Nearly a week after reopening, Phuket has detected Covid-19 infections among foreign tourists.

Health officials provided information about the new case during a live Facebook broadcast by the Phuket Public Relations Office on July 7.

"We have two new patients. One is Thai, and the other is an unexpected case, as the patient is a tourist who came as part of the Phuket Sandbox tour program."

Accordingly, the foreign patient is a male, a UAE national, who arrived in Phuket on July 6th. The male tourist was tested for Covid-19 upon arrival at the airport and the result was positive. Authorities have instructed hotel management and the patient not to leave his hotel room until he is hospitalized. Those who traveled with this tourist will be quarantined at the hotel if they had close contact.

The Phuket Public Relations Office stated that the patient traveled from Dubai to Phuket on an Emirates flight carrying 14 passengers. Two drivers and hotel staff who had close contact with this group of tourists have all undergone quarantine procedures.

Phuket reopened to international tourists on July 1st, after the number of Covid-19 cases halved in over a year. Foreign visitors are no longer required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated in their home country for at least 14 days and have a negative test result upon arrival at the airport. However, they must remain in their hotel while awaiting their test results. If positive, they will be transferred to a medical facility for treatment.

Bo Di