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Foreigners in Phuket who are caught ignoring COVID measures and acting in a manner not deemed “socially responsible” will be subject to legal punishment and possibly even deportation.
That was the message received by the consuls and representatives of foreign governments on the island at a meeting yesterday (April 27). The meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall was chaired by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, accompanied by Phuket's three vice governors, Pichet Panapong, Piyapong Choowong and Vikrom Jakthee.
The meeting aims “to discuss how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among foreign tourists living in Phuket”. There are currently about 11.000 foreigners living in Phuket.
Present were the consul generals, honorary consuls and other representatives from 14 countries: Australia, United Kingdom, Russia, France, Netherlands, Norway, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Austria, South Korea, Switzerland, Chile, Mexico and Nepal. Our consul, Mr. Seven Smulders, was present for the Netherlands.
The consuls were informed of the state of affairs regarding the economic situation in Phuket and the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The Phuket Immigration Bureau presented a report with guidelines for the prevention and control of the epidemic. It states that if a foreigner is at high risk according to the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, or has tested positive for COVID-19, the foreigner should be socially responsible by preparing for treatment in strict accordance with guidelines set by the Public Health Office. In short, the same measures apply to them as Thai citizens living in Phuket province,” the report said.
“If foreigners do not comply with the measures, legal penalties will follow and that may also have consequences for permission to stay in the Kingdom,” the report said.
Source: www.thephuketnews.com/
They are already starting to get frightened those Thais.
Even in the car you are obliged to wear a mouth mask even if you are alone.
jm,
Where is it stated that you must wear a mouth mask when you are alone in the car?
Do you have an official message about that?
If not, you'd better refrain from spreading all sorts of rumours. It's hard enough to keep up with the rules that change every day.
If you are alone in the car, the mouth mask is not mandatory, that is the new regulation that I have read so far only applies to Bangkok.
Jan Beute.
Well, if the government has no control over people's behavior because that government is unbelievable, 'law and order' and expletives are all that is left. And because they are also ineffective due to corruption (which police officer would not accept 5000 or 6000 Baht in cash from a foreigner not wearing a mask? Expat or tourist for that matter), only the price of tea money is going up. Police happy, and the foreigner hardly cares what he knows about how things run in this country.
Secretly wonder how the consuls reacted to such an announcement during the meeting. Please read the answer in the ambassador's new column, or in the secret minutes.
Have a laugh.
The Thais who were caught red-handed yesterday and today for not wearing a mask had to pay 2000 and 4000 Baht respectively. But because they confessed their offense (how can you deny not wearing a mask?), their fine was halved (to 1000 and 2000 Baht respectively).
I now wonder what a halving of the penalty means if a foreigner does not wear a mask and your visa is declared invalid. Of course he/she confesses. Will your outstanding visa period be halved?
People (the government) are looking for a stick to beat the dog (the foreigner) in order to shift any blame for not controlling the Covid virus, ie no more than a smokescreen for their own failures.
It seems that the Thai population has no part in the spread of the virus.
A logical continuation (this statement from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office) of earlier remarks by the minister of health, which already showed an ingrained mistrust of foreigners.
A minister who is now increasingly coming under fire, ie with even petitions to resign.
Just assume that the bigger the Corona problems get, the more foreigners will get it.
Unfortunately, the Thai government is responding in the same way as most governments elsewhere in the world. They believe they can curb a virus by closing borders or taking so-called forceful measures. However, more or less malicious viruses simply cannot be curbed. You just have to live with that, as has been the case for centuries. The chance that someone dies from covid is small. Yes, if there are already several medical abnormalities in the body. Such a body will be more difficult to resist, but a vaccine can anticipate that. And just like with other viruses and diseases, people will die from it. You just can't do much more than exercise caution. In that respect, little has changed with this virus. Don't stand or push on top of your fellow man, just wait your turn and wash your hands, that's nothing new, with their new normal, just always been. Face masks ? In Asia for a long time, also against air pollution, but whether this can stop a virus is probably only true to a very limited extent. Hopefully, in the short term, there will be more insight among the governments that they are fighting against the dead. Moreover, man was not created to live at a distance from each other and you are not born with a face mask, according to my friend who recently died of pancreatic cancer, who just wanted to say that the Creator has given man everything to fulfill his temporary task here. to complete and afterwards will also provide living quarters for spirit and soul, said the perfect son of the Creator. People, the dying of the body is part of life, but it is a rebirth of the spirit and soul in the spirit world. Have faith, everyone has the certainty of this rebirth. Only the time and circumstances are uncertain.
I like Jan's response…. totally totally out of question. It is a reaction that is typical of people who always have to react negatively to whatever measures taken by the Thai government. We also see this tendency in other forums: it is NEVER good and why? Because it doesn't fit in their narrow minds and they, naturally, have to be able to piss off. The original article clearly states, but you have to read it, that this measure also applies to Thai people. The only difference is that they, Thai people, cannot be deported. Expelling a foreigner from the country will not be just to get caught not wearing a mouth mask, you can be sure that this will take more…. take as an example the arrogant behavior of some when they are pointed out certain things.
Who knows, Jan even lives in Thailand? If so, he should know that, especially nationwide, the Thai people are terrified of getting sick. They practically all adhere to the rules very well. Getting sick for an average Thai means: not being able to work and therefore no income. Here they cannot, even if it is due to whether or not they comply with the rules, as in Ned and Bel, appeal to the health insurance fund that continues to pay the largest part of their wages.
As a foreigner living in Thailand, I am of the opinion that one has to comply with the prescribed rules and laws in the first place. If you don't agree with the argument of bullying or beating Farang all the time, then you're out of place here. then you stay where you are not Farang. But it won't be good there either.
And those Thai club visitors who probably caused this third wave refuse to be admitted to an emergency hospital!
Will they also be deported?
I do not understand this reaction, because it is only foreigners who are in hospitals and field hospitals in the country. I thought that the Thai was also included and that it was impossible to refuse. But maybe you have other reliable sources? But if they are admitted, you can consider it as deportation. You cannot deport a Thai resident, nor can a Dutch citizen be deported from the Netherlands.
I don't know where Jos lives and also not his age and whether he goes to discotheques, bars, football matches or the like, but of course it could happen to all of us. Just think of the beginning with the carnival in the Netherlands.
Jos's reaction is meant here mockingly towards the HiSo figures who have visited a number of expensive clubs. Among other things, people around the minister have been there, who went into home quarantine (some figures had tested positive). A minister himself denies having been there, but does not fully disclose his movements. That seems like measuring with double standards: an average Thai or foreigner who has (quite possibly) visited a Covid hotspot and then does not want to tell where he has been or who then goes into quarantine at home instead of a field hospital .. one would probably not accept . Different rules seem to apply to tall figures. While those people high up in the tree look down on the plebs as stupid, irresponsible and so on.
Also reminds me of those high gentlemen's call for priority vaccination of golf caddies of military golf courses and upper segment entertainment area personnel. No idea what happened to that, but the signal was clear…
The message has been circulating on Thai social media for a long time that a number of people who were present at the thonglor party brought corona from Germany when they were there to accompany number eleven to his home country. Because of their good works they were allowed to celebrate.
@puuchaai's statement: “The chance that someone will die from covid is small. Well, if there are several medical abnormalities in the body already.” is not true. Just look at what is happening in India and what is still happening in Brazil. Or it should be that suddenly all people of age and those with underlying ailments and disorders come together in the same place to die. It is therefore strange that in Western European countries, after vaccination and protection of the elderly in ICUs, more young people are admitted, some of whom also die.
Anyway, back to the covid vicissitudes of Phuket: more than a month ago, the authorities there reported that they planned to purchase a quantity of vaccines themselves to inoculate the Phuket population, and then be able to receive the tourist again. Well, that plan died a soft death, the purchase did not get off the ground, the population received a beggar's staff instead of an inoculation. To mask all this, a diversionary maneuver should be staged. In short, Farang: Watch your Business! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQVo5gC0U7o
Dear Henk,
I think your objection is incorrect, there has been a lot of vaccination in Phuket for weeks, I already know quite a few people around me who have received 2 injections, especially hotel-tourist sector staff are being vaccinated, but every Thai could also register.
I have a hard time with the warning to expats, while I see many Thais who do not follow the rules. Not sure, but from what I see and hear there is little to no Covid in phuket, you can't just get in or out, so I don't think the residents will be a source.
However, I will hold my breath if vaccinated tourists who can still transmit the virus come to the unvaccinated part of Phuket.
I know Phuket very well and spent my holidays there for many years. But Phuket is going to be hit hard by tourists because I don't think many tourists will come this year and next year. Not even from tourists who have been vaccinated twice. They stay in their own country, and then within Europe. I haven't been to Spain or Portugal for several years. If Europe is free of corona again at the end of the year, let's take a look there first. Italy is still there. What else does Thailand have to offer? If you have a family in Thailand or a partner and are integrated into her family, then it will be a different story. But even though you have had a residence visa for years, I still find it strange that you are being threatened. Like you don't matter.
What exactly does it say? Anyone who does not comply with the rules must take into account criminal prosecution and possibly even withdrawal of the visa. That's nothing new, is it? It's just plainly stated.