Thailand’s full reopening in doubt with 10-fold Covid surge


A health worker administers the virus swab test at the airport, as Phuket reopens to overseas tourists, allowing foreigners fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 to visit the resort island without quarantine, in Phuket, Thailand. - Reuters

BANGKOK: Thailand risks missing its target of fully reopening the country in about 100 days as it resists the harsh measures needed to contain the deadliest wave of Covid infections.

The spread of the delta variant nationwide and low rate of vaccinations mean new cases and fatalities will continue to spike, according to health experts. Meanwhile, hospitals have already run out of beds for critically ill patients after a 10-fold surge in infections since early April. That’s forced authorities to open temporary treatment facilities and even convert some hotels into hospitals.

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