recession phase, the current fall is only 1,8%, much lower than the previously alarming forecasts.Coming back to the number, all countries have shown themselves to be particularly unequal in the face of this health crisis, the ratio of cases to deaths sometimes varying greatly from one country to another. I can cite the case of Germany, whose difference with France and its neighbors is obvious. There is also the case of Vietnam, although neighboring China and recording one of the lowest infection rates in Asia, with only 270 cases and no deaths. Here again, mistrust is required, because we do not want to trust a communist government... And some therefore draw a parallel with Thailand, a constitutional monarchy with an opaque system, therefore, cannot be trusted. Knowing that given the conspiracy theories circulating, in any case, there will always be people to question everything. And so in this personal case, I rely on the facts.Jitima knows people in the hospital environment, she tends to corroborate the official figures, especially since the team of doctors managing the crisis, including the head doctor in charge of the daily report every day on TV, has full confidence in the Thais (like the dear Olivier Véran in France who rather attracts sympathy).It is important to remember that in Thailand, while not being accessible to all through adequate social coverage (which exists, but remains basic for most), the health system and hospitals are excellent. Private hospitals in particular are very well equipped and offer an incomparable service at competitive prices, so much so that there is medical tourism. This explains, among other things, the low number of deaths.Thailand very quickly tested medication protocols including antivirals normally used against the AIDS virus, with success. They also very quickly used chloroquine, which is so criticized in France.Moreover, even if it remains speculative, a professor of tropical medicine, François Nosten, put forward the hypothesis at the beginning of last month, that the climate could play in the country's favor (see the article talking about it here), the virus being more receptive to cold than to heat. In addition, he highlighted good actions such as closing schools in advance (even if it corresponds to the summer vacation period, therefore easier to manage) and non-essential businesses.There is also a cultural aspect. In Thailand, it is normal to wear a mask when you are sick, to avoid contaminating others. It was already common in everyday life to see people wearing masks. Not to mention the episodes of significant pollution that also pushed a good part of the population to do so for several weeks. Another social fact, in Thailand, we do not kiss or really shake hands, but already a hello with distancing, the famous Wai (both hands joined).Very quickly, Thailand had set up temperature checks, distributions of masks, easy to obtain in the country, and hydroalcoholic gel everywhere. Meanwhile in France, we were still bickering about masks, shouting "it's useless if we're not sick".Social distancing in Bangkok metro.Timeline of the pandemic in ThailandAs a reminder, Thailand was the first country to report cases of Covid-19 outside of China, as early as January 13. The country had already implemented surveillance of passengers, especially from China, including temperature checks. The first cases came from Wuhan, but remained quite sporadic. China was then the majority country to visit Thailand, with more than 14 million visitors in 2019 and 2020 would probably have broken this record.At the end of January, the number of reported cases was only 19. Life goes on, and so does tourism. At the end of February, there were still only 42 cases. Even I still thought we were going to "get through it" and the country seemed to be managing the situation well so far.Again, in Thailand and Asia in general, wearing a mask is quite natural, and there has never really been a shortage, which has slowed down the spread of the virus considerably. The first Thai death was announced on March 1st, while it was already hitting Europe hard.Check point at Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok.The beginning of the end for us started almost at the same time as the start of the lockdown in France, around mid-March. There were still a few tourists left, but there were still few cases locally.It was at this moment that Jitima decided to take a tour of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, which were still open, and which she had not set foot in since our last visit together, more than 10 years ago. The opportunity to take pictures of these mythical places in Bangkok, empty of tourists. A rather surreal day that adds to the collection of unique events that I have been able to experience since my arrival in Thailand (giant demonstrations, serious flooding, coup d'état, change of king, and now pandemic).As everywhere, all it took was a spark and it went crazy. There were two specific outbreaks in Bangkok, one following a Thai boxing match involving an infected person, the other being a group of young people who had gone to party in a bar in a trendy district of Bangkok (Thong Lor).As the lockdown was coming to France anyway and the epidemic focus had moved to Europe, flights to Thailand were already limited and borders with neighboring countries were starting to close as cases grew. On March 22, 188 cases were recorded at once. Poor workers from neighboring countries (Laos, Cambodia, Burma) then began an exodus back to their families, to avoid finding themselves stuck without resources in Thailand, due to lack of work.At the beginning of April, the entry ban on all foreigners was put in place. On the other hand, foreigners still stuck without the possibility of returning to their respective countries had their visas automatically extended (a second extension would later be added, temporarily authorizing foreigners in Thailand until July 31).Deserted street between Khao San Road and Rambuttri.The same observation is made at Sukhumvit.Towards the Ratchaprasong shopping district.The Erawan Shrine, closed during the crisis.On April 3rd, a state of emergency was declared and a curfew was put in place between 22pm and 4am to prevent drunken parties. This brought the Thai New Year, which takes place in mid-April. Obviously, the festivities were cancelled and the state took things further by banning the sale of alcohol. A bad for a goodThe height of this measure? It saved lives. Not in the sense that one might think, preventing contaminations at all costs, etc. No. I'm talking about road accidents. Every year during this very festive period, there is an average of 500 people killed on the roads. Due to the measures taken to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Thailand recorded only 150 deaths during this week that is called here "seven dangerous days", a record. If we compare to 54 deaths in total from Covid-19, this at least had the merit of avoiding a double carnage. Some people also pointed the finger at the good management of the crisis without understanding why road safety is also neglected when it causes more than 25 victims each year in Thailand…It was unfortunately temporary and while the sale of alcohol has just been authorized again, the "carnage" resumed immediately, causing 63 deaths on the roads in a single day (compared to “only” 16 the day before when the ban was still in place). That’s more than Covid has had for several weeks…Where all this seems paradoxical to me is when I see all these motorbikes driving around without helmets, but their drivers and passengers wearing masks... Thais are clearly more afraid of illness than of death itself...Another advantage, highlighted in many tourist areas around the world, the regeneration of nature. Schools of dugongs (a type of sea cow) seen along the coast of Trang, leatherback turtles returning to lay their eggs on the beaches north of Phuket (see article in English here), there is no shortage of examples. This has the merit of raising awareness of the ravages of mass tourism and the possibility of thinking about another way of promoting certain places.School of dugons seen on the coast of Trang.Lockdown in ThailandIn fact, you have to understand that here, we have never entered into a total and mandatory confinement like in France. People have more or less done it on their own when it was possible to telework (this is the case of Jitima) but there is hardly any alternative anyway. Because why go out when all the shops, restaurants, cinemas, theaters etc. are closed anyway…Walking around Bangkok to take illustration photos for this article (and possibly other occasions), I almost had trouble "recognizing" my city, usually so "alive" and active. No one praying at the Erawan shrine, few vendors in the streets, the blinds are almost all down if we ignore the 7-11s that remain open (but check everyone's temperature).In front of a 7-11, temperature check and hand sanitizer are mandatory."Small" consolation, Bangkok is free of traffic jams, and it's still strange to see certain avenues, usually so crowded, be so calm, even if it's only temporary unfortunately, and it's the kind of underlying problem, which risks continuing when things return to normal.After some provinces like Phuket, one of the most affected, they are self-confined, preventing entry and exit of both residents and those who would have wanted to visit family, preventing movement.For our part, we only go out once a week to do our shopping and once in the evening to walk our dogs. The business of home delivery services and meal sales has exploded. With restaurants closed, or failing that, not allowing you to eat on site, we have to make do and try to offer takeaway meals instead of closing the establishments completely. But for many, not having international relations means blocking their source of income (not necessarily in tourism).A noodle vendor on the streets of Bangkok, normally much busier in the city center.This crisis has highlighted the limits of the Thai system where, in the end, everyone gets by a little on a daily basis, earning their living day by day without really saving any money. Here, there is no partial unemployment or unemployment at all. Faced with this problem, the government set up emergency aid to release 5 Baht per month for three months (after an initial mess suggesting only one month). The result was edifying, knowing that it was necessary to register beforehand because the selection criteria would be verified, the government ended up with more than 000 million applications (nearly a third of the population) when it was expecting less than half of this figure. Given the demand, the country extended this aid to 20 million applicants instead of the 14 million initially planned.My site is dependent on tourism and it goes without saying that I am the first affected by the crisis. But the global measures have highlighted the precariousness in which millions of workers lived who, from one day to the next, struggled to buy food. Some even go so far as to say that the remedy does more damage than the disease... And it is not only street vendors and precarious jobs that are affected. For example, musicians, usually playing in bars in the evening, are all unemployed due to the curfew. We note a resurgence on distress lines and an increase in the number of suicides of +10% (see an article from Libération talking about it, despite a slightly sensationalist title).Fortunately, we have seen outpourings of solidarity from all sides. Companies have donated significant sums to finance factories to produce masks and hydroalcoholic gel.Distribution of bottled water and meals in front of a temple in Bangkok.For our part, we gave our little helping hand on our scale, producing a hundred "face shields", these "shields" for protecting the face, which were sent to the hospitals receiving the most patients. Jitima also sewed several fabric masks with her machine that she offered to students in need.In terms of meals, many restaurants have started offering free meals to those most in need, sometimes causing very long queues (like here in Chiang Mai, where the queue reached 2 km!), but respecting social distancing.Some foreigners find themselves in the lot, for not having been able to return to their country. At first, some took it as a "joke", continuing to party (therefore to be in groups) even though gatherings were prohibited. Since it is not discreet, the latter were systematically denounced to the authorities, then being harshly checked and reprimanded (not to mention the groups caught in the act with drugs in addition...). This quickly calmed the ardor of the recalcitrants.Others found themselves short of money, having to pay for hotels for longer than expected periods and pay for plane tickets that were cancelled one after the other. As the hotels ended up closing (on government orders), most of these foreigners found themselves on the streets, or failing that, in temples. Helping local communities as best they could, so as not to just take advantage of the generosity of the locals (see the story of a Russian in Surat Thani in this case for example). At the end of April, it was estimated that 10 tourists were still present on the islands of the Gulf of Thailand (Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao), unable to leave.Reopening of shopsOn May 3, 2020, as I write this article and publish it online, the reopening of ten types of businesses and activities in Thailand begins, marking the first phase of economic recovery. With the number of cases below 10 for several days, and no deaths as well, we are moving towards a relaxation of the rules, which will be complied with in the following weeks.Restaurants (including street food stalls). Obligation to ensure a space of 1 to 1,5 m between consumers, and if necessary, to put a protective barrier between the tables (this is the case in the restaurants of certain chains, where the tables are fixed). On the other hand, no live music, and restaurants offering buffets.The steps. All fresh markets, flea markets, floating markets, community markets are reopened. People are scanned (temperature taken) at the entrance AND exit. Distances between people must be respected.Grocery stores. This includes beverage shops, street vendors, dessert shops and ice cream parlours. Shopping centres remain closed to this day.Retail businesses: supermarkets, local convenience stores, carts, vendors, telecommunications stores and small restaurants. However, physical distancing measures must be applied for customers eating on site.Beauty salons and hairdressers. Only valid for a haircut, wash and dry. The establishment must be disinfected every two hours for 20 minutes and people cannot wait in the salon, so appointments are mandatory.Private clinics and other health care centers (eg dentist). Beauty clinics (botox and co.) are not included.Golf courses and golf driving ranges allowed to partially reopen. This does not include massage services, spa/sauna, groups and competition training which remain prohibited.Sports and recreational areas and outdoor sports venues, with the obvious exception of team and competitive sports, which remain suspended until further notice.Public parks, only for cycling, jogging, walking and other individual exercises. Temperatures are checked and masks are of course mandatory.Pet salons (grooming, pet sitting).The reopening is taking place under strict social distancing conditions. The situation will be assessed every 14 days to see the impact of the relaxation of the rules. If the rate of Covid-19 infections increases sharply again, the government will immediately reinstate restrictions. If the number of cases remains low, they will be isolated and quarantines will be put in place on a localized basis.The sale of alcohol, once considered to extend its ban for another month, has finally been authorized. This gave direct scenes of stores (below at Makro) stormed, without respect for social distancing, not a good omen for the days to come ... Some provinces have however decided to maintain the ban on the sale of alcohol.The next step was taken on May 17, 2020, when department stores were able to reopen as planned, under strict control and the rule of social distancing to reign everywhere (see pictures here).Resumption of domestic flights and interregional transportIn addition to shops, domestic flights have partly resumed. If I summarize the indications in the following illustration graph, we have the following rules that will have to be followed before boarding a domestic flight in the coming weeks:Airports of Thailand (AOT) Guidelines Against COVID-19:Your temperature will be taken upon arrival and if it exceeds 37.3°C, you will be refused entry to the airport.You must wear a face mask, otherwise you will be refused entry into the airport.Passengers must stay at least 1 m apart from each other following the floor markings in the airport.You must follow the instructions of the officers and allow extra time to pass through the controls (anticipate your arrival at the airport).The Buses have also resumed service, at least for the North and Northeast at first, but, social distancing requires, only fill one seat out of two in each row. If your temperature exceeds 37,3 ° C, it's no. Finally, it is mandatory to wear a mask and your personal information is requested to establish possible contacts and trace the origin of an infection if ever.The resumption of international flights will not be before July for sure because the ban on international flights has just been extended until June 30, 2020.The train, for its part, is starting to put some lines back into service. Four important connections across the country are restarting on May 15 (source nationthailand):Bangkok – Chiang Mai for the NorthBangkok – Hat Yai for the SouthBangkok – Ubon Ratchathani for the NortheastBangkok – Nong Khai also towards the NortheastTraveling to Thailand, possible by when?The deconfinement is planned in four phases of two weeks each. Each period allows us to see whether a possible resurgence in the number of cases occurs, or not, in the face of the relaxation. This therefore brings the possible exit from the tunnel and a start to a return to "normal" life to two months.So if all goes well, by mid-May we will reach the second phase of easing, which will certainly involve the reopening, at least gradually, of large shopping centres. To date, there are no plans to reopen the borders, or at least international flights, before July.By the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) director's own admission, he doesn't expect to see tourists in large numbers again until October, when the Chinese could start returning to the country. A full return to normal may not happen for another 18 months, because without a vaccine, confidence in travelers will never be there and the fear of a second wave will remain in people's minds.In the meantime, Bangkok station is very quiet...Initially, it is planned to promote destinations where infection would be easier to control in the event of infections, namely islands such as Ko Phangan, where access is limited by boat."The epidemic allows Thai tourism to focus on quality tourists rather than quantity."These are the words of TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn, who wants to offer tour packages for long-term tourists (staying several months a year) during the fourth quarter of 2020, when tourists from Western countries usually seek warmer destinations.But the TAT governor warns that when the pandemic in Thailand is finally brought under control, international travellers must not become the cause of a second wave of infections. In fact, new health screening practices for tourists before flying to Thailand could become the norm in the future. Proposals include “immunity passports” or certificates indicating that the person is “healthy”."If the tourism industry cannot bounce back stronger after the recession, it will be difficult to restore the global economy." The road is still long, but be patient, we will get there! In the meantime, just like in France, Thailand is first hoping for a revival of local tourism, particularly active during the winter, when Thais seek a bit of freshness in the mountains of the North (the opposite of Westerners).Covid Free, what now?I am rewriting this paragraph completely as it is August 1, 2020. Thailand has had no cases of Covid for over two months, apart from imported cases (Thai people returning from abroad) who were immediately quarantined. Everything is under control and as mentioned then, a return to (almost) normal, locally, has been in place since the beginning of July.When will you return to Thailand?Now the question that "annoys"... When will you be able to return to spend a holiday in Thailand? This is a question that is legitimately asked a lot and unfortunately there is no ready-made and sure answer.Regarding a reopening of borders and therefore of international flights, it is to this day still vague. The government has been talking for some time about " travel bubbles"To limit possible clusters, only a few limited areas would be open to tourists. Like Phuket, Ko Samui, Hua Hin, Pattaya or Chiang Mai at first.The problem is that the criteria set to participate in this "program", namely, no Covid cases for 30 days, seems just unattainable given the situation in the world. If Thailand does not change its strategy, it risks remaining isolated until an effective vaccine is produced, thus stifling its already dying tourism industry...For now, only certain categories of visitors are allowed to come, and are subject to mandatory quarantine.People wishing to seek medical treatment in Thailand (medical “tourism”)Approved workers (especially teachers), studentsBusinessmen needing to do inspections in their factories in Thailand, investorsForeigners with a Thai family member and those residing in the country.Domestic tourism has certainly picked up, but it is far from compensating for the income generated by international tourism. Especially since locals are also affected by the crisis, so spend less and limit themselves to going out on weekends and public holidays.For a more comprehensive reopening, international flights to Thailand will not resume not before October according to the latest information. The date is constantly being pushed back due to the changing situation, in the bad direction, in Europe (number of cases increasing).Faced with the unprecedented crisis, the authorities governing the province of Phuket, particularly affected by this tourism crisis, are trying to negotiate a "supervised" reopening, within the framework of a program called "Safe and Sealed". The target date to this day is October 1st. However, I doubt that many of you would accept a stay under such conditions...As expected, this program was quickly abandoned, like the previous one with their travel “bubble”…The most recent news is validated since it appeared in the royal gazette. It is a new visa, called SVT (for Special Visa of Tourism) intended for long-stay travelers. Indeed, many people, especially those from Scandinavian countries, like to come and spend the winter in the kingdom for several months.This visa therefore wants to attract this category of tourist to try to keep the tourism industry barely afloat after more than 6 months without tourists. The entry conditions remain quite drastic and the authorities remain aware that it will not attract masses of crowds (they expect 1200 people at first).However, this would give a kick-off to a start of recovery, planned for this month (October 2020) with the arrival of a first group of Chinese expected. And if the test is conclusive (not too many positive cases), the conditions with a shortened quarantine could intervene from mid-November. The objective is to start receiving a larger number of tourists by December and the beginning of 2021. But as everything changes quickly, we are just waiting to see what these new measures will give... In the meantime, if coming to Thailand for several months this winter tempts you, Click here to see how to do it. Did you like the article? Vote on the article Note globale 4.6 / 5. Number of votes: 10 No votes yet. Be the first to rate this article! Did you like the article? Follow me on social media Practical advice Mind 1 8 Roman 17/05/2020
