On Wednesday, Governor Narong Woonciew said that a man from the United Arab Emirates who arrived in Phuket in a tourist group on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19.
He was the first tourist found to be infected with the virus since the southern island province reopened to international travelers under the sandbox scheme on July 1, he stated. According to the provincial health office, a sample swab was taken from the tourist when he arrived at Phuket International Airport on Tuesday before going to his hotel.
The test result, issued between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m., was positive.
After health officials informed the hotel manager about the case, the man was transferred to a hospital for treatment. Moreover, other travelers in the group had been placed under quarantine for 14 days at a hotel provided by the province.
They will stay at the quarantine facility for observation and Covid-19 testing.
Official figures say that a total of 2,113 people arrived in Phuket under the sandbox program without quarantine between July 1 and 7. The island’s authorities have administered two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to 70% of its population to reduce the risks of spreading the virus, the provincial public health office said.
Besides, the provincial health chief, Chaloempong Sukhonthaphol, announced that students aged 18 and over and other prominent groups would start receiving their first doses this month.
Phuket logged two local infections on Tuesday, raising the case toll to 755 during the virus’s third surge. Authorities have banned entry to people from other provinces unless they have been fully vaccinated or received an AstraZeneca vaccine dose at least 14 days before arriving.
