THAILAND has shelved a plan to reopen an international bridge linking it with Laos as the government tightens measures to curb the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.
Thailand had planned to allow fully vaccinated visitors to the country over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai province from Friday onwards under its quarantine-free Test & Go scheme.
According to a bangkok Post report, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the bridge was included in the suspension of the scheme at airports.
The CCSA will evaluate the Covid-19 situation before deciding on the reopening of the bridge during its next meeting on Jan 4.
The friendship bridge connecting Nong Khai with Vientiane had been assigned as the only land entrance to Thailand under the Test & Go scheme.
Thailand shelved the programme on Wednesday due to rising fears of the Omicron variant and reintroduced mandatory quarantine for all arrivals.
However, about 200,000 travellers who have already received permission to enter the country under the quarantine-free scheme will still be allowed in.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, some 110,000 applicants have had their registration approved but have not yet arrived, while another 90,000 are waiting for approval for their applications.
CCSA assistant spokeswoman Dr Sumanee Wacharasin said said the approved visitors could move around the country if their first RT-PCR test upon arrival came back negative.
However, hotel managements must ensure the visitors stay in their hotel rooms overnight until their test results are known.
After being allowed to leave their hotels if they have negative results, visitors will be required to install the Mor Chana app to allow authorities to track them for another seven days.
They will have to take their second RT-PCR test on the fifth or sixth day after leaving their hotel, Dr Sumanee said.
The revised measures were put in place after an Israeli tourist left his Bangkok hotel on Dec 18 without waiting for his Covid-19 test result, which proved positive. The tourist surrendered to police on Koh Samui yesterday.
In light of the incident, the CCSA has instructed the Tourism and Sports Ministry to monitor foreign visitors upon arrival until they check in at hotels.
They also need to ensure the tourists do not leave their hotel rooms until the result of their first RT-PCR test is known.
Dr Sumanee added that the Thailand Pass system has been closed for new applications for entry under the Test & Go and Sandbox programmes, except the Phuket Sandbox scheme, effective on Tuesday.
Dr Sumanee said government officials were also prohibited from taking leave and going abroad unless it was essential.
The Post report said that Thais have been advised to postpone any planned overseas trips, especially to Europe, America, Africa or the Middle East. Government organisations have been instructed that as many staff as possible must work from home after the New Year holiday, she added.
People were also asked to take antigen tests before returning to their home provinces and before getting back to work after the New Year holidays.
Dr Sumanee added that there were 104 confirmed Omicron cases in the country as of yesterday and all have been quarantined and treated.
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the new measures for foreign visitors were not meant to keep them out, but only to reduce the risk and ensure safety of the country.
Meanwhile, Thailand logged 2,532 new Covid-19 cases, and 31 more deaths on Wednesday, the Public Health Ministry announced.