The number of patients infected with the Omicron strain in Thailand has risen to 514, with two-thirds of them being tourists, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced on Monday.
However, most of the patients have mild symptoms with a slight infection of the upper respiratory tract, though their lungs are clear. Of the patients, 54 per cent have developed a cough, 37 per cent have a sore throat and only 29 per cent also have a fever.
The newest cluster of concern was found in Si Sa Ket, where a couple travelling back from Belgium had tested positive for Omicron and are believed to have transmitted the virus to 125 people with another 97 awaiting confirmation. The cluster is also believed to be linked to six infections in Udon Thani and four in Lamphun.
In a bid to tackle the new Omicron variant, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to provide a fourth shot to people facing high risks.
“Covid-19 vaccines allotted to the BMA by the Public Health Ministry will be divided among different groups based on their vaccination history and risk of contracting the virus,” Bangkok governor General Aswin Kwanmuang said on Monday.
“People who have never been vaccinated before will be given two AstraZeneca doses if they are over 18 years old, or two Pfizer shots if they are 12-17 years old,” Aswin said. “Those who have already received the first jab will get their second jab based on the formula of vaccine cocktail and availability.”
As for the booster shot, people who have received Sinovac or AstraZeneca vaccines before October can apply for a third shot within a four-week interval after the second shot. Those who have recovered from Covid-19 can also apply for a booster. Most booster shots provided by BMA will be AstraZeneca.
“BMA will also provide a fourth shot to people in high-risk groups to keep their immunity high,” said the governor. “People in these groups are medical professionals who are in close contact with patients, and those who suffer from chronic diseases like cancer, heart diseases and diabetes that make them vulnerable to Covid-19.
“The BMA maintains a vaccination record of all residents and will alert them to get a jab when the time is right at the vaccination unit they have registered,” the governor added. “People should stay tuned for the latest updates from the BMA and get vaccinated as soon as possible to make Bangkok safe for everyone.”
Thai folk band, Siang Isan (Sound of Isan), won more hearts over the weekend when it announced that it would accept cryptocurrency for concert tickets.
Established in 1975 by look thung and mor lam artist Noknoi Uraiporn, the band has many hits including “Nok Jaa”, “Loei Wela Kid Hid”, “Mon Phleng Sieng Isan” and “Phab Tay Winyan Rak” under its belt.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the band said it was accepting Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), USDT and Binance USD (BUSD) for concert tickets sold via the bep20 network.
The post went viral with most netizens praising the band for keeping up with the times.
More than 5,000 Myanmar nationals have taken refuge in Tak’s Mae Sot district after fighting between Myanmar’s armed forces and the Karen resistance movement intensified over the past three days.
On Saturday, the Myanmar army launched airstrikes and fired cannons into the Karen stronghold, forcing 5,384 villagers to cross the Moei River and seek refuge on Thai soil.
The 34th Border Patrol Police Division has deployed two V-150 armoured cars to support border patrol police’s operation to ensure safety in the border area.
As of Sunday, 204 refugees have returned to Myanmar, while 5,180 refugees remain in Tak, 5,028 of whom have been sheltered in Mae Sot district and 152 in Phop Phra district.
The quality of air in Bangkok and adjacent provinces improved on Monday after many areas hit unsafe levels last week.
On Monday, readings for PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) were in the range of 21 to 61 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) of air.
The World Health Organisation sets the safe level of PM2.5 at no more than 25μg/m3, though Thailand sets the level at 50μg/m3.
Despite there being an improvement in the rest of the city, air quality hit unsafe levels in two districts, namely Nong Khaem (61μg/m3) and Thawee Watthana (53μg/m3).
The PM2.5 situation can be followed on Air4Thai.com and bangkokairquality.com websites, CAPM Facebook page, or via Air4Thai and AirBKK smartphone applications.
Three Omicron cases have been found in Surins Kap Choeng district with 49 people at high risk of Omicron infection, the provincial Covid-19 information centre said in its Facebook post on Sunday.
The first Omicron case was a 16-year-old man who went to Chang Fair concert on December 15 and 17, resulting in 30 people at high risk of infection and 21 people at low risk of infection.
The second and third Omicron cases were 40-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man who returned from Denmark and went to their resident in Kap Choeng district, resulting in 19 people at high risk of infection and two people at low risk of infection.
Cumulative cases in the province were at 18,944 with 80 total deaths, while 18,769 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals so far.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (December 27) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,437 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 18 of whom have been found in prisons.
Death toll increased by 18, while 3,845 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country are at 2,212,407 with 21,598 total deaths.
Tanee Sangrat, Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared the following important updates on entry into Thailand, due to the evolving situation of the Omicron variant.
Thailand Pass has been closed for all new Test and Go and Sandbox applications (except Phuket Sandbox), since 00.00 hrs. of December 22, 2021, until further notice.
The following new measures will apply for all applicants to Thailand Pass:
1. Applicants who have already received their Thailand Pass QR Code can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
2. Applicants who have already registered, but have not yet received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered/approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
3. New applicants will no longer be able to register for the Test and Go and Sandbox schemes (except for Phuket Sandbox). Thailand Pass will accept new applicants seeking to enter Thailand under the Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox schemes only.
4. Passengers who will arrive in Thailand under the Test and Go and Sandbox schemes must now undergo a 2nd Covid-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities (no additional cost).
The spokesperson underlined that these updated measures are temporary, and being pursued in order to prevent the further spread of the latest new Covid-19 variant. The agencies involved will assess the situation closely and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will share any additional updates as soon as possible.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday (December 27) that the rather strong high-pressure system from China extends to the upper Northeast and South China Sea. It is expected to cover the East and the Central of Thailand later today.
Adecrease in temperature by 1-3 °C is forecast in the Northeast, the East and the Central regions with isolated thundershowers in some areas. People in upper Thailand should take care of their health due to the variable weather. Farmers should prevent for crops damage.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:
North: Cool weather with fog in the morning and isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 16-21 degrees and highs of 28-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-12 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 16-20 degrees and highs of 29-32 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-15 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 20-21 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 20-22 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and 1 meter offshore.
South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and 1 meter offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius.
Fah Sai, a badly injured baby elephant that was rescued in Chanthaburi, is responding well to treatment and was seen enjoying Christmas Day celebrations on Saturday.
The baby elephant was transferred to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya on December 2 and veterinarians removed a part of her front right ankle that had been injured by a hunting snare and the skin around the wound is now regenerating.
The young elephant also sustained eight gunshot wounds on her front left leg and though the wounds are healing well, there is still some pus that needs to be cleaned daily.
The vets said that though the wound dressing takes some time, Fah Sai is always patient and lively.
After her wounds were tended to on Christmas Day, the baby elephant was dressed up in a special costume and wooden bell to mark the occasion.
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