AN adviser to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) confirmed today (May 28) that no new coronavirus strain has been found in Thailand as has been reported by the British press, TV Channel 7 said.
Dr. Udom Kachinthon, CCSA’s adviser, said this confirmation was made at a meeting between CCSA and the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Sciences this morning.
It was revealed that no sample of a new variant had been sent in for testing and according to the procedure verification has to be made by more than one lab.
He also pointed out that the news of this new strain in the British press could only be referring to a suspicion of it emerging. According to the procedure the UK has to inform Thailand to ascertain the facts before broadcasting the results.
Dr. Udom also mentioned that the outbreak in Thailand right now is not conducive to mutation as there are only 60 cases per 100,000 people while a key factor contributing to mutation in places where this has taken place is for there to be more than 75 cases per 100,000 people.
In the current wave of infection that started on April 1 more than 95% of the patients have been infected with the British variant.
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Top: A lab technician checking a sample for a new coronavirus strain. Photo: Sky News
Home Page: A representative image of coronavirus with Thai headline saying, “Public Health Ministry confirms it has not found Thai Covid-19 strain.” Photo: TV Channel 7
