Pattaya Hotel Association President discusses Covid-19 quarantines, available rooms, urges for Covid-positive foreign tourists to be allowed to stay in hotels

PHOTO: Sophon Cabel TV (STV)

Pattaya –

Pattaya hotel business operators are working with Pattaya and Chonburi health officials to find up to 8,000 available beds in hospitals, hotels, and various types of quarantine centers after Covid -19 confirmed cases have rapidly increased in Banglamung, Pattaya, and Chonburi.

The President of the Eastern Thai Hotel Association Mr. Pisoot Saekoo told TPN media just before this past weekend, “We are discussing with the Chonburi Public Health Office and government offices in Pattaya and Banglamung to find more beds in hospitals, hotels, quarantine centers, and other locations for Covid-19 positive individuals.”

PHOTO: Sophon Cabel TV (STV)

“There are about 1,500 Covid -19 patients who are coded by the health department as ‘Green’ or mild symptoms waiting to enter into hospitals or quarantine centers (as of January 6th). Currently, there are about eight large hotels that have available about 500 beds and have agreed to be “hospitels” (quarantine hotels for mild or asymptomatic patients). However, the Chonburi Public Health Office is requesting up to 8,000 beds in hospitals.” Pisoot explained.

“Although self-isolation is available in some cases, many local Thai residents in Banglamung live in close communities and living quarters with many other people and as a result, to protect the community, are choosing and being sent to hospitels and similar places. Many, even with mild symptoms, are worried and prefer to be somewhere with medical staff on duty.” Pisoot stated.

“Foreigners are a different matter, as many live alone and some have been unhappy about leaving their personal residences for hospitels and quarantine centers. Some are concerned about potential cost or if their insurance will pay for quarantine and as a result don’t want to go to quarantine centers (Thai nationals and foreigners with social security, like work permit holders, are free). For foreign tourists on holiday that are infected with Covid – 19, health officials should let them stay at hotels where they are in order to prevent the spread of the virus while they are waiting to get into the treatment system or recover. Please do not force them to go out from hotels to hospitals, this is affecting tourism.”  Pisoot concluded.

As of today, Chonburi recorded 847 new cases of Covid-19, January 8th, 2022, and was the number one area in Thailand for confirmed infections. The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, has reportedly been working with provincial health officials, especially in tourism areas, to allow further self-isolation and hotel isolation for tourists versus forcing them into potentially expensive hospitals or quarantine centers, but the process has been slow-going and not without roadblocks.

If one tests positive for Covid-19 with a rapid antigen test, they will need to do the following officially:

-Follow up with an RT-PCR test at an approved hospital or clinic. The Thai government only recognizes these as official.

-Call 1330, the National Health Security Office

  • Patients under the Social Security System contact a hotline 1506, press 6.
  • For urgent or severe cases, contact the hotline 1668 or Line @1668.reg to reserve a hospital bed.

To qualify for home isolation, patients must be younger than 65 years old with no health conditions that put them at risk of a severe infection. They must also be asymptomatic, or only have mild symptoms, and have a living space where they can isolate themselves from others (Many condos and apartments may not allow this). Those traveling in Thailand may be subject to quarantine at an approved hotel at their expense.

For inquiries on home isolation, call the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422.

The number of days required to isolate or quarantine if positive with Covid19  can vary based on several factors, TPN media notes, and it is best to consult a health official with this question.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for five years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.