Thailand's plan to re-open the country to foreign tourists in about 100 days has been thrown into doubt as it sees a new spike in COVID cases.<br />'' <br />''Some 7,000 cases and 75 deaths were reported today, a daily record for the country. Thailand had last year seen success in combating the virus, with cases at one point dwindling to single digits.<br />'' <br />''But a spike in cases, linked to the highly infectious Delta strain, means its plans might have to be put on hold.<br />'' <br />''The rise in cases have put the country's medical system under strain, with reports suggesting that many hospitals have already run out of beds for critically ill patients.<br />'' <br />''Authorities announced earlier this week that they planned to convert a terminal at its airport into a field hospital with an intensive-care unit. The hospital will provide at least 5,000 beds.<br />'' <br />''Once a bustling holiday hotspot, Thailand's tourist industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic.<br />'' <br />''Last month, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha set a 120-day target for the country to be fully reopened, with all businesses back to normal and freedom for vaccinated tourists to travel across the country.<br />'' <br />''He said Thailand could not wait for a time when everyone is fully vaccinated with two shots, or for when the world is free of the virus, to reopen.<br />'' <br />''Earlier last week, Thailand opened its doors to its first batch of quarantine-free tourists in Phuket.<br />'' <br />''On Wednesday, Phuket reported its first overseas COVID-19 case – a male traveller from the United Arab Emirates.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Around 15 per cent of Thailand's population has received at least one vaccine dose – with 4.3 per cent of that total having received both shots.</span><br />