Thailand risks missing its target of fully reopening the country in about 100 days as it resists the harsh measures needed to contain the deadliest wave of COVID-19 infections.
The spread of the delta variant nationwide and low rate of vaccinations mean new cases and fatalities will continue to spike, according to health experts. Meanwhile, hospitals have already run out of beds for critically ill patients after a tenfold surge in infections since early April. That’s forced authorities to open temporary treatment facilities and even convert some hotels into hospitals.
Thailand, the first country outside China to report a COVID-19 infection, has struggled to stem the pandemic after its initial success to combat the virus last year, when it imposed a hard lockdown. But that crippled its all-important tourism industry and plunged the economy into its worst performance in more than two decades. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha wants to avoid further damage to jobs and industries, and is now pushing for an early reopening.