Phuket will carry out rapid COVID-19 antigen testing from Friday until May 15th to speed up the detection of cases and control the spread of the virus.
Deputy Phuket governor Piyapong Choowong said the provincial disease control committee’s meeting approved the plan on Thursday, to carry out the tests on visitors from Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Phatthalung.
He said officials will also inspect three districts, gathering information about those who are not receiving treatment among those infected, finding at-risk groups in each sub-district and carrying out active case finding in the areas.
Mr Piyapong said visitors entering the province through checkpoints after May 15th will be given a COVID-19 test, funded by the National Health Security Office. After 15 May if daily new cases continue to exceed 20, stricter health measures will be imposed to boost safety. Vaccine doses delivered to the province this month will be administered in the hope of later achieving the so-called “Phuket Sandbox”, a scheme to bring tourists back to the resort island. (NNT)
