THE Public Health Ministry said this morning (Dec. 29) that the number of Omicron variant cases has now risen to 739 in Thailand with 488 patients coming from overseas and 251 local residents, Matichon newspaper said.
The ministry also announced that there were 2,575 Covid cases and 17 deaths over the past 24 hours taking the cumulative confirmed total since April to 2,188,424, Amarin TV said.
Dr. Supakit Sirilak, head of Medical Sciences Department, mentioned that comparing in percentage the total number of Omicron cases, most of whom emerged for testing all overseas arrivals, to current national daily Covid tally of over 2,000 cases, mostly infected with the Delta variant, would probably not yield a correct result.
However it is clear that Omicron infection is rising in the country.
“But what I want to emphasise is that today, in stepping out of the house, the main infection that is found is still Delta. The principle of preventing all types of Covid-19 infection, that is wearing a face mask, keeping your distance and washing your hands, is necessary with this having proven to be very protective,” Dr. Supakit said.
Of today’s Covid cases 2,360 emerged in surveillance and healthcare systems, 59 through proactive search in communities, 40 fell sick in prisons and detention centres while 116 overseas arrivals tested positive.
Another 2,695 patients have been cured taking the cumulative confirmed total since April to 2,134,712 while 33,502 patients are still undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, all members of the Thai national karate team that participated in the 2021 Asian Championships in Kazakhstan have tested positive for Covid-19 upon their return home on Monday Dec. 27.
Ms. Yanisa Torrattanawattana, or Coach Pui, said all the athletes, coaches and Gen. Surachat Jitjang, president of the Karate Association of Thailand, and other officials who went there for this tournament have tested positive and all have been quarantined with further tests underway to determine what variant it is.
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Top: A representative image of Omicron variant by Weather.com
Home Page: A Thai doctor and his assistant treating Covid patients. Photo: NNT
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