Rush to ramp up vaccination

One at a time: Buddhists pouring water on a Buddhist statue during Songkran celebrations at the Prachapirom temple in Narathiwat. — AFP

THE country is rushing to vaccinate its elderly citizens and other vulnerable groups ahead of the local New Year celebrations as the festivities are seen to be fuelling a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths, potentially derailing a tentative economic and tourism recovery.

Millions of Thais will travel to their hometowns this week from cities such as Bangkok to join families in celebrating Songkran, the first time they can do so without any travel curbs since the start of the pandemic.