Omicron
- Bangkok News
Possible fourth Omicron case in Thailand, waiting for confirmation
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry today said that a 41 year old Thai man who arrived from Congo via the “Test & Go” quarantine exemption program is likely to be the fourth Omicron case of the kingdom, adding that the results are due in 1-2 days. The Tes & Go entry scheme is for fully vaccinated travellers from select countries. Reports…
- Covid-19 News
Sinovac is testing its effectiveness against Omicron variant
Following the good news announcement from Pfizer that 3 doses of their vaccine can neutralise the Omicron variant, Sinovac came out with a more reserved announcement stating that lab studies about its effectiveness against the new strain would take time. The Chinese-based Sinovac is the most widely used vaccine in the world with over 2.3 billion doses shipped worldwide so…
- Thailand video news
Soapy massage parlour still for sale?, More on SHA+ – Comments and Feedback | Thaiger Bites | Ep.78
Jay and Tim go through your video messages, comments and feedback from Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Thaiger Talk forum on the website.
- Covid-19 News
WHO encourages vigilance, vaccinating in the face of Omicron
The need to vaccinate and stay vigilant against Covid-19 as the Omicron variant spreads was stressed by the World Health Organisation in a briefing yesterday. The WHO called on countries to accelerate vaccination programs as much as possible and warn that the Omicron variant may change the course of the pandemic. The Director-General of the WHO says that Omicron could…
- Covid-19 News
Lab tests show 3 doses of Pfizer vaccine can neutralise Omicron variant
In a sign that boosters could be an essential line of defence against Omicron, lab tests show that 3 doses of the Pfizer vaccine can neutralise the variant. According to a Reuters report, vaccine makers BioNTech and Pfizer say 3 doses appear to be key in protecting against Omicron. Ozlem Tuereci, Chief Medical Officer at BioNTech, says researchers found that…
- Covid-19 News
Results for 2 travellers infected with Covid-19 in November come out positive for Omicron
The test results for two travellers who tested positive for Covid-19 last month have now come back positive for the Omicron variant, but health officials say the patients have already recovered. Following the emergence of the Omicron variant, Thai health officials started reviewing the of the Covid-19 cases involving travellers from overseas during the month of November. The two cases…
- World News
Top US scientist says Omicron “almost certainly” no more severe than Delta
America’s top infectious diseases expert has echoed statements made by the World Health Organisation that Omicron is unlikely to be more severe than other Covid-19 variants. Dr Anthony Fauci says that while it’s too soon to say for sure, there are early indications the variant may in fact result in milder illness. “There is some suggestion that it might even…
- Covid-19 News
Thai PM says another national lockdown “unlikely” despite Omicron variant
The Thai PM says another lockdown is not on the cards, despite the first case of the Omicron variant being reported in the kingdom. According to a Bangkok Post report, Prayut Chan-o-cha was responding to fears from business owners that another lockdown could be imposed during peak season “Hopefully, this coming New Year will be a happy time. We haven’t…
- Thailand News
17 people in close contact with Omicron-infected traveller test negative
Thai health officials now say all of the 17 people who came in close contact with the Omicron-infected traveller during his a hotel have tested negative for Covid-19, although one person is in quarantine after inconclusive test results. The American, who travelled from Spain and entered Thailand under the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme is the first in Thailand…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Omicron under control, Illegal border crossing, Thailand’s recovery | Dec 7
The Thai PM is urging the public not to panic over the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in the kingdom. He says everyone should remain on their guard and the unvaccinated should get vaccinated as soon as possible. A surge in demand for foreign labor is making it difficult to control illegal border crossings since the lifting of restrictions…
- Covid-19 News
Hotel staff in close contact with Omicron confirmed to be negative in second test
The 44-year-old hotel staff member who was in close contact with the first Omicron case in Thailand and tested positive for Covid-19 has now been confirmed negative for the virus, health officials say. The hotel staff member was one of 17 people who came in close contact with the American who travelled from Spain to Thailand through the Test & Go quarantine…
- Covid-19 News
Hotel staff in close contact to Omicron case tests positive for Covid, variant not confirmed
One of 17 people in close contact with the first Omicron case in Thailand tested positive for Covid-19, but lab tests are still being done to confirm the variant. Thai health officials announced yesterday that the first Omicron case was detected in Thailand after an American travelling from Spain, via Dubai, entering under the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme…
- Covid-19 News
CCSA meets today to decide on southern border re-opening
A deputy government spokesperson says the CCSA will meet today to decide if the border with Malaysia can be re-opened, despite the southern neighbour reporting a case of the Omicron variant. According to a Bangkok Post report, Rachada Dhnadirek says the CCSA has previously agreed in principle, but the emergence of Omicron means the situation needs careful monitoring. “The forward…
- Covid-19 News
Omicron variant and surging Covid-19 affect European nations
Following on our reporting on Covid-19 and the Omicron variant spreading throughout the US and in Africa and Australasia, here are some updates on European reactions to the new strain and dealing with a renewed Covid-19 threat. ENGLAND & IRELAND The UK Health Security Agency reported 75 more infections of the Omicron variant bringing the total throughout the country to…
- Covid-19 News
Australia, Asia, and Africa deal with the Covid-19 Omicron variant
With Omicron spreading around the world, many countries are seeing the new variant spread, as well as Covid-19 in general on the rise. Here are some updates from around Australasia and Africa (a roundup of Europe can be found here): AUSTRALIA 13 cases of Omicron have been identified in a cluster in Sydney after finding the first infection just Friday,…
- Covid-19 News
Omicron spreads to 38 countries, 10 US states; Remdesivir recalled
Omicron, the worrisome new variant of Covid-19 first identified in South Africa, has now been found in at least 38 countries and 10 US states, though it still has not been detected in Thailand. The figure increased sharply after being found in only 23 countries in the middle of last week. The spread seems to be accelerating as scientists study…
- Covid-19 News
Red Cross leader says Omicron variant result of vaccine inequality
The head of the Red Cross pointed to the Omicron variant as the ultimate evidence that vaccine inequality around the world is a danger to every country globally. The president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that much more work is needed to balance the inequality in the global approach to vaccination against the…
- Covid-19 News
PM reports no Omicron variant in Thailand yet, New Year’s a go
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha spoke out to reassure the people of Thailand that no cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the country as of now. The prime minister said that preventative measures were being strictly followed to keep Thailand safe and to allow New Years festivities to take place as planned. The government has been taking proactive steps to…
- Thailand News
Tourism minister tells the public “not to worry” about Omicron
Don’t worry… Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister says everything is under control (as the government always says) and Omicron has not been detected in the country. Minister Phiphat Ratchakit Prakarn says the Public Health Ministry is keeping track of all tourists from high-risk countries, including the 330 tourists from eight African countries with a high risk of Omicron variant. The…
- World News
Malaysia reports first case of Omicron variant
Every nation’s fear finally arrives in Malaysia, as its health minister today announced that a foreign student in her quarantine after arriving from South Africa two weeks ago had tested positive for the Omicron coronavirus. Following the World Health Organisation’s announcement on November 24 that Omicron was causing a variety of concerns, authorities re-tested earlier positive samples, according to minister…
- Covid-19 News
AirAsia boss accuses governments of overreacting to Omicron threat
The CEO of the AirAsia Group says governments shouldn’t panic over the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. The Bangkok Post reports that Tony Fernandes says officials should instead focus on reducing the cost of PCR testing. “It’s a huge overreaction. We don’t know anything about this variant yet. Let’s wait and see before we jump the gun.” Fernandes says…
- World News
5 Omicron cases reported in South Korea
South Korea reported its first five cases of the new “Omicron” virus on Wednesday amongst its 5,000 in a single day as infection rates soared for the first time, raising concerns about a sudden spike. The new variant was followed by a fully vaccinated couple who came back from Nigeria last week and was promptly transmitted to two family members…
- Thailand video news
Thailand Top Stories | ‘Overreaction’ to Omicron, trillion Baht boost for Thailand | Dec 3
The CCSA is slowly lifting the alcohol bans in Thailand. The Thai government announced it will inject around a trillion baht into the wobbly economy in 2022. But the AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, speaking at the same business meeting, urged governments to stop “overreacting” to the emergence of Omicron. A soldier from Thailand’s 4th Army has been charged with…
- Covid-19 News
Lockdown not on the cards, but re-opening nightlife may be postponed: PM
The Thai PM has ruled out introducing another national lockdown as a result of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. However, he says the re-opening of bars and other nightlife venues may have to be delayed. According to a Bangkok Post report, Prayut Chan-o-cha says existing screening measures for international arrivals are sufficient, without having to shut down the country. “Harsh measures…
- Phuket News
Phuket officials order quarantine for more than 100 travellers from South Africa
More than 100 travellers from South Africa who entered Thailand over the past two weeks have been ordered to quarantine for 14 days as a preventative measure following the emergence of the Omicron variant. Nationwide, the Thai Immigration Bureau and the Public Health Ministry are working to track down a total of more than 780 people who travelled from African…
- World News
Malaysia bans travel from African nations amid Omicron fears
Following suit with countries around Asia and around the world, Malaysia has announced a temporary ban on travellers entering from African countries in close proximity to the Omicron Covid-19 variant. Malaysia’s health minister announced the ban on 8 African countries including South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, though it hasn’t banned other countries that have reported cases of Omicron yet.…
- Covid-19 News
Cost of PCR tests reduced by 200 baht at labs run by Department of Medical Sciences
The Department of Medical Sciences is cutting the cost of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests by 200 baht. However, the reduction only applies to laboratories under the DMS. The price of PCR test kits remains unchanged. According to a Nation Thailand report, the fee is being reduced from 1,300 baht to 1,000 baht, in a bid to encourage more…
- Thailand video news
Thailand Top Stories | Search for African tourists, Thai air traffic ‘lukewarm’ | Dec 2
The Immigration Bureau and the Ministry of Public Health are trying to locate 783 arrivals from the African continent. Air passenger traffic post November 1, when Thailand’s borders were opened more fully to vaccinated travellers, has been lukewarm. Thailand’s switch to 5G technology is predicted to reach $41 billion US by the end of this decade. The Burmese military junta…
- Covid-19 News
Hospital warns not all PCR tests properly detect Omicron variant
Ramathibodi Hospital Centre for Medical Genomics has warned that some PCR test kits may fail in accurately identifying people infected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The hospital says that the new variant has a growth advantage and that some polymerase chain reaction tests may not be able to see the variant. The Hospital posted its findings on Facebook recently…
- Tourism News
TAT predicts 500,000 travellers before 2022, 133,000 arrived so far
After 1 month of Thailand’s reopening, the Kingdom saw over 133,000 arrivals total from countries around the world, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand is confident that the goal of 500,000 international travellers will be met, despite the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 that has seen countries scrambling to limit or block travel from at-risk countries. In the month of…
