Fortress Phuket: The island ‘on hold’ as it contains Covid-19

Starting today, Phuket goes into a stringent ‘lockdown’ phase which will restrict travel between all sub-districts and districts around the island. An alcohol ban is also in place until further notice. That started on Saturday, April 11.

The new restriction are now in play until April 26. During this time, unless you have exceptional medical or emergency circumstances, or government exemptions, you won’t be allowed to travel from your district or sub-district. There are 17 of these sub-districts in Phuket.

From the notice from the Phuket governor last Friday, he clearly wants Phuketians and visitors to stay in their homes as much as possible. But you are permitted to move within your sub-district for the purpose of buying food and other essential items. Deliveries of most essential service, including food, will still be allowed as well, but probably only within the same sub-district.

Public health workers will be moving door-to-door around the province to take the temperature of every occupant and check on their welfare. Anyone with a fever will be isolated, according to the Phuket Public Health Department. Phuket International Airport was closed to all commercial airline traffic last Friday. Cargo flights are still landing under strict inspection protocols. Food and other essential items, and most deliveries, are still allowed across the Sarasin Bridge connection between the island and the mainland.

This is NOT a 24 hour curfew where people are completely confined to their home. You can still buy essential items and food supplies or seek medical attention. We would suggest to any expat or visiting readers in Phuket to carry their passport and other vital medical or supporting documentation with them when they venture outside for shopping. The current nighttime curfew hours remain, as per the National Emergency decree.

The island’s number of new cases has levelled out and started dropping over the past week. There are currently 176 cases on Covid-19 identified on the island.