LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Phuket Sandbox Tourist Tests Positive For CoV19, Entire Tour Group Moved To Quarantine Hotel

by Sebastian Powell
July 7, 2021
Reading Time: 4 mins read
19

A tourist from the UAE who just arrived with a tour group in Phuket under the Sandbox program has tested Covid-positive locally despite being fully vaccinated and presenting a negative test at departure.

The individual has now been hospitalized for 14 days and the entire tour group moved to a Quarantine (ASQ) hotel for which they have to cover all expenses. Meanwhile some tourists have already escaped the Sandbox system altogether.

This first case – one week after the Phuket opening – serves as a prime example why there is always a risk attached when utilizing these tourism schemes that are in place both on Phuket and certain other areas in the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Bangkok Post reported about it a few hours ago and opinions are already mixed in Thailand.

A man from the United Arab Emirates who arrived in this southern island province in a tour group on Tuesday was found to be infected with Covid-19, governor Narong Woonciew said on Wednesday.

He is the first tourist found with the virus since the province was reopened on July 1 under the Phuket Sandbox scheme, he said.

The provincial health office reported that a sample swab was taken from the tourist on his arrival at Phuket international airport on Tuesday, before he went to his hotel.

Between 10pm-11pm, the test result came out positive.

Health officials immediately informed the manager of the hotel and took the tourist to a hospital for treatment.

Other tourists in the same group had been placed in 14-day quarantine at a hotel provided by the province for observation and Covid-19 testing.

From July 1-7 a total of 2,113 had arrived in Phuket under the Sandbox programme, the governor said. …

While this article mentions that the Quarantine hotel was “provided by the province” other sources such as Richard Barrow, a prominent Thailand blogger reported that the tourists will have to cover the cost of this facility by themselves but will receive a refund from their SHA+ hotel.

So much for their holiday in the Sandbox. Rather than going to the beach they are now all holed up in a dreadful quarantine hotel all because one person of the entire group tested positive. From what I understand Thailand won’t do any follow up tests to see if the initial one was a false positive, once flagged you’re done for.

Remember that the vaccine alone won’t protect you from contracting Covid but rather prevents (to a significant degree) a serious or fatal turn of the illness post infection. You can still get infected and then test positive which puts travelers in a bind when traveling under conditions tourist schemes such as the Sandbox operate under.

I guess that teaches us a few things.

  • Traveling to Phuket / Thailand is a risk right now one has to be prepared to take
  • A positive test (even a false positive) will have you incarcerated for two weeks
  • Group travel is risky because authorities will lump you in with any infected passenger in your group
  • A quarantine (ASQ) hotel in Phuket is pretty expensive compared to moderately priced SHA+ hotels
  • Insurance with Covid coverage would likely pay if you need to go to a hospital but unlikely if the authorities force you into a hotel transfer, keep you there for two weeks and you need to change your flight and other arrangements

In related news ASEAN NOW (formerly Thai Visa) reported today (translated from a local news source) that another Sandbox arrival escaped the system and instead of the hotel promptly went to the house of his Thai wife and son. He was reported by the hotel who realized he didn’t check in, located and put back into the hotel (should probably be placed into immigration detention and immediately deported for violating the law as well as the emergency decree).

Another tourist, a 84-year old senior with Alzheimer disease, was found to have left the hotel without his cellphone where the tracking software was located on. He went to a local supermarket and was only found out because in his confused state he couldn’t remember where his hotel was.

Related to the photo used for our article today, the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha went into self-isolation on Monday after coming into close contact with a business leader in Phuket last week who later tested positive for COVID-19. So far the Sandbox seems to be a slamming success.

Conclusion

One tourist tested positive, his tour group detained for two weeks, one fresh arrival “breaking free” and a senior traveler leaving his tracking device (cellphone) behind.

These cases beg the question how secure the Phuket Sandbox really is, how travelers can rely on safety and fair treatment as well as on the other side of the coin how authorities should deal with individuals who don’t follow the rules of the program. The system appears to have many holes that carry the potential to make a lot of people quite miserable. If this continues I can very well see the program being modified into a more strict version or abandoned entirely.

Previous Post

Accor ALL Hong Kong Quadruple Points July 21 – September 21, 2021

Next Post

LAST CALL: Hilton Honors Buy Points 100% Bonus + Doubled Limit Through July 8, 2021

Related Articles

Thailand Is Considering To Bring Back The 45-Day Visa Exemption Stamp

Thailand Is Considering To Bring Back The 45-Day Visa Exemption Stamp

Sebastian Powell
August 12, 2022
13

As reported by The Thaiger, the Thai Government is currently considering bringing back the 45-Day Visa Exemption stamp that was...

Thailand Phuket Sandbox Experience – Worth It?

Thai Government Asks Hotels To Raise Prices For Non-Thais

John Ollila
July 6, 2022
30

The Thai government has come up with a novel idea to get more tourists to visit their country and accelerate...

Thailand Pass, Travel Insurance & Outdoor Mask Requirement Eliminated From July 1, 2022

Thailand Pass, Travel Insurance & Outdoor Mask Requirement Eliminated From July 1, 2022

Sebastian Powell
June 17, 2022
12

Huge news coming from Thailand today as the weekly government meeting on the covid situation has decided that the dreaded...

Upgrade Your Travel IQ

Make the most of your travel with our free and daily newsletter with the latest hotel and airline news and promotions.

We do not sell or share email addresses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

American Express Design Of New Marriott Bonvoy Premium Card “BEVY” Leaked
Marriott Bonvoy

American Express Design Of New Marriott Bonvoy Premium Card “BEVY” Leaked

August 13, 2022
Thailand Is Considering To Bring Back The 45-Day Visa Exemption Stamp
Thailand

Thailand Is Considering To Bring Back The 45-Day Visa Exemption Stamp

August 12, 2022
Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans
Hilton Honors

Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans

July 25, 2021
Netherlands Drops Negative PCR-RT Test Requirement From Transit Passengers Effective Today (June 1, 2021)
Travel News

Schiphol Passenger Compensation Scheme Due To Airport Chaos

August 13, 2022
Japan (1): How I Ended Up Spending Six Months In Japan
Travel News

Japan Opens eVISA Applications For Citizens Of The US & Canada On August 18, 2022

August 10, 2022

Top Categories

  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Hilton Honors
  • Accor ALL
  • Airfare Of The Day
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)
  • Hyatt – World of Hyatt
  • American Airlines – AAdvantage
  • Travel News
  • United Airlines – Mileage Plus
ADVERTISEMENT

All Categories

In Case You Missed It

Air Canada Aeroplan New Partner: Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia Double Velocity Points Through July 4, 2023 (Book August 8 – 17)

August 8, 2022
IHG Running Continental Breakfast Only Trial At Some Holiday Inn Express Hotels

IHG Running Continental Breakfast Only Trial At Some Holiday Inn Express Hotels

August 9, 2022
It’s Back: Air France-KLM Flying Blue Buy Miles 100% Bonus Sale Through August 18, 2022

It’s Back: Air France-KLM Flying Blue Buy Miles 100% Bonus Sale Through August 18, 2022

August 7, 2022
Radisson Blu Plaza Ljubljana

Hotel Promo Update: Best Western, Choice, Hyatt, Radisson & Wyndham August 2022

August 9, 2022
Qantas Asks Senior Executives To Volunteer As Baggage Handlers To Combat Labor Shortage

Qantas Asks Senior Executives To Volunteer As Baggage Handlers To Combat Labor Shortage

August 9, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2011, we have been helping millions of visitors like you untangle travel loyalty programs for free upgrades, flights and hotel nights.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Site Navigation

  • About LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Airfares
  • Contact Us

Hotel Promotions

  • Accor
  • Hilton
  • IHG Rewards
  • Marriott
  • World of Hyatt

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our free daily newsletter sends you the latest information on hotel and airline programs.

We do not share or sell email addresses.

Site & Contents ©2011-2022 LoyaltyLobby.com
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

  • News
  • Hotel Promotions
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • World of Hyatt
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
No Result
View All Result

© 2011–2021 LoyaltyLobby.com - Site & Contents