The number of new infections exceeds 10,000, and the country’s health officials have reported 141 new deaths.

Thailand has banned public gatherings nationwide and is considering more restrictions on movement Authorities reported a record number of new coronavirus cases and deaths on Saturday, Despite the partial blockade of Bangkok and nine other provinces this week.

The country’s COVID-19 working group reported 10,082 new coronavirus cases and 141 new deaths, bringing the total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic to 391,989 cases and 3,240 deaths.

Last Thursday, the authorities quoted the authorities as saying that the Delta variant now accounts for nearly 80% of the country’s caseload.

An announcement published in the official Royal Gazette late on Friday indicated that a public assembly ban has been implemented, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison or a fine of up to 40,000 baht ($1,219.88) or both.

On Saturday, the Bangkok Post reported that Prime Minister Prayut has instructed the army and police to help capital officials deploy 200 teams to conduct door-to-door inspections in the worst case-attacking parts of the city.

According to the “Washington Post” report, this move is aimed at “searching for and isolating infected persons in order to curb the spread of the surge.”

On Friday, Prayuth said that the government is considering more restrictive measures because the country is struggling with the highly spreadable Alpha and Delta COVID-19 variants since early April.

Prayut wrote on his official Facebook page: “It is necessary to expand measures to limit people’s activities as much as possible and close more facilities to keep only the essentials.”

Since Monday, areas considered high-risk in Thailand have been subject to the strictest restrictions in more than a year. Movements and gatherings have been restricted, shopping malls and some businesses have been closed, and a curfew will be imposed from 9pm to 4am.

“Tourism Bubble”

Prayut himself has been in self-isolation for nearly two weeks after he came into contact with a positive case during his visit to Phuket to launch the foreign travel plan.

Despite the new lockdown and COVID-19 surge across the country, there are still three Thai islands Open to foreign tourists who have been vaccinated in the country.

These islands-Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan-welcomed tourists on Thursday as part of the country’s efforts to revitalize the tourism industry.

Thailand launched a “sandbox” program on July 1, allowing vaccinated travelers to go to Phuket. Tourists do not need to be quarantined at the hotel, but they cannot leave Phuket within two weeks.

Prime Minister Prayut has been in self-isolation for nearly two weeks after he came into contact with a positive case during his visit to Phuket to launch the foreign travel program [File: Thai Government Handout Photo via Reuters]

According to the new travel plan expansion, visitors must stay in an approved hotel on Koh Samui for a week and can leave their accommodation on the fourth day.

After the first week, they must undergo a negative test for COVID-19 before being allowed to travel to Koh Tao or Koh Phangan.

Since Phuket opened, it has received at least 5,000 foreign tourists, 10 of whom have tested positive for COVID-19.

The authorities do not expect a large influx of Samui and the other two islands immediately.

Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, chairman of the Samui Tourism Association, described the “Samui Plus” plan as a trial operation.

He said that 75% of the residents on these three islands have been vaccinated.