Three thoughts come to mind with regards to this Phuket sandbox plan. 1) Vaccination Certificates. I just got my 2nd Moderna jab at Public Health, and now I have a small paper ‘certificate’ with my name on it and two dates and sets of initials. It’s nothing I couldn’t copy using Word and my HP printer in one minute or less. And while mine is real and in that sense official, it's not tied to any database so it's not verifiable in any way. So, when tourists present a piece of paper that declares they’ve been vaccinated, who really can know? And if so, how?
2) Will they implement rapid testing as part of this sandbox plan? Because if they rely on PRC testing, there is a significant time lag for lab work which will create holes in the plan. Since tourists can travel on into Thailand after their week in the sandbox, that will require instant testing at the time/day of departure. I know rapid testing technology exists, but have you seen it in Thailand?
3) How will they insure tourists remain on the island for the required duration? Will they hold passports? That could open a real can of worms. But short of that, what will keep people from just traveling on?
Hi David,
Three thoughts come to mind with regards to this Phuket sandbox plan. 1) Vaccination Certificates. I just got my 2nd Moderna jab at Public Health, and now I have a small paper ‘certificate’ with my name on it and two dates and sets of initials. It’s nothing I couldn’t copy using Word and my HP printer in one minute or less. And while mine is real and in that sense official, it's not tied to any database so it's not verifiable in any way. So, when tourists present a piece of paper that declares they’ve been vaccinated, who really can know? And if so, how?
2) Will they implement rapid testing as part of this sandbox plan? Because if they rely on PRC testing, there is a significant time lag for lab work which will create holes in the plan. Since tourists can travel on into Thailand after their week in the sandbox, that will require instant testing at the time/day of departure. I know rapid testing technology exists, but have you seen it in Thailand?
3) How will they insure tourists remain on the island for the required duration? Will they hold passports? That could open a real can of worms. But short of that, what will keep people from just traveling on?
Lots of challenges...