Two Indian tourists, who arrived in Thailand through the “Test and Go” scheme, tested positive for the coronavirus in their second test, but they had already left Chon Buri province for Bangkok when the results became available. They have been located today (Tuesday), according the Tourist Police Bureau.
Sought by Chon Buri health authorities, both tourists are now undergoing treatment in a Bangkok hospital.
According to the Chon Buri provincial health chief, when the two arrived in Thailand, they immediately took their first COVID-19, which produced negative results. They were subsequently given a second RT-PCR test, which was positive.
This is the second known case of international tourists foregoing isolation or escaping quarantine before their positive COVID-19 tests results were made available. In late December, an Omicron-infected Israeli tourist fled quarantine in Bangkok and travelled to other provinces before being arrested on the southern island of Koh Samui.
The Thai government has partially suspended the Test and Go and most of the sandbox programmes except in Phuket since December 21 by stopping accepting Thailand Pass applications until further notice to slow down the rate of international arrivals to curb the Omicron variant. A review of the suspension was scheduled for today (January 4) but no new decision has yet been made.
Source: Thai PBS World