Thailand brings back mandatory quarantine for tourists on Omicron fears

The ‘Test and Go’ scheme since early November, which allowed fully vaccinated travelers from more than 60 countries, including Vietnam, to enter without mandatory quarantine, was suspended on Tuesday, Bangkok Post reported.

The suspension will last until January 4.

The kingdom has detected dozens of foreign tourists with Omicron infection.

Vietnam is expected to get its first group of Thai tourists this month under a vaccine passport trial program it began recently.

The Vietnamese government has approved the resumption of commercial flights to nine destinations on Jan. 1, including Bangkok.

Under the latest guidelines issued by the health ministry last week, fully vaccinated people and those who have recovered from Covid-19 will only need to self-isolate for three days instead of having to spend a week at government-designated quarantine facilities.

All arrivals, except children below two, must have tested negative for Covid-19 using the PCR method within 72 hours before departure.