On October 11, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha delivered a speech addressed to the public through a nationally televised broadcast.
The speech delivered to the public contains:
- The challenges that Thailand encountered in battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The goal that has been achieved by Thailand in battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The recognition for those who have made the achievement of the goals possible.
- The plans for Thailand in the upcoming months for further revitalization of the country.
For further details of the speech by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, please continue reading.
Nobody Untouched and No Country Undamaged
The Prime Minister is aware of how COVID-19 has affected all of us.
He pointed out how COVID-19 is considered as one of the greatest peacetime challenges that Thailand has ever faced, not just Thailand, but every country from all over the world has encountered the struggles, the losses, overall, the great challenge caused by this pandemic.
Finding Balance between Saving Lives or Saving Livelihoods
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the Prime Minister’s painful experiences.
In facing the crisis, he has faced terrible choices, a decision he has to make. A decision whether to save lives or to save livelihoods.
Between the 2 choices, in his eyes, there was no win-win situation. If he chose to save lives, that would mean to lose livelihoods, lose savings and destroy businesses. If he chose to save livelihoods, that would mean losing our loved ones.
During that situation, he has acted decisively. He has followed the advice of Thailand’s outstanding public health experts and has decided to save lives. He has imposed lockdowns and tight regulations fast enough that Thailand became one of the successful countries in the world to save lives.
As a result of his decision, as expected, there have been great losses of livelihoods, savings, and destroyed business in Thailand. All of that for the lives of the neighbors, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children of Thailand.
Now, it is apparent that the number of cases of COVID-19 has decreased, he believed that it is now time to choose the other option, to restore and revitalize the livelihoods in Thailand.
It is Time to Live with it
With the awareness of the risk of COVID-19’s spike or comeback and with the awareness of the serious constraints on hospitals and medical staff capacities, the Prime Minister believed that it is time to accept living with COVID-19 as normal like living with other infections and diseases that have existed even before COVID-19 exist.
It was yesterday, October 11, that he announced the first small but important step in decisively beginning the process of restoring Thailand’s livelihoods.
Taking the Opportunity
Last week, it was found out that some of Thailand’s most important tourist source (U.K., including Singapore and Australia) has eased its travel restrictions on their citizens, allowing them to travel conveniently to Thailand and other countries.
And with the nearing year-end and New Year holiday, these upcoming events would be a great way to attract holiday season travelers/tourists in the next few months with the intention to support millions of people who earn in the tourism, travel, and entertainment sector and other related sectors.
With the easing of travel restrictions and nearing holidays being a great combination, these developments were seen as opportunities that are decided for Thailand to take and not miss.
To Act Quickly but Cautiously
With the identified opportunities, the Prime Minister has instructed the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to allow international visitors to enter Thailand without any requirement for quarantine for the travelers’ convenience.
No quarantine requirement to fully vaccinated travelers traveling by air from low-risk countries will hopefully take effect this coming November 1. Still, all travelers are required to apply for Thailand Pass together with a COVID travel insurance that covers at least $50,000 of the medical expenses.
You may purchase your COVID-19 travel insurance here: https://u.axa.co.th/Sawasdee_Siamlegal
Foreign visitors/travelers will only need to show proof that they are not infected with COVID-19 (RT-PCR method) upon boarding the plane. Upon arriving they will be tested again for COVID-19 and if the result is negative, travelers will be free to travel to other Thailand destinations.
Low risk, no quarantine countries include:
- United States of America
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
- Germany
- China
The list will be extended as of December 1 and will continue to extend on January 1.
Foreign unvaccinated visitors and foreign visitors from countries not considered low risk are still welcome but will not have the same privilege as the low-risk countries. They are subject to quarantine requirements.
Support of Revitalization
As part of supporting the revitalization of tourism and leisure sectors, the Prime Minister has considered allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, and allowing entertainment venues to operate under appropriate health precautions which will hopefully take effect this coming December 1.
Aware of the possible risks, the situation will be tracked carefully, and depending on the situation, best believe that they will take action accordingly and proportionately.
The Result of Unity of Purpose and Determined Response
During the Thai Prime Minister’s speech, he has taken the opportunity to give recognition and thank the public health workers, officials, and all Thai citizens for their cooperation to the extraordinary achievements that were achieved to the appeal of the 120-day goal that he made last June.
The following achievements of vaccine deliveries are recognized and listed below:
- From 4 million doses of vaccine deliveries in May, the vaccine deliveries multiplied by 3, making it 12 million, by the time of July.
- From 12 million to 14 million doses of vaccine deliveries in the month of August.
- From 14 million doses of vaccine deliveries to 20 million a month until the end of the year.
The total of vaccine deliveries by the end of the year will be 170 million doses, which is, according to the Prime Minister, a number far ahead than the expectations that were set.
The following achievements of daily vaccinations are recognized and listed below:
- From 80,000 doses a day in the month of May, the number of daily vaccinations in the next month has multiplied by 3 and has kept increasing since then.
- In the more current situation, more than 700,000 received shots a day, sometimes a million shots a day.
The fast increase of vaccine shots a day has made Thailand one of the fastest countries in the world to administer shots.
Without the enormous contribution/cooperation of the public health workers, officials and Thai citizens, the achievements listed above would not be possible.
Beginning of the New Quarantine-Free Entry to Thailand
Expect quarantine-free entry, expect opened establishments, expect revitalization, expect a lot from Thailand this coming November 1.
With the opportunities taken, Thailand is expecting visitors in the upcoming months and hoping for its success in the goals that were set.