I think they reported 20 new cases on Koh Samui, pretty sure they were running at zero for a long time,

Koh Samui bar and club finds 16 Covid-19 infections

The Thaiger recently reported that some bars and clubs in Koh Samui continue to operate seemingly indifferent to Covid-19 restrictions in place without any masks or social distancing and during periods that nightlife was shut down nationally.

Now the freedom from regulation on the island has come back to bite as 16 Covid-19 infections were found traced to one of the biggest clubs that has remained open. Authorities have put out an urgent plea for anyone who has attended the Black Bamboo Club in Chaweng between July 16 and 26 to report for Covid-19 testing immediately as they are at risk of exposure to the virus.

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/k...-19-infections

And 40 more today.

I assume the police who took bribes to allow the Black Club to stay open despite the obvious risk will keep their jobs, but I hope they're at least feeling a little bit guilty now. We've had nearly 1/3rd of the total number of cases related to one bar in just 48 hours. It's unclear whether all 600 people tested yesterday are in today's numbers, so let's see what tomorrow brings.

And 40 more cases today. That's total pandemic caseload doubled in 72 hours. Phuket's 7+7 sandbox agreement is being delayed and we're just awaiting news here on the island of what kind of lockdown/ restrictions we're going to get from Monday.

Samui re-opening plans under threat as island infections rise

Koh Samui’s re-opening plan, Samui Plus, may be cancelled if the Covid-19 situation worsens in the next 2 weeks. Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand says for now, the re-opening is still on, although a recently approved plan to allow participants in the Phuket sandbox to visit Samui and other islands after 7 days on Phuket has been scrapped. The Samui Plus model also dictates that if over 20 Covid cases are recorded in the next 2 weeks, tourists will be required to stay in quarantine facilities.

Ratchaporn adds that should the situation worsen, with hospital cases reaching 40 in the next 2 weeks, tougher restrictions will have to be introduced and the Samui Plus programme could be cancelled. However, he adds that for now, most new cases are local and not linked to foreign tourists.

“The plan is still to re-open because most new cases were locals, not foreign travellers.”

https://thethaiger.com/news/samui/sa...nfections-rise

Recalls the origins of the current Bangkok surge, which traces (at least in part) to a nightclub in Thonglor.

(Detected) infections down to 5 today. It's possible that the outdoors nature and relative prosperity of Samui has helped it dodge a bullet. Either that or the virus has gone to ground in the community and Delta is here to stay. I'm not taking bets on which at the moment.

has anybody first hand experience in the Samui+ program? are the first 7 days handled as a normal quarantine (7 days/24 hours in hote room without any time spent outside and no alcoholic beverage allowed) or is this a bit more relaxed?
are the restaurants or even more open?

You're allowed around your hotel (pool, etc.) so it's a lot more relaxed than being in Bangkok.

thanks
I read something about tours on the island on sealed routes from day 4. - 7.? Does this mean by guided group tours?

Yes. I'm not sure how many of these there actually are in practice - I've not seen anyone who's actually done any of these. I suspect it's easier just to chill in your hotel and then you can do whatever you want a few days later anyways.

have you yourself gone through this Samui plus program?

I found a list of the hotels for the first 7 nights, only 8 hotels...quite expensive (from 35k - 120k just for 7 nights)! So this makes the Samui Plus Program much more expensive than an average ASQ hotel for quarantine if you add second week, flight to Samui, travel costs back and all extra costs...
https://asq.in.th/samui-extra-plus-alq-sandbox-hotels
However for the second 7 days, there are also good hotels at a very low price.... strange!
Anybody knows, whether there are only 8 hotels for the first 7 nights or there are other ones?

No, but I know a fair few people who have.

tourists or people, who are living in Thailand (Samui) and returned from abroad?
would they do it again?

They're mainly medium to long stay tourists. I'm living at a muay thai/ body transformation gym at the moment, so it's people looking to invest in their health. Apart from complaints about the first week of accommodation, everyone seems super happy. Koh Samui is never again going to be the quiet, cheap paradise it is today.