Thailand Imposes More Restrictions As Omicron Cases Surge

Thailand will extend the suspension of its quarantine waiver programme and bring in new restrictions after a jump in new coronavirus cases linked to the Omicron variant, the government's COVID-19 taskforce said on Friday.

New applications for Thailand's "Test & Go" quarantine waiver scheme will not be approved until further notice to stem the increase of coronavirus infections, said Taweesin Visanuyothin, the spokesman of the COVID-19 taskforce.

But existing applicants can still enter Thailand without quarantine until January 15, he said.

"We can still make changes if the situation improves, but for now we have to learn more about Omicron," Taweesin said.

Due to concerns over Omicron, Thailand had halted the waiver programme since December 22 and also most of its "sandbox" schemes, which requires visitors to remain in a specific location for seven days but allows them free movement during their stay, except for the resort of Phuket.

But from January 11, Thailand will allow quarantine-free entry into the country via the previously suspended sandbox schemes of Samui Plus, Phang Nga, and Krabi, Taweesin said.

Thailand would also lift on January 11 an entry ban on people travelling from eight African countries it had designated as high-risk.

To curb local virus transmissions, alcohol consumption in restaurants will be halted after 9 p.m. in eight provinces including the capital Bangkok from Sunday, and banned in the country's other 69 provinces, Taweesin said.

"Social drinking is the cause of the virus spread. Measures to restrict this will help curb the spread," he said.

Thailand reported 7,526 cases of the coronavirus on Friday, the highest number since early November and more than double the number on January 1.

"If we just let it happen, cases could reach 30,000 a day by the end of the month," said Taweesin.

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