COVID-19: Six Thai Returnees At State Quarantine Facilities Test Positive

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, July 3 (Bernama) -- Thailand recorded six new COVID-19 cases – all Thai nationals returned from abroad, and zero fatalities over the last 24 hours, raising the total cases to 3,179 cases and 58 fatalities. The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration spokeswoman, Panprapa Yongtrakul said the six new patients were four who returned from Indonesia and one each from South Africa and Sudan, and they tested positive while undergoing 14-day quarantine at state facilities. To date, she said a total of 3,059 patients have recovered and discharged from hospital while another 62 remain warded. Today also marks 38 consecutive days without local transmission in the kingdom. Meanwhile, Thailand plans to reopen its doors to 1,000 foreign tourists per day, to allow them to visit five provinces in the kingdom, under a plan expected to kick-off in August. Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said a travel bubble plan for leisure travellers has been drafted. “The Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) are tasked to design a six to seven days tour packages in five provinces namely Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket and Pattaya,” he said, quoting Bangkok Post. The draft including a list of countries is expected to be ready within two weeks. The Tourism and Sports Ministry will also conduct a survey and seek feedback from stakeholders at eight destinations – Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Chiang Rai and Hatyai. Under the first phase of travel bubbles plan for the leisure market, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said it will start with tour groups as it is easier to manage the routes and activities. If Thailand succeeds in handling inbound tourist without triggering new infections in a month under the first phase of reopening, the second phase will see more destinations and a higher number of tourists allowed, he said. Under the third phase of travel bubbles plan, he said Thailand will open its door to all international tourists, for both tour groups and individual travellers, adopting the same screening standards from the first two phases. -- BERNAMA