Thailand is to relax entry rules for vaccinated tourists from March 1, with the removal of a requirement for arrivals to take a PCR Covid test on day five.

Visitors can now take cheaper rapid antigen tests on day five instead. These can be self-administered, meaning travellers no longer have to make a hotel reservation to carry out the day five tests.

PCR tests are still required on day one, with visitors asked to await their results in a hotel. To enter, visitors must also provide proof of pre-payment for their day one government-approved hotel on arrival.

Thailand accepts the UK’s NHS Covid Pass as proof of vaccination, which must be shown by over 18s on arrival. Vaccines must have been administered 14 days before travel.

Pre-departure PCR tests are still required before boarding a flight bound for Thailand and visitors must register with the Thailand Pass.

Non-vaccinated arrivals must quarantine on arrival at an approved hotel.

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Thailand’s main virus task force chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, also lowered the minimum medical insurance coverage for visitors to $20,000 from $50,000, Bloomberg reported.

About 302,000 visitors have been cleared for entry to Thailand under its Test & Go programme since it was reopened for a second time on February 1, according to Bloomberg.

Thailand saw its Covid cases jump to 21,232 on Wednesday, a six-month high, but the deaths stood at 39, compared with more than 300 a day during the peak of the Delta wave in August.