Thread by @RichardBarrow

I just landed on an Eva Air flight from London to Bangkok. This thread is my experience today of what happens when you arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport. [1/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

After disembarking, everyone, regardless of which flight, went through a thermal scanner. Anyone with a fever would be pulled aside and taken to a hospital for further examination. But that apparently rarely happens. [2/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

After the thermal scanner, there’s a table where you can buy a SIM CARD for 49 Baht. This is for foreign tourists as you need a local SIM for the next step. [3/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

At the entrance to the Immigration hall, there is another checkpoint where everyone has to fill in the T8 form. To do this, you have to download the AOT Airports app onto your smartphone and navigate to the T8 section. [4/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

In the AOT Airports app, you have to take a picture of your passport and upload it. Then fill out the form with details like travel history, flight number, seat number, address in Thailand and your general health. [5/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

Once they had verified I had done this, I was allowed to enter the Immigration hall. It was absolutely empty. It took literally one minute to pass through here. Not many foreign tourists arriving these days [6/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

The baggage claim area was also very empty. This carousel was for several flights but only a handful of people. I only had to wait about 5 minutes here. [7/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

A heads up about customs. So few people were going through here that the customs people were literally x-raying all bags. Mine passed but two Thais in front of me had to open their suitcases for further inspection. [8/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

This is the arrivals lounge at Suvarnabhumi airport at 5:00pm. It’s like a ghost town. Hardly anyone around. I have never seen it so empty. [9/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

This is the taxi area at Suvarnabhumi airport. It was completely deserted. This is where it got really sad. The taxi driver told me he had been waiting in the queue since 9:47am. I was his first customer. He had been waiting more than 7 hours. [10/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

I could tell Khun Somchai was disappointed that I wasn’t going far. It wouldn’t be much of a fare. He said he would go back to the airport but there would be no more customers. He said he was sleeping in his taxi. I gave him 1,000 Baht and told him to keep the change. [11/12]

At no point was I told that I should be doing self isolation. However, as I had been in an area of ongoing local transmission, I will be doing voluntary self-quarantine at home for the next 14 days. Luckily I had the foresight to stock up my cupboards [12/12] #COVID19 #Thailand

The reason that I flew home quickly was that I had heard that the airlines would soon start asking to see a health certificate. As it’s impossible to get a test for #COVID19 I am lucky I didn’t need it last night. But two people from South Korea weren’t allowed onboard #Thailand

https://twitter.com/HeatThailand/status/1240612584698425345

Some people have told me that health officials will probably call the number that you write in the T8 form. They may even come and visit you. I will post an update if that happens to me #COVID #Thailand

https://twitter.com/Charleslklee/status/1240614842760740869

You can still fill in the T8 form the old fashion way with a pen! But you need to still give them a phone number if possible, but at least your address. One thing I should mention about the AOT Airports app is that they WILL use it to track your whereabouts. You have been warned!

https://twitter.com/daejeon73/status/1240608590760534016