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THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com Friday, March 26 – Thursday, April 1, 2021 Since 2011 / Volume XI / No. 13 20 Baht PHUKET GOES TO THE POLLS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS > PAGE 2 NEWS PAGE 3 Crocodile hunt moves to the TOO SLOW west coast LIFE PAGE 8 Young stars shine at ‘Lean on Me Fest’ A medical staffer at Vachira Phuket Hospital prepares to administer a COVID vaccine injection. Photo: PPHO HEALTH MINISTRY CALLED OUT FOR SLOW MASS VACCINATIONS, HOLDING JULY 1 REOPENING IN JEOPARDY The Phuket News by the association itself before then. be administered in order to launch Mr Yuthasak said. [email protected] Likewise, as of Monday no officials a safe reopening, Mr Yuthasak said. He said long-haul markets were PAGE 14 in Phuket had made any mention of According to the proposal, Phuket likely to visit Thailand in the initial SPORT plan for Phuket to allow vac- the plan to reopen the island to tour- must vaccinate at least 466,587 people, stage. Post-pandemic travel needs extra cinated tourists to arrive on ism from July 1. which requires 933,174 doses. To reach requirements, such as a COVID-19 Mercedes and A the island without quarantine Mr Yuthasak said the plan, called the immunity goal within the time test and insurance, meaning travellers Red Bull ones from July 1 is to be presented to the “Phuket Tourism Sandbox”, will frame, the first round of vaccinations will choose to stay longer and spend the Centre for Economic Situation depend largely on vaccine allocation must start by April 15, followed by a more, he added. to watch in F1 Administration (CESA) for approval to Phuket, as 70% of the island’s second round from May 15, reported Public Health Minister Anutin today (Mar 26). population must be vaccinated by the Bangkok Post. Charnvirakul also on Monday told the Tourism Authority of Thailand that date in order to achieve herd “Previously, Phuket set the ‘Phuket press in Bangkok that his ministry is Governor Yuthasak Supasorn broke immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus First October’ for quarantine-free speeding up vaccinations in Phuket the news to the press on Monday before allowing foreign tourists in. entry. But the new sandbox with an and Koh Samui to prepare them both (Mar 22). There were no previous The plan will include a vaccina- earlier starting date will benefit the for the anticipated return of foreign mentions of the plan announced by tion rollout proposal, including the whole country as we can evaluate tourists in July. Bhummikitti Raktaengam, President number of doses needed and a time- this programme first before Thailand He confirmed that Phuket’s “pri- of the Phuket Tourist Association, or line of when the vaccinations are to reopens all its borders in October,” vate sector” had requested 900,000... CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 @thephuketnews 2 PHUKET NEWS THEPHUKETNEWS.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 [email protected] Patong algae bloom mired News in denial > p5 Pressure mounts over vaccines Continued from page 1 ute at least B84.3 billion to should be lifted for a July 1 set up nine vaccine centres …AstraZeneca doses, saying the island’s economy, which reopening. across the island with 20 the request would likely be ap- he said was higher than the “From the meeting last teams of staff. proved since the government previous reopening plan set Friday with the Deputy Prime “However, we still have to had secured 5 million doses for October that expected to Minister, the Prime Minister’s wait for clarity from the Public for June and 10mn more each generate B55bn. economic advisor and the Health Ministry,” he added. month after that. At present, the private sec- Secretary-General of the Office Mr Bhummittiki admitted Mr Anutin insisted there tor and provincial government of the National Economic and that mandatory quarantine would be sufficient doses of are confident about the plan, Social Development Council was initially a reasonable the vaccine in the country and but the success factor is based (NESDC), we all together precaution, but said that was Thailand would have over 1mn on the vaccination programme shouted out to accept the no longer the case. doses if it could secure more which is the only unclear di- challenge,” Mr Bhummikitti “Of 7,000 people living doses next month. rection. Local operators still Health Minister Anutin assured there enough doses of the wrote. in Scandinavian countries The minister said the lat- want the central government vaccine would be availabale . Photo: NNT “The main factor is to vac- surveyed by the TAT office est batch of 800,000 doses of to make a decision, Mr Bhum- cinate enough of our people in Stockholm, 48% said they the Sinovac vaccine had been mikitti said. rollouts within the timeline,” that quarantine restrictions to reopen the island. We need wanted to come to Phuket. Of allocated to at-risk provinces Under the sandbox plan, Mr Bhummikitti said. on all new arrivals will be about 900,000 doses to vac- those, 68% said they would not such as Samut Sakhon and tourists who want to join the In a pre-emptive strike last gradually eased from Apr 1 cinate to 460,000 people on come if they had to complete “other” tourist destinations, but quarantine-free programme Sunday, PTA President Mr and, depending on the situa- the island within three months a quarantine, while 26% said Phuket would receive 100,000 are required to show a vaccine Bhummikitti through a post tion at the time, all mandatory by starting in April under the they were okay to quarantine doses and Koh Samui 50,000. certificate, vaccine passport on his personal Facebook page quarantine requirements are #phukettourismsandbox plan,” for 10-14 days. Phuket Tourist Association or IATA travel pass. They criticised the Ministry of Pub- to be lifted from Oct 1. (See Mr Bhummikitti said. “The question is, does our President Mr Bhummikitti still have to take a PCR test lic Health for its slow schedule page 6.) “Phuket medical staff, led government want the 68%, or consistently declined to talk at the airport and activate the for mass vaccinations, which Mr Bhummikitti in his by our new PPHO chief [Dr the 26%?” Mr Bhummikitti to The Phuket News about any ThailandPlus tracing applica- he says is preventing Phuket post said that the Ministry of Kusak Kukiattikoon, Chief of posed. such plan to reopen tourism tion while in Phuket. from reopening tourism as Tourism and Sports and the the Phuket Provincial Public “The Ministry of Public in July before the news broke “Both the private and pub- soon as possible. Tourist Authority of Thailand Health Office] and Vachira Health has many smart doc- on Monday, but he did tell the lic sectors in the province are The post was in reaction (TAT) had challenged the Phuket Hospital Director [Dr tors, so it may not be so hard Bangkok Post that the tourism ready. But to proceed with to the CCSA in Bangkok last Phuket tourism industry over Chalermpong Sukontapol], for them to find the answer,” sandbox will help contrib- the plan, we need vaccine Friday (Mar 19) confirming whether tourism restrictions together have made a plan to he added. Phuket goes to the polls THE SALE OF ALCOHOL WILL BE banned in 12 municipal areas across Phuket from 6pm Saturday night through to 6pm Sunday night (Mar 27-28) as the island heads to the polls for its municipal elections. The alcohol ban is required under elec- tion law, Phuket Election Commission (PEC) Director-General Passakon Siripakayapon Volunteers promote the two ballot forms explained to The Phuket News. to be used in the municipal elections on “Bars and nightclubs can be open, but Sunday (Mar 28). Photo: Kathu Municipality they must not sell alcohol. Drinking at private homes is allowed, but not for big celebration as confirmed attending to vote before they events,” Mr Passakon said. actually cast their votes. The app also has “Whoever breaks the election law must information about the candidates running for face the penalty, which is up to six months office in each municipality,” he added. in prison or a fine up to B10,000, or both,” The ‘Smart Vote’ app also allows people he added. who are unable to return to the municipal Phuket is home to 12 municipalities: Phuket area where they are registered as living in City, Patong, Kathu, Wichit, Chalong, Rawai, order to vote to be able to electronically file Rassada, Srisoonthorn, Karon, Cherng Talay, the official form giving their reason for not Thepkrasattri and Pa Khlok. voting, Mr Passakorn said. The alcohol ban will be in effect in each Under Thai election law, people who do of 12 municipal areas. not provide an accepted reason for not voting All other provinces in the country will hold lose privileges in running for public office their own municipal elections on the same day. for two years. More polling stations than in previous Mr Passakon also expressed his concern elections will be set up in municipal areas about any confusion that may arise among across Phuket to help ease congestion, in voters over the two forms to be used as ballots. accordance with COVID-19 precautions, Mr “The purple one is cast a vote for the po- Passakorn noted. sition of mayor, and the pink one to vote for “To also help reduce congestion [at polling councilors,” Mr Passakorn said. stations], voters can easily check their name “Voters can enter only one number on and the polling stations where they can cast the purple ballot, but they can vote for up to their votes by installing the ‘Smart Vote’ app, six different candidates on the pink ballot,” which they can check for election law and he explained.