Not the most reliable source but apparently lots of issues with new arrivals testing + w/o symptoms, insurance won't pay, not enough places, etc.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1245465-p...tage-admitted/

"

Picture: Manager



Manager reported from Phuket saying there was a severe crisis among increasing numbers of foreigners on the holiday island testing positive for Covid-19 at the start of their stay.

Their sources indicated - following similar suggestions on social media - that an increasing number of asymptomatic foreigners were testing positive for Covid on day one.

These are the so called "Green Cases".

Hotels want them off the premises and sent to hospitals but the insurance companies are refusing to honor policies saying they have to pay for hospitals.

The foreigners are pointing out that they are insured and won't pay for hospitalization.

This, said the source, meant that a large number of foreign tourists are refusing to budge at hotels.

This could mean, despite protocols being in place, that staff get infected and hotels are forced to shut down.

He called on immediate government action to address the growing crisis in Phuket.

Meanwhile Dr Kusak Kukiatkul of the Phuket health authority confirmed that the "Green Cases" didn't want to go to hospitals as they came from countries where asymptomatic cases could just quarantine at home.

And he admitted that there were simply not enough places in so called "hospitels" to accommodate them."

....as I already said in another thread: I doubt that Phuket sandbox will continue throughout the Omicron wave
such incidents are the nail in the coffin of the sandbox

why are the insurance companies refusing to pay for the hospitals if they have been tested positive?

Perhaps they feel hospitalization of asymptomatic Covid-19 positive patients is unnecessary and they will only pay for needed inpatient medical care. 😊

Wouldn't the Thai government recommended Insurance company cover the Thai government requirements?

hotels are offering help: hotel isolation for asymptomatic guests...will a pragmatic solution prevail?
Phuket preps hotel guest isolation (bangkokpost.com)

You know Thailand a lot better and you know that pragmatism and Thailand not do match at all. But in a way I understand the government's reluctance to open up. When they opened up the infection rate shot up. People and especially a lot of foreigners were not wearing masks in a lot of places. I have seen them slip the mask under the chin even on the BTS. The Thais are too polite to ask them to put it back on.
Almost all the bars do not have customers or for that matter anyone wearing masks. The Omicron cluster started in a bar in Kalasin.

You only get a Thaipass because you have paid the one night hotel and test charges. If they cancel it, does the government or the hotel be liable to refund all that money?

Update now the Health Ministry is saying that people with mild symptoms should stay at home instead of hospitals so this may change things for the tourists too?

Consistently inconsistent!

that's completely standard for any country during the pandemic, except for China, who follow a Zero-Covid strategy for 2 years now! Do you prefer that one?

The whole world has gone mad, it is not just Thailand being inconsistent. I would say Europe is much more inconsistent than Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. As BinSabai says, China is the only remotely consistent country over the past two years, and look at Xi'an and other cities now.... Is that preferable ?

Did I say anything about Thailand being the only one?

This time you were in their crosshairs.

-David