Endemic Roadmap Adjusted as Authorities Assess Situation. Health authorities have postponed their evaluation of the COVID-19 situation and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants in pursuit of greater clarity on the issue. The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will instead make its assessment on Friday (8 July). NNT

 

by Natthaphon Sangpolsit

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - Health authorities have postponed their evaluation of the COVID-19 situation and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants in pursuit of greater clarity on the issue. The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will instead make its assessment on Friday (8 July).

 

National Security Council Secretary-General Gen Supoj Malaniyom said moving the CCSA discussion on the endemic transition plan scheduled for last Friday (1 July) was necessitated by the recent easing of disease control measures, which in turn required adjustments and clarification on the transition.

 

The health ministry is now making the necessary adjustments and will be presenting the plan to the CCSA meeting for acknowledgment and endorsement.

 

Gen Supoj noted that relevant medical personnel are still performing analyses and making their determinations, but assured that authorities were prepared to manage the situation. He added, however, that members of the public are encouraged to continue following disease prevention guidelines.

 

Deputy Public Health Minister Dr Sathit Pitutecha meanwhile said the transition to the post-pandemic phase does not mean everyone should remove their face masks.

 

He nevertheless indicated that new infections are not expected to result in a rise in severe cases or fatalities, adding that the current number of available hospital beds is expected to be adequate.

 

Dr Sathit also encouraged people, especially members of vulnerable groups, to get their COVID booster vaccines as soon as possible.