Thai Prime Minister says not to panic over newer Covid-19 strains that have seen cases rise in Europe, won't be reinstating restrictions. - The Pattaya News

Thai PM urges public not to panic over Covid-19 Omicron's BA.4/BA.5 strain

Sunday, 26 June 2022, 13:58

National –

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O'Cha urges the public not to panic over Covid-19 Omicron's BA.4/BA.5 strain, insisting that the Ministry of Public Health has been monitoring the spreading situation closely.

Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana spoke today, June 26th, that the Prime Minister asked people not to panic about the new mutation as the Public Health Department has closely followed the spread of BA.4/BA.5.

Although the World Health Organization has classified it as a strain of concern and must be monitored (VOC lineages under monitoring: VOC-LUM) because of its ability to transmit infection and resistance to immunization, there is now no sufficient evidence to support that the strain is more severe than previous mutations.

"The Ministry of Public Health has continued to conduct a surveillance system for critically ill patients and subspecies, including focusing on booster vaccination to boost immunity, reduce the chance of infection, and prevent severe symptoms and death. At the same time, the public is advised to continue to follow the health recommendations," the spokesperson added.