Phuket reopens ports and road crossing

Phuket reopens ports and road crossing

Phuket governor Pakapong Tawipat
Phuket governor Pakapong Tawipat

PHUKET: All entry and exit points by land and water reopened on this southern island province on Monday after Covid-19 lockdown measures were relaxed under an order signed by governor Pakapong Tawipat on Sunday.

The bridge crossing at Tha Chat Chai to Phangnga on the mainland and all 24 boat landings were opened to traffic.

Phuket airport remained closed to international passenger flights.

The provincial communicable disease committee had informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) of the province's readiness to reopen the airport, Mr Pakapong said.

However, the CAAT has extended a ban on all international flights to Thailand until June 30. Limited domestic flights are operating.

He said people can leave Phuket by land without restriction. However, those entering Phuket via the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint were required to have their temperature taken and download the "Mor Chana" application to support Covid-19 tracing efforts.

The governor said Phuket had 227 confirmed cases in total. Of these, 223 had recovered and been released, three died and another died from motorbike crash injuries.

Meanwhile, Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said on Monday authorities are working to increase the capacity of state quarantine facilities to accommodate 500 returnees per day from June 5, an increase of 100 from the present quota.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Monday the CCSA wants to make sure that all Thais overseas who wish to return home can do so by the end of this month. A 14-day state quarantine is mandatory for all returnees.

According to Dr Taweesilp, as of May 31, a total of 30,019 people had entered the state quarantine programme with 145 found to have contracted the virus.

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