With the Phuket Sandbox kicking off on July 1st, most of the rules and regulations that must be followed in order to be admitted to Thailand have already been announced.
Both by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), and the governor of Phuket.
What has not been announced — and something many foreign tourists to Thailand are concerned about — is what happens if you test positive for Covid-19 during the Phuket Sandbox?
Something that could occur, considering every foreign tourist must be tested at least three times during a 14-day vacation.
What happens if you test positive for Covid-19 during Phuket Sandbox?
Unfortunately, nobody seems to know, and nothing has been announced by the CCSA or any other Thai authority, when it comes to foreign tourists receiving a positive Covid-19 test result.
Something that is quite worrying when you consider a positive Covid test could be a big issue for anyone planning a relaxed two-week vacation on a Phuket beach.
From what is happening with many Thais who test positive for Covid-19 — quarantine in a government-run hospital or field hospital — it could be assumed any foreign tourist testing positive for Covid could also end up in a Thai medical facility or field hospital for the remainder of their vacation.
Or they could simply be mandated to quarantine in their hotel room for 10-14 days. Nobody seems to know.
The United States’ CDC also points out, should you test positive for Covid-19 while in Thailand and need to return home, American authorities may prevent you from doing so until you can prove you no longer have a positive test result.
If you test positive on arrival, you might be required to isolate. You might be prevented from returning to the United States as scheduled.
In other words, if there is a possibility you may test positive for Covid-19 during your vacation in Phuket, and you will be tested for the virus at least three times, it may be more appropriate to avoid a trip to Thailand until Thai authorities clarify what would happen if you did.
Updated: July 7th, 2021 — A positive Covid test upon arrival in the Phuket Sandbox has been announced as causing a mandatory 14-day stay in a Thai hospital. Members of the group you arrive in will also be quarantined for 14 days.