Thai Prime Minister Visits Phuket with 'No Quarantine Entry', Self-Quarantine After Contact with Confirmed Case

▲Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister of Thailand, attended a quarantine-free entry event held in Phuket but entered self-quarantine after it was revealed that he had been with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

According to local media including the Bangkok Post on the 6th, Wirasak Pisanuwong, the chairman of the Surin Provincial Chamber of Commerce who attended the 'Phuket Sandbox' event on the 1st, tested positive for COVID-19 three days later on the 4th. The 'Phuket Sandbox' is a program that allows quarantine-free entry for foreigners who have completed COVID-19 vaccination.

Wirasak posted a 'selfie' with Prime Minister Prayut on social media during the Phuket reopening event, revealing that the Prime Minister had been with him.

As a result, netizens demanded that Prime Minister Prayut also be quarantined immediately after Wirasak announced his hospitalization due to COVID-19.

In this regard, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri stated the day before that although Prime Minister Prayut tested negative for COVID-19, he will work from home and monitor the COVID-19 situation while self-isolating for one week.

The spokesperson also said that Prime Minister Prayut has completed two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

It is not known where Wirasak, who is from Surin Province in the northeast, contracted the virus.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.