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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Chiang Mai Ready To Reopen Despite New Outbreak

    Chiang Mai and Phuket, two of the country’s most popular destinations, are preparing to reopen to tourists on 1st November while keeping a close eye on the rate of COVID-19 infections.


    The northern province announced it was ready to reopen as it races to expand vaccination coverage despite the emergence of a new cluster at a large market.


    It is hoping to kickstart the local tourism industry on 1st November, the date set by the government for when fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries can enter the kingdom without needing to quarantine.


    With more restrictions being lifted, domestic travel is also expected to get a boost.


    Provincial governor Prajon Pratsakul said the province was speeding up vaccinations to meet the goal of immunising at least 70% of the population by 1st November. Currently, more than 60% have been vaccinated, he said, adding the outlook is encouraging as vaccine stockpiles are building.

    Areas with no new infections will be designated as blue zones. These are set to expand as the vaccination rate accelerates.


    According to the governor, the whole province will reopen on 1st November, not just the four districts of Muang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao that were named earlier to join the sandbox programme.


    In the meantime, areas with high rates of infection, or red zones, will be off-limits to visitors, Mr Pratsakul said.


    The reopening plan comes shortly after 478 people fell sick. Their infections were traced to Talad Muang Mai, a major market for distributing fresh produce.


    The latest infection cluster prompted the province’s communicable disease committee to order the market in tambon Chang Moy of Muang district to be closed from 9th-22nd October for cleaning and quarantine.


    Customers and anyone else closely connected to the market have been placed in quarantine.


    Meanwhile, more Thai and foreign visitors are expected to arrive in Phuket during the peak season from next month until early next year, according to governor Narong Woonciew.


    However, one pressing challenge is expanding the province’s capacity to test visitors for COVID-19. Currently, up to 500 people can be tested a day.


    “If 5,000 come, we must have the technology to contact-trace them,” Mr Woonciew said. The province was treading carefully, he added.

    Chiang Mai Ready To Reopen Despite New Outbreak | Chiang Mai News - Daily News Stories From Chiang Mai & Thailand

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Chiang Mai Fighting New COVID-19 Clusters

    Chiang Mai is still experiencing more COVID-19 cases with 20 infection clusters detected on Thursday.


    One of the major clusters is centred around Muang Mai fresh market in Muang district where an accumulated 587 cases were reported.


    Another seven minor infection clusters linked to the market were also detected in other districts, local public health officials said.


    Infections in the market were detected among vendors and workers delivering goods and vegetables to customers, vendors from other markets, and family members who came into contact with them.


    Those who visited the market between 9th-12th October were asked to undergo urgent testing and self-quarantine for 14 days.


    The Chiang Mai provincial public health office on Thursday reported 233 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours. Of them, 229 were local infections, and the rest were those who picked up the virus from other provinces. Since April, there were an accumulated 10,797 cases and 43 fatalities. Of them, 8,738 were recovered and discharged from the hospital.

    In Pattani, a COVID-19 outbreak there has persisted unabated with some new 644 infections and two more deaths reported on Thursday, bringing accumulated cases to 25,224 and accumulated fatalities to 339 in the southern province.


    Provincial public health officials are stepping up a vaccination drive in a bid to cover at least 50% of the provincial population this week to create herd immunity.


    Local people aged 12 and older are being encouraged to use the walk-in Pfizer vaccination services at public health units near their homes.


    Pattani governor Niphan Boonluang said that additional field hospitals are being built to accommodate rising new cases, and urged local communities and residents to step up precautions against the disease.


    In Songkhla, the provincial communicable disease committee on Thursday reported 594 new cases and four deaths, bringing accumulated infections to 36,097 and accumulated fatalities to 165 in the province.


    Of them, 31,300 cases had recovered and discharged and some 6,100 remained in hospital. Most infections were detected among those people who did not receive vaccines, the committee said.

    Chiang Mai Fighting New COVID-19 Clusters | Chiang Mai News - Daily News Stories From Chiang Mai & Thailand

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