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Six Phuket Sandbox Travelers Test Positive for Covid-19

Six international tourists who recently arrived in Phuket tested positive for Covid-19, provincial authorities said Monday.

Those travelers were among the tourist group who have come to Thailand since the Phuket Sandbox scheme began early this month, said Phuket health chief Koosak Kookiatkul.

According to government data, the infected tourists were an American, an African, an Emirati, a Swiss, and three Myanmar people.

Health officials confirmed that three of them had caught the virus after the second swab test results came out on Monday morning.

They were a 45-year-old Burmese who arrived with seven relatives, a 28-year-old African who came with two friends, and a 13-year-old Swiss boy who arrived with his family.

People who had been in close contact with Covid-19 patients underwent a disease control process, Koosak added.

Koosak also said authorities would track their movements since their arrival in Thailand.

Since July 1, nearly 4,000 travelers have entered Phuket under the Sandbox scheme without quarantine, official figures show.

All tourists had to show a WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccination certificate issued at least 14 days before the trip.

Besides, they had to undergo three Covid-19 tests upon arrival and download an alert app on their mobile phone.

Other conditions to enter the country include turning on location-sharing during their stay on the island, paying in advance for three coronavirus tests, and health insurance with $100,000 coverage.

Travelers must also spend two weeks in a certified island hotel before traveling outside Phuket according to the Sandbox’s program requirements.