The Public Health Ministry expects the country to record more Omicron cases in the middle of January.
Dr. Somsak Akksilp, director-general of the ministry’s Department of Medical Services, said that as Omicron cases were spreading overseas and Britain recorded a fatality caused by the new COVID-19 variant, he thought that Thailand would have more Omicron cases after New Year, possibly in the middle of January.
The Omicron variant was highly contagious, spread faster than the Delta variant and might avoid antibodies. However, vaccination could reduce the risks of severe illnesses, he said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Wasun Chantratita, head of the Center of Medical Genomics at the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, said Thailand already had 11 imported Omicron cases.
He said officials concerned would monitor Omicron outbreaks in Britain and there would not be a serious concern if fatalities from the variant were limited. He recommended people in Thailand quickly receive their third and booster shot. (TNA)
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