Thai taxi drivers turn to holy amulets to protect them from coronavirus

After muttering a prayer, Thai taxi driver Sopee Silpakit strings a chain of amulets around his neck then jumps behind the wheel – buoyed by the peace of mind the ritual gives him against Covid-19.The 65-year-old’s job driving a cab in Bangkok puts him in contact daily with the public, and his way of life is now plagued with worry, with the Thai capital the epicentre of a third wave.“I pray to these amulets every day: ‘Don’t let the virus come near me,’” he says. “I really do believe that they…