- The private sector has proposed 3 measures to reopen businesses, including promoting businesses following guidelines for Coronavirus protection and a 70% vaccination rate among staff.
- A second proposal is to use a Digital Health Pass for clients who are vaccinated.
- The third proposal is to begin a pilot project in certain retail businesses which declare themselves ready for the re-opening, following strict measures.
According to Sanan Angubolkul, President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the private sector has proposed 3 measures to reopen businesses, including standards such as SHA+ (SHA PLUS), promoting businesses following guidelines for Coronavirus protection and a 70% vaccination rate among staff. The Sha Plus model is currently being used in the Phuket Sandbox project.
The Second proposal is to use a Digital Health Pass for clients who are vaccinated, using the Public Health Ministry’s database, and accepting clients who can show the results of an ATK test, so that those who can do so, feel free to use the services of those businesses
The proposed “Digital Health Pass” can be used with vaccinated people whose details are recorded in the “Doctor Ready” or “Moh Prom” application, which applies to those who registered themselves for jabs provided by government.
The third proposal is to begin a pilot project in certain retail businesses which declare themselves ready for the re-opening and are capable of strictly following the measures.
As for the industrial sector, the “Factory Sandbox” model is already in use to isolate infected workers and vaccinate them to increase confidence in the export sector.
Launched on July 1, 2021, the Phuket Sandbox enables fully-vaccinated international visitors to fly directly to the destination and stay on the island quarantine-free. Hotels need to ensure at least 70% of their staff have received vaccines – the same inoculation rate as Phuket’s population, creating herd immunity against COVID-19. While the high level of protection doesn’t prevent people from catching COVID-19, it does significantly reduce the likelihood of serious infection and hospitalization.
Vice Governor of Phuket, Mr. Piyapong Choowong, has stated: “I would like to confirm we support Phuket Sandbox. We are making sure people on the island and all visitors are safe so we can run the Sandbox smoothly and continue to welcome more tourists to Phuket.”