Thailand will struggle to meet its monthly coronavirus vaccination target of 10 million doses as deliveries from AstraZeneca will be 40-50% less than expected because some supplies are allotted for export, a senior health official said on Friday.
AstraZeneca will deliver between 5 million and 6 million doses per month for local use starting this month because a portion of local production by Siam Bioscience, its contract manufacturer for Southeast Asia, will be shipped to other countries in the region, said Dr Nakorn Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute, citing a letter from the company.
AstraZeneca representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comments.
The government's earlier target of administering 10 million doses per month starting in the third quarter relied solely on AstraZeneca shots. To meet that goal, the country will now have to secure vaccines from other manufacturers, including China's Sinovac Biotech, Dr Nakorn said.
Export customers in the region for AstraZeneca, including Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, had said earlier that their expected deliveries from Thailand were running behind schedule.
The vaccine shortfalls came amid a raging outbreak that sent fatalities to a single-day record high of 61 on Friday, with new cases rising to 6,087, the most since May 17.
Medical facilities are already at their capacity, and if the outbreak doesn't ease, deaths could double by August, Kumnuan Ungchusak, an expert in epidemiology and an adviser to the Health Ministry, said at a seminar where Dr Nakorn also some.
Senior citizens and people with underlying conditions need to be prioritised, especially as hospitals have already run out of beds for critical-care patients, Dr Kumnuan said.
Fewer than 1% of seniors and about 3% people with underlying conditions have been fully inoculated against Covid-19 so far.
In recent weeks, the government has prioritised jabs for workers to prevent losses in the manufacturing, export and tourism sectors, key drivers of the economy.
As of Friday, a total of 10.3 million people or 15% of the population had received at least one vaccine dose. Of that total, nearly 2.9 million or 4.3% of the population have received two shots.
Opinion: Many people seem to be missing the "point" of the Phuket Sandbox
Yesterday, July 1st, 2021, the Phuket Sandbox finally launched to great fanfare by the Thai government and Tourism Authority of Thailand, but to mostly negative or tepid feedback on social media in both Thai and English.
Even our own comments on articles about the Sandbox were almost universally negative, with most deriding what they see as strict requirements and paperwork, too many Covid-19 tests, lack of entertainment venues being open, a difficult and confusing process to apply for a certificate of entry (COE, having to stay at an SHA hotel, and other complaints about rules and regulations.
Before I go any further, let me link a few of our past articles about the Sandbox for those who aren't aware of the program or what it entails as I won't be going over that in-depth for this article. Here are a few of our recent articles to get caught up on the Sandbox.
Ok, with that out of the way, let's get back to my point, what most people seem to be "missing" about the Sandbox when considering the project. By the way, the blame for people missing this is mostly on the media campaign behind the Sandbox which at times seemed to be screaming "Thailand is wide open" again and treating this test (and it is a test) as the "gates are open and tourism is back."
Had the Phuket Sandbox been called island quarantine from the start and made it clear that this was a first cautious step to relaunching tourism in the country long term it is likely the amount of negativity would have been substantially less, especially from those people who are not the target market for the test. Instead, a lot of the media blitz seemed to, as stated above, focus on the return of tourism, when in fact let's be honest the majority of people visiting are not tourists.
The vast majority of those visiting the Phuket Sandbox will be those returning to the country from overseas visits, ex-pats, Thai nationals returning, snowbirds (those who come for three to six months, mostly to escape the winter in their own countries), etc. The number of one to two-week tourists visiting due to the number of steps and paperwork and Covid-19 tests required to go will likely be very low and that is without even considering the fact that entertainment and bars, a highlight for many tourists especially in Patong, are still closed by government order. (Despite having about 70% of the population vaccinated in Phuket, strict entry requirements, and all tourists vaccinated.) However, the closure of entertainment is most certainly a deliberate decision as well and part of the test to ensure measures can be more controlled.
So, we have established that the Phuket Sandbox is a test, even if the advertising campaign doesn't want to admit it, the majority of the people returning are not "tourists" and that the program is an island quarantine. However, this is NOT a bad thing. The Phuket Sandbox is a HUGE step forward for Thailand in a positive way even if it is NOT the great return to tourism for the country that many want or anything close to pre-covid19 travel when you could jump on a plane and simply fly in with your passport.
The point that most people seem to be missing, besides the above, is that this is the first time in a year and a half Thailand has allowed what they call "no quarantine." Yes, in reality, it is an island quarantine but it is still a huge deal. This is a GIGANTIC step for a country that has erred heavily on the side of caution for the entire pandemic in regards to overseas travel and has been criticized by many for this. The other option was a fourteen-day quarantine (really 15/16 days depending on when you arrive) locked in a single hotel room. If the Sandbox succeeds, it is the first major step in getting rid of the draconian and much-maligned fourteen-day quarantine process. (At least for vaccinated people.)
Sure, Thailand tried some things like "Golf Quarantine" and "Yacht Quarantine" but those were also for very limited audiences and mostly also tests gathering data for the bigger sandbox project. Thailand also had allowed some freedom of movement at hotels after a certain number of Covid-19 tests, like sitting by the pool, but this was removed after the recent Covid-19 domestic outbreak inApril that reached a record high today.
Some are questioning opening Phuket as domestic cases rise and as the country attempts to speed up its own vaccination drive but the truth is this test was probably long overdue and Thailand is in a very difficult position economically if they miss opening on a wider scale in Quarter 4 and a second high season in a row. Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and many other islands have been particularly hard hit by lack of tourism and their infrastructure, evident by the condition of Patong seen in photos and the number of closed businesses, which has already taken a major blow. Other countries, like Mexico, parts of South America, UAE, and others have long since opened up tourism even while the pandemic continues, recognizing the importance to the economy and that Covid-19 isn't going away anytime soon and waiting it out, like was the original plan last year, won't be taking place anymore for Thailand.
I certainly understand the frustration and anger from many seeing the slickly produced videos and flyers and photo opportunities etc for Phuket Sandbox and the continued media blast that it is the return of tourism. It is not the great gates opening, as I said before, but it IS a very important first step, a huge one for Thailand. It's critical this test goes well and as the test expands to Samui and parts of Surat Thani in the next few weeks (although with some changes, including more time at the hotel) that those tests go well also.
To those upset about how many rules and regulations and steps the Sandbox contains, I have a simple message for you-the rules will be eased, but it will take some time. (and further vaccination on Thailand's side.) A true "tourist-friendly" experience and rules will likely be down the road, although any guessing as to when is futile. The Phuket Sandbox, however, and those somewhat brave souls volunteering to be part of the test, is a VERY important BIG step for Thailand's eventual return to tourism overall. This cannot be understated. It is certainly not everyone's cup of tea but is a big step.
Thank you for reading and your time, I look forward to your thoughts and comments below or on our social media channels, have a brilliant weekend!
Chonburi announces 222 new and confirmed cases of Covid -19
Chonburi – The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 222 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, July 2nd.
This makes a total 8,909 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 3,236 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 47 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 5,626 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 83 people were released yesterday.
The district-level new cases were as follows today: Mueang Chonburi 40, Si Racha 68, Banglamung 45, Panat Nikhom 4, Sattahip 4, Ban Bueang 29, Pan Thong 9, Ko Chan 4, Nongyai 2, and 17 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows: 1. Proactive case finding at Yian Hai Electronics in Si Racha, 26 cases 2. Close contacts from previously confirmed patients from the New Market in Mueang Chonburi, 8 cases 3. Risky occupation that meets many people, 7 cases 4. Back from risky areas in Bangkok, 6 cases 5. Back from the Taweephon Market in Rayong (high risk area), 2 cases 6. Marunix Company in Rayong, 2 cases 7. Hemodialysis Center in Nongprue, 2 cases 8. Back from a high risk area in Pathum Thani, 1 case 9. Close contact from a previously confirmed cases from Samut Prakan, 1 case 10. Close contact from a previously confirmed cases from Pichit, 1 case 11. Medical Staffer, 1 case 12. Close contact from a previously confirmed case from a party, 1 case 13. Close contact from a previously confirmed case at Suparuek Market in Si Racha, 1 case 14. Proactive case finding at the Hua Kunjae Market in Ban Bueang, 1 case 15. Proactive case finding at Amorn Naklua, 1 case 16. Close contacts of previously confirmed patients: 72 family members and 32 co-workers 17. Close contacts under investigation, 23 cases 18. Currently under investigation in general, 34 cases
A total of 558 close contact searches were received today with 4,360 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.
The first batch of tourists under the Phuket sandbox arrived yesterday at Phuket airport on Etihad Airways flight EY430 from Abu Dhabi.
The first 14 days of the Phuket sandbox scheme will be a critical test run to pave the way to open other areas in southern Thailand, says the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said 500 tourists booked tickets to travel to the island on Thursday for the reopening, but a delay in the Certificate of Entry (COE) process caused some of them to postpone their trips.
The delay has been sorted, said Mr Phiphat.
Once tourists arrive, they must clear the travel document verification process and take a Covid swab test that should not exceed 30 minutes, he said. They can wait at their hotels for the result.
The entire process upon arrival at the airport should take around two hours for a flight with 180 passengers, said Mr Phiphat.
Tourists are divided into six groups to disperse the flow at the airport.
Officials from the Public Health Ministry are responsible for manual document checks for the first 14 days before an electronic process is adopted.
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn, said passengers from four international flights on the first day totalled 366, with 25 arriving on Etihad Airways, 136 on Qatar Airways, 137 on El Al Israel Airlines, and 68 on Singapore Airlines.
However, passengers with Phuket sandbox COEs tallied only 322, with the remainder transit passengers or unvaccinated tourists.
As of yesterday, 1,075 tourists had obtained COEs for the Phuket sandbox scheme for the first seven days, Mr Yuthasak said.
He said another 437 passengers are scheduled to arrive today, followed by 220 passengers tomorrow, and 88 people on Sunday.
A total of 396 tourists booked hotels yesterday and 596 are scheduled to check in today.
Mr Phiphat said if there's no outbreak on the island for two weeks, the government will continue with its sealed route scheme on Koh Samui on July 15, followed by Krabi and Phangnga in August.
New infections are the biggest threat to the Phuket sandbox as the island will have to stop accepting inoculated tourists if more than 90 new cases are reported in a week.
He said if hospitals in Phuket cannot handle an emergency, the ministry and related agencies are prepared to meet, working to identify variants and prepare measures to cope with the situation.
"The Phuket sandbox cannot fail because we fought so hard to make it happen," Mr Phiphat said.
"The plan provides hope for operators and raises confidence we are ready to bring back tourists."
He said the deadline to reopen the country in mid-October depends largely on vaccinations, but the ministry will try to reopen Bangkok by that timeline.
Thongchai Kiratihatthayakon, deputy permanent secretary for public health: "Now, Bangkok and the surrounding provinces are in a real crisis, patients are beginning to die at home."
While the government is upbeat about its Phuket reopening scheme, health personnel in Greater Bangkok are struggling to deal with a surge of new Covid-19 infections and deaths.
Hospitals are experiencing a shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and staff to take care of patients in serious condition. The Public Health Ministry has mobilised 144 newly-graduated doctors from several provinces to help take care of patients amid the shortage of medical personnel in Bangkok. A welcoming event was organised on Thursday for the doctors who specialise in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, infectious diseases and critical care medicine.
"I would like to say sorry [for calling you to come] and thank you for your help," said Thongchai Kiratihatthayakon, deputy permanent secretary for public health, during the ceremony. "Now, Bangkok and the surrounding provinces are in a real crisis, patients are beginning to die at home.
"We do not want Thailand to be the same as Europe last year when many patients were allowed to die at home because there were no beds at hospitals," he said.
"Some of you might think why it has to be you [to be sent]," Dr Thongchai said. "It is because we really want your help, and your rectors see that you are the best. Now [the outbreak] is not manageable, that's why we want you all."
Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, Vajira Hospital, Thammasat University Hospital, and the field hospital at Mongkutwattana Hospital have shortages of ICU beds for patients with severe symptoms, and they plan to increase the number of beds.
In light of this, more medical personnel are needed to look after patients, Dr Thongchai said.
"In our life, we have never experienced something like World War II but we are now in a war where all countries around the world are struggling to fight against this disease," he said.
"You are our strength."
He said this is the first time the Public Health Ministry has had to mobilise doctors for a special purpose.
"If we do not do this, many people will be left to die in their homes," he said. "In Thailand, this should not be so, we should not be forced to choose which patient will survive and which one will be left to die."
The graduate doctors have been vaccinated against Covid-19, and they will receive remuneration and allowances according to ministerial regulations, he said.
A record 57 deaths and 5,533 new cases were reported across the kingdom over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The second-highest daily toll was 53 on Wednesday, when the country logged 4,786 new infections.
Of the cases reported on Thursday, 99%, or 5,489, were among the public while 44 were among prison inmates.
Bangkok had the most fatalities with 34, while Samut Prakan reported nine, Pathum Thani three, Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Nayok two each, and one each in Chiang Rai, Chaiyaphum, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Samut Sakhon and Suphan Buri.
Meanwhile, Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said an exodus of workers from closed construction sites in Bangkok has led to an increase in infections detected in 32 provinces.
"This prompts provinces to issue strict orders for local people and officials to be on the highest alert," she said. "People are not prohibited from returning home, but they must act responsibly towards their relatives."
Thais returning home from Bangkok, vicinities spread COVID-19 to 32 provinces
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Many of the new COVID-19 infections recently found in 32 provinces are linked to arrivals from Bangkok and nearby provinces, said the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today (Thursday), as the country recorded yet another new daily death toll high of 57.
Many of the people spreading the coronavirus across the country are believed to be construction workers who fled their dormitories in Bangkok and nearby provinces a couple of days before Monday's enforcement of a partial lockdown.
Senior government officials, however, insist that the number of "escapees" is small, because the government has promised Thai workers, who stay behind, half of their usual wages while the construction sites are closed.
New infections, allegedly linked to workers from in and around Bangkok, were found in 6 northern provinces, 12 provinces in the Northeast, 9 provinces in the central and eastern regions and in 1 southern province.
CCSA Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan said that 71 provinces nationwide are now seeing new infections, leaving only four without.
While insisting that no travel restrictions have been imposed on people in the maximum controlled areas, such as Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces, she urged travelers from these areas to notify provincial officials upon their arrival at their destination for proper screening.
She added that all hospitals have been told to conduct COVID-19 tests on all patients who have a fever, cough and/or catarrh.
5,533 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours in Thailand. Of this number, 44 are prisoners and 12 are foreign arrivals in quarantine.
Cumulative infections, since April 1st, 2021, are 235,971, including 52,052 under treatment in general and field hospitals and "hospitels". Cumulative infections, since early last year, are 264,834 and total death toll is 2,080. 210,702 people have recovered.
Of the 57 fatalities today, 34 are in Bangkok, 9 in Samut Prakan, 3 in Pathum Thani, 2 each in Nakhon Pathom and Nakhon Nayok, and one each in Chiang Rai, Chaiyaphum, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Samut Sakhon and Suphan Buri.
New clusters found in the past 24 hours are at a poultry processing plant in Don Toom district of Nakhon Pathom (104 infections) and a college in Wang Nam Yen district of Sa Kaeo (11 infections).
Prayut lands in Phuket to welcome first sandbox arrivals
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his entourage landed in Phuket's Thalang district at 10am on Thursday to visit local officials and witness the passenger screening process.
Phuket opened its doors to foreigners on Thursday for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak early last year. Tourists are allowed to land under a sandbox scheme if they can prove they have been fully inoculated against Covid-19 and test negative. Those approved can move freely on the island without having to quarantine.
After staying in Phuket for 14 days, they can travel to other provinces if they test negative for a second time.
"I realise that reopening Phuket is risky, but it is a risk we have to take for the sake of our country," Prayut said. "The most important thing is to monitor the situation closely and act swiftly in case a situation emerges.
"We need to ensure that the sandbox scheme runs smoothly and contributes to the goal of fully reopening Thailand within 120 days," added Prayut, referring to the promise he made in a June 16 televised public address on the Covid-19 situation. "If successful, data from this scheme will be gathered and shared among other provinces to design their reopening campaign."
Prayut lands in Phuket to welcome first sandbox arrivals
The premier first visited the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint before moving on to check out Phuket's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which functions as a central unit to monitor tourists via the Thailand Plus and Mor Chana applications. All tourists must install the apps and allow themselves to be tracked on GPS during their entire stay.
Prayut also traveled to Royal Phuket City Hotel in Muang district to chair a meeting with provincial officers regarding the progress of the Phuket Sandbox scheme.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that 300 foreigners are scheduled to land in Phuket on Thursday on Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, El Al Israel Airlines and Singapore Airlines flights. The PM is scheduled to visit the airport in the evening to welcome tourists arriving on the Singapore Airlines flight.
The best-case scenario in Thailand's reopening… 3 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, Tourism Council of Thailand says. It's a far cry from the around 40 million welcomed to Thailand in 2019. But with Phuket set to reopening tomorrow under the "Sandbox" travel model, and other areas posed to reopen later this year, tourism officials guess, that in the best case, 3 million tourists could arrive this year.
The worst-case scenario? 1 million tourist arrivals, tourism officials estimate. And that's if Bangkok remains closed to foreign arrivals and if Chinese tourists can't take outbound trips.
With Thailand in its most severe wave of Covid-19, tourism confidence hit its lowest point in the second quarter. TCT vice president Vichit Prakobgosol says vaccination campaigns in the pilot tourism areas, expected to reopen this year, should be accelerated.
"In addition to faster vaccination for 10 pilot tourism areas, the key factors that affect the volume of tourists are the readiness of Bangkok, which is the aviation hub of Thailand, and whether the Chinese government will allow tourists to take overseas trips by October."
In the best-case scenario, if the 10 targeted areas reopen by October, and Chinese tourists can take outbound trips by then, Thailand could welcome 3 million tourists and generate 212 billion baht by the end of the year. The target areas include Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Buri Ram and Bangkok.
Vichit predicts that, most likely, there will be 1.4 million foreign arrivals this year generating 107 billion baht, saying that China will probably loosen travel restrictions to prepare for reopening for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
If Bangkok remains closed, and if Chinese tourists cannot take outbound trips, then Thailand might only welcome 1 million foreign arrivals, generating 83 billion baht, tourism officials predict. They say the delayed rollout of vaccines in Bangkok could impact the country's reopening. Bangkok remains the epicentre in the latest wave of infections with tight restrictions imposed to control the spread of the virus.
Thailand's proposed reopening plan…
JULY
THE ISLAND APPROACH
July 1
PHUKET SANDBOX MODEL
Phuket island and province
July 15
SAMUI PLUS
Surat Thani Province: Koh Samui-Koh Phangan-Koh Tao sealed routes
AUGUST
THE EXTENSION CONCEPT (Linking to Phuket)
August
KRABI EVEN MORE AMAZING
Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Ko Ngai, Ko Railay
August
PHANG NGA PROMPT
Phang Nga, Khao Lak, Ko Yao
SEPTEMBER
THE SEALED APPROACH (Specific areas and routes)
September
CHARMING CHIANG MAI
Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Tang and Doi Tao Districts
September
CHON BURI: NEO PATTAYA
Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Sattahip District
September
BURI RAM
Buri Ram – Mueang District and the Chang Arena
OCTOBER
THE FULL REOPENING
October
BANGKOK
Bangkok metropolitan area
October
HUA HIN
Cha-am and Hua Hin
October
(OTHER DESTINATIONS)
Other locations that have 70% vaccination and are prepared to reopen
Chonburi announces 261 new and confirmed case of Covid -19
The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 261 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, July 1st.
Chonburi –
This makes a total of 8,687 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 3,097 still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 47 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.
Additionally, 3,097 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 110 people were released yesterday.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi 49, Si Racha 48, Banglamung 67, Panat Nikhom 4, Sattahip 19, Ban Bueang 38, Pan Thong 17, Ko Chan 3, and 16 new cases transferred from other provinces for medical care.
The details on the cases are as follows:
1. Proactive testing, New Market Naklua, 27 cases
2. Risky occupations that meet many people, 8 cases
3. Close contact from previously confirmed cases at a migrant worker camp in Si Racha, 6 cases
4. A migrant worker camp in Ban Bueng, 3 cases
Hemodialysis Center Nongprue Municipality in Banglamung, 5 cases
Proactive testing at New Market Sattahip, 4 cases
An unnamed company in Rayong, 4 cases
Proactive testing at Supparuek Market in Si Racha, 3 cases
Close contacts of previously confirmed patients back from Chachoengsao, 3 cases
A worker camp in Si Racha, 3 cases
Proactive testing at Lan Poe Naklua Market, 2 cases
Close contact from a previously confirmed case at a party, 2 cases.
Close contacts of previously confirmed patients back from Samut Prakan, 2 cases
Close contact from previously confirmed cases from New Market cluster in Mueang Chonburi, 7 cases
Close contact from previously confirmed cases from Ratchaprasit cluster, in Mueang Chonburi, 1 case
Close contact from previously confirmed cases from Pongsak Market, 1 case
Proactive testing at Amorn Naklua Market in Banglamung,1 case
Medical staffer, 1 case
Back from high-risk areas in Bangkok, 1 case
. Close contacts of previously confirmed patients: 99 family members and 37 co-workers
. Close contacts under investigation, 19 cases
. Currently under investigation in general, 22 cases
A total of 661 close contact searches were received today with 2,670 initial proactive searches, and more proactive search reports are pending.
Another one of the nightmares of this Covid pandemic is finally on the horizon. The fearful prospect of the collapse of the Thai public health system as it faces the same dire conditions as those of Europe and the US last year, or more recently in India, has arrived -- where the number of Covid patients overwhelms the capacity of hospitals and medical staff.
Thailand -- the former poster boy for effective Covid management -- is now walking down that perilous path. On Sunday, Covid cases hit a new record high. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) admitted that hospitals in the capital were maxed out, with 500 Covid patients, presumably in critical condition, still waiting in line for a hospital bed. The number on that waiting list continues to mount.
International team join hunt for boys missing in Thai cave
US forces and British divers joined the search for 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach believed trapped by floodwaters in Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai. - Reuter
The Public Health Ministry quickly announced a "home isolation" policy for target patients in the "green" group -- those showing no Covid-19 symptoms and who reside in dark red-zones in Bangkok and its vicinity areas.
Covid patients isolated at home will be monitored via an app downloaded by patients that contains essential details such as the patient's health data and treatment history. The data is relayed by the hospitals where the patients are registered with medical treatment.
In addition, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) will provide support in terms of medical-grade equipment for measuring oxygen levels as well as medicine including Favipiravir -- if the patient develops a mild fever. The NHSO will cover food costs at 1,000 baht per day; food will be delivered to the patient. If the patient's condition becomes worse, they will be referred to a hospital.
The policy, despite coming just in the nick of time, gives society some relief. At the very least, the Ministry of Public Health has a Plan B. Yet the home isolation policy requires more than just financial help and a good app. Efficient home isolation won't work without a well informed and cooperative public. Many Covid patients and relatives are clueless over how to take care of isolated patients at home.
Patients fear infecting family members and being shunned by their neighbours. Meanwhile, community members are afraid of living next door to a Covid patient, as it means possible transmission.
That may explain why many patients, regardless of the severity of their condition, frantically run to trustworthy hospitals, or pay a fortune to get admitted to a private hospital. This pandemic has shown how dysfunctional the state's PR machine can be. Home isolation might sound easy, yet it requires well-informed family and understanding neighbours.
Yet in the last 18 months, there has been no systematic PR campaign on home isolation to train people on how to compartmentalise isolated rooms, serve meals, dispose of infectious waste, prevent transmission and above all, make family and neighbours feel safe with home isolation.
All the public has heard from the state in the last 18 months are daily updates on cases from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Because of the virus' mutation, this pandemic won't be ending soon. If Covid cases in Thailand continue to soar, the government will not have enough resources to take care of Covid patients.
The government needs to prepare for this doomsday scenario. It needs to overhaul its communication system. Without a public that understands exactly what is going on, home isolation and the public health system alike will fail.
Life in Phuket on Wednesday evening. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
The Phuket Tourism "Sandbox", a pilot phase of Thailand's ambitious tourism reopening plan, kicks off on Thursday on the resort island amid hope and fears.
As businesses expect a tremendous boost to the local economy, relying heavily on tourism, many locals fear the pro-tourism programme may end up sparking a new outbreak of Covid-19.
About 100,000 foreign tourists are expected to visit Phuket during the third quarter of this year from July to September, expecting to generate tourism revenue of about 8.9 billion baht.
This month, a total of 426 flights would serve 8,281 inbound passengers and 3,613 outbound travellers. The southern island province would average about 13 flights a day, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri on Wednesday.
A total of 249 tourists under the Phuket Sandbox programme are scheduled to arrive in Thailand Thursday on flights from Israel, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, said Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
These tourists will stay in Phuket for at least 14 days, during which two repeat Covid-19 tests will be given to ensure they are free of the coronavirus, he said.
From Thursday, Phuket hopes to strike a balance between driving the economy with tourism and controlling the spread of Covid-19, said provincial governor Narong Wunsiew on Wednesday.
However, he admitted that it wasn't the foreign visitors arriving in Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox programme who are worrying the province in terms of outbreak containment. It's those who will come to the province by land from within Thailand.
Tha Chatchai security checkpoint, the main Covid-19 checkpoint on the road leading to Phuket, still needs more staff and technology to ensure everyone who will pass onto the island is thoroughly checked, he said.
"Only those fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and have proof of their vaccination will be allowed to enter Phuket,'' he said.
Patong beach appears to be the most popular destination for foreign tourists who have booked their hotels in Phuket under the tourism sandbox programme.
A total of 383 rooms have been booked at hotels in the Patong beach area for 1,671 visitors, he said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be in Phuket on Thursday.
He will greet and welcome foreign tourists upon their arrival at Phuket international airport and visit the security checkpoint.
Citing findings from a recent online survey by a local health group of among 1,112 local residents, Manot Saithong, president of the group, said the most common concern shared by many is the possibility that tourists under the tourism sandbox programme could be carriers of a more virulent variant of the coronavirus and trigger a serious new outbreak in the province.
Survey respondents also doubted if foreign tourists will strictly follow the Covid-19 control measures imposed on them when they are here, Mr Manot said.
Doubts have also been raised over the efficiency of Covid-19 screening among Thai visitors to Phuket, he said, adding that if a new outbreak erupts in Phuket, young people will be affected as they are the only group of population that has not been vaccinated.
Don Limnanthaphisit, president of a club of residents in Phuket's old town, called for stricter Covid-19 screening at all schools for fear some students may have contracted the virus from their parents who have contracted the virus from tourists.
If all of the about 100,000 foreign tourists who have already booked their visits to Phuket in the next three months but have yet to confirm their travel actually come, about 13 billion baht in tourism-related income will be generated, said Thanusak Phuengdet, president of Phuket's chamber of commerce.
The Phuket sandbox project kicks off with the Central Phuket Hotel Fair, which is being held until Sunday at Central Phuket and offers discount promotions of up to 70% on hotels.
The Phuket sandbox experienced regulatory chaos in the days leading up to its reopening on Thursday after an endorsement of the plan was published in the Royal Gazette published on Tuesday night.
Tourism operators have said that the scheme is not inclusive for all stakeholders, particularly small operators.
The long-awaited official announcement on Tuesday night came a bit too late as some tourists who had booked flights for today decided to cancel or postpone their trip as they were not confident whether approval of the certificate of entry (COE) would be done in time, said a tourism source who requested anonymity.
Even though the Foreign Ministry sped up the process and quickly granted COEs to a number of tourists after the official announcement was made, some tourists who had not obtained a COE before departure decided to cancel their trip.
Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, said that every inoculated tourist who applies for a COE will not have to stay in a local quarantine facility unless they registered for a COE before the Foreign Ministry opened the process.
He said the Foreign Ministry had prepared in advance by opening the registration process on Monday, however, approvals could not be made until an announcement was published in the Royal Gazette.
"We reassured travellers that their certificates would be approved and flights to Phuket were confirmed," Mr Yuthasak said.
He said moving forward, Phuket is ready to welcome international tourists with no additional obstacles and that the COE process may take three to five days.
At least 300 tourists from five airlines will form the first batch to enter the island today. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be at the airport to welcome vaccinated international tourists, mostly from Europe, the US and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, hotel bookings have also picked up after the reopening scheme was made official.
At least 24,972 room nights have been booked for July 1-15, up from 11,000 room nights reported on Monday.
Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, president of the Phuket Tourism Council, said foreign guests alone are not enough to save the tourism industry.
"Most tourism benefits are likely to go to big players and will leave small and medium operators behind," he said.
Mr Thaneth added that Phuket still needs a boost from domestic tourists as this group is an important market for small operators.
