Omicron accounts for 90% of new infections in Thailand

In Thailand, the highly transmissible Omicron variant is quickly overtaking the Delta variant as the primary strain of new Covid-19 infections in the country. The top virologists in the country have revealed that 90% of new infections in Thailand now are of the Omicron variant which is much more contagious than earlier strains but also generally less severe than the Delta variant that had accounted for the vast majority of infections in Thailand since the pandemic began.

Dr Yong Poovorawan, who is considered Thailand’s number 1 virologist as the head of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, said on Facebook that Omicron is likely now the dominant variant in Thailand now, as over 90% of positive Covid-19 tests are attributed to the strain.

The CCSA confirmed yesterday that over 10,000 infections of the Omicron variant have been found in Bangkok alone since January 1st, the date that officials are using to mark the fifth wave of Covid-19 as the Omicron variant took hold in the country.

The Greater Bangkok area has been hit hard with the new surge in Covid-19 infections with Bangkok proper experiencing 753 new infections yesterday, and suburb Samut Prakan had another 598 infections.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang responded to the sharp rise in infections and hospitalisations as field hospitals fill by opening up 6 new vaccination centers at key locations around the city. The locations were picked for ease of access so that people can reach them by public transport so as not to be deterred by taxi costs or transportation issues. CentralWorld and Thanya Park are homes to new Covid-19 vaccine locations as well as other shopping centres.

Vaccine booster shots have proven much more effective than just 2 doses of a vaccine, so the government is focused on driving people to get their booster shots, especially older people or those with underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk of severe infection. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has administered 50,000 booster shots, out of 10 million that have been given throughout all of Thailand, but they are pushing for more people to hurry and get their much-needed booster vaccines.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post