Thailand’s quarantine-no cost travel go suspended amid Omicron variant fears

(CNN) — Amid the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Thailand has announced some improvements to its inbound quarantine-no cost journey standing for some guests.

As of midnight on December 22, no new apps for quarantine exemptions less than the Thailand Pass scheme will be deemed. The government states this is a temporary suspension fairly than a long lasting ban, but there’s no date yet for when the maintain could be lifted.

Thailand Pass was a person of the southeast Asian country’s major moves towards reopening to vacation. Tourism is 1 of Thailand’s largest industries, with almost 40 million website visitors in 2019. Beneath the disorders of the Thailand Go, entirely vaccinated persons hoping to go to from a very low-threat country could use to bypass quarantine on arrival.

The go, which was under the “Exam & Go software,” kicked off November 1.

According to a Thai govt information release, 200,000 persons have so far applied for the pass, which comes with a telephone QR code enabling them to vacation freely around the state and enter restaurants, sights, shops and other community sites.

Travelers who have by now used and been accredited will not be afflicted by the new laws. Nevertheless, if they have not yet entered Thailand they will now be needed to acquire two PCR assessments just after arriving, a person of which will be at a authorities facility.

Now, travelers to Thailand — besides these participating in the Phuket Sandbox plan — will be subject matter to a quarantine of 7 to 10 days, relying on their region of origin.

Thailand has also introduced it will develop the nationwide get in touch with tracing application, but it hasn’t nonetheless shared particulars on how that will occur.

These who have used for the Thailand Go but not nonetheless gotten permitted can also continue on as normal as soon as they get a reaction to their application.

The Omicron variant was to start with recognized by scientists in South Africa in November. It is now the dominant pressure of new bacterial infections in the United States.

CNN’s Eric Cheung contributed to this report.