Covid UPDATE Sunday: 18,027 infections, expat vaccine registration

• Phuket officials are insisting that the situation “remains under control”, even as the number of daily cases continues to exceed 35, and that the latest measures will help prevent the arrival of the coronavirus from other provinces. Only 30 cases have been identified from international arrivals since the Sandbox scheme started.

The Phuket governor says the latest prevention efforts are “crucial to ensuring continuity of the Phuket sandbox tourism scheme”.

“The measures are part of a new campaign called Save Phuket Sandbox, Save Thailand. Effective curbs will play a key role in Phuket’s efforts to speed up salvaging its tourism-dependent economy.”

As of Thursday, 12,599 passengers arrived in the province through the international airport, since the start of the Sandbox on July 1. Around half of those arrivals are considered ‘tourists’ with the other 50% made up of Thai arrivals (1,853) and former expats and travellers wishing to return via the Sandbox option to get back to family and businesses in other parts of the country.

• The BMA has begun a vaccination program for Buddhist monks, funeral directors and other temple workers who handle bodies of Covid victims.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang says temples in 14 districts have been included in the vaccination program so far. The BMA is now aiming to have all monks and workers at the 221 temples in the city vaccinated, as the demand for cremation services surges at this time.

The office has ordered temples provide a proper cremation service, even as temples struggle to cope with the growing demand.

SOURCES: NBT | FRB