Young Thai workers race to reopen deserted beaches

Thailand depends on its tourism sector, and normally welcomes 14 million visitors annually. But, Covid-19 saw visitor numbers plunge to just four million last year. In the key resort island of Phuket, mass vaccinations are being organized ahead of this year's tourist season. The island is scheduled to reopen completely July 1, when a mandatory two-week quarantine will be dropped for vaccinated visitors. The government estimates $9.6 billion in tourism receipts this year, compared to more than $60 billion in 2019.

Class discussion: How much damage has Covid-19 done to the world’s economy and its workers? Do you know anyone who lost a job, business or home because of the pandemic? Are you optimistic that the United States’ economy is recovering? Why or why not? What about the economy in the rest of the world? Can the United States prosper if much of the world is still suffering severe coronavirus outbreaks and remains shut down? How long will it take to vaccinate most of the world’s people to end the pandemic and get back to work?