Thailand reinstates hotel quarantine amid Omicron rise

One of the world’s favourite holiday destinations has reinstated mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors amid the rise of Omicron

Thailand has decided to immediately reimpose a mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors and suspend a “test-and-go” scheme for fully vaccinated arrivals as concerns grow over the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

The government stated that the decision was to be implemented immediately.

The decision is a blow to efforts to revive Thailand’s battered tourism sector ahead of the peak holiday season.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana also announced the suspension of “sandbox” programs. Those programmes previously allowed visitors to remain and move around specific locations, except for the resort island of Phuket.

The government added that the decision would be reviewed on January 4

Authorities revealed about 200,000 people who have registered for the “test-and-go” scheme, known as Thailand Pass, but have not yet entered Thailand will be allowed to come.

Those arrivals will be subject to a COVID test on arrival and a second test seven days later at the expense of the government.