Thailand News - Corona - By Ola J.

måndag 10 januari 2022

Thailand’s top virologist has warned that children could become superspreaders of COVID-19, especially for the Omicron coronavirus variant, which is more transmissible than previous strains. NNT

Thailand's top virologist has warned that children could become superspreaders of COVID-19, especially for the Omicron coronavirus variant, which is more transmissible than previous strains.

Dr Yong Poovorawan, head of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine, expressed his concerns in an online post on Monday. He said that because infected children have mild or no symptoms, they can potentially become superspreaders by transmitting the virus to their parents.

According to Dr Yong, there is a high chance of COVID clusters emerging from schools as a result of children's interactions after taking online classes at home for an extended period. He said vaccines for children must be effective in order to keep young people from becoming infected and spreading the virus to others.

He urged parents to boost their immunity by getting vaccinated if they have not been infected so their children can resume normal activities, especially at school.

The government plans to conduct more proactive Covid testing to halt the spread of Omicron, the government said on Monday in a scheduled press conference. A spokesman also added that people with mild Covid symptoms should do home isolation instead of burdening the health system. Thai Enquirer

Government to conduct more tests in bid to halt Omicron

January 10, 2022

The government plans to conduct more proactive Covid testing to halt the spread of Omicron, the government said on Monday in a scheduled press conference.

A spokesman also added that people with mild Covid symptoms should do home isolation instead of burdening the health system.

"Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha instructed all related agencies, especially healthcare, to prepare for the continuous increase of Covid-19 cases because of the Omicron variant," said Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government spokesman.

"We will conduct proactive tests in order to isolate patients from the general population as much as possible," he said.

Thailand reported 7,926 cases on Monday compared to around 3,000-3,500 cases in mid-December. The first case of Omicron in the country was discovered in late November.

Only 285 cases were found via proactive tests at known clusters compared to 7,229 that were found via walk-in tests at medical facilities on Monday. The remaining 412 were imported cases.

The government is preparing more hospital beds via the reopening of field hospitals for severe cases and community isolation centres for people with mild symptoms.

Despite the sharp increase in the number of cases, the death rate was low compared to the outbreaks of previous variants with 13 fatalities on Monday compared to 64 fatalities on October 29 when the country reported 8,968 cases.

Thanakorn said a free testing centre was set up at the Government Complex in Chaengwattana and people who tested positive will either enter home isolation (HI) or community isolation (CI) programs, depending on whether their private accommodation is suitable for HI or not.

The government also instructed the ministry of commerce to control the price of ATK tests to prevent stores from increasing their prices, Thanakorn said.

Similar to previous waves, volunteer groups and infected people are criticising the government's HI program for lack of healthcare support and medical equipment.

Many people were isolated at home with no telemedicine, no medicine and no extra support in terms of sanitary equipment, food and water.

"Covid infected people who enter home isolation will be taken care of. Their condition will be monitored, medicine delivery, food delivery and medical equipment such as digital thermometer and oximeter," Thanakorn said.

"In cases which needed, they will be given chest x-rays and RT-PCR tests until they are recovered or sent to a hospital if their medical condition changes," he said.

Bangkok Covid-19 Mass Testing Site Opens Tuesday. People testing positive will enter either the NHSO’s home and community isolation program, a hospital or a field hospital. Bangkok Herald

Bangkok Covid-19 Mass Testing Site Opens Tuesday

10 January 2022

Thailand Covid-19 Coroanvirus Testing Swabs ATK

The Ministry of Public Health has announced the opening of a new Covid-19 testing center, which will operate only on weekdays from Jan. 11-21.

The move comes amid surging coronavirus infections following the New Year's holiday period.

According to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the center will be located on the first floor of Car Park Building B at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road.

The service is being jointly launched by the National Health Security Office, Mahidol University's Faculty of Medical Technology and Dhanarak Asset Development, a state enterprise of the Ministry of Finance.

The health minister said the center will feature antigen test kits that can yield results within 30 minutes.

People testing positive will enter either the NHSO's home and community isolation program, a hospital or a field hospital.

For those entering home or community isolation, patients with mild symptoms will be provided with meals, medical supplies and equipment.

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 767 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, January 10th, 2022. Pattaya News

Chonburi, led by Banglamung with 390, announces 767 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 and two new deaths

Monday, 10 January 2022, 11:34

Highlights:

767 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi today
301 people recovered and were released from medical care
Two new deaths

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 767 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today with two new deaths, January 10th, 2022.

This makes a total of 119,781 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 7,207 people still under medical care/supervision, and with a total of 797 recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 301 people were also released and recovered yesterday in Chonburi. 111,777 people in total have now been released from medical care and recovered in Chonburi since this current wave of Covid-19 began.

Two people were listed as being in serious condition in Chonburi currently, either on a ventilator or pneumonia. Both of them were not vaccinated. According to the Chonburi Department of Public Health, the vast majority of recent cases are mild or asymptomatic.

In total, 1,920,287 people in Pattaya and Chonburi have received their first dose of a Covid -19 vaccine which is 82.45 percent of the total Chonburi population. Of those, 299,040 have received their first dose and are what the Thai government calls 608 groups (elders, have chronic health problems, and pregnant) which is 80.84 percent of those in these risk groups in Chonburi.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi 119, Si Racha 165, Banglamung (Pattaya) 390, Panat Nikhom 7, Sattahip 38 (in navy area 6), Ban Bueng 7, Phan Thong 11, Nong Yai 2, and 28 people transferred from other provinces for medical care.

The details on the cases are as follows:

Work and stayed in Rayong, transferred from other provinces for medical care, 22 cases
Active case finding at restaurants that sell alcohol in Pattaya and Banglamung, 37 cases
Active case finding at restaurants that sell alcohol in Bang Saen and Wonnapa Beach in Mueang Chonburi, 19 cases
Active case finding in students at Burapha University in Mueang Chonburi, 4 cases
Cluster, LHAO HENG (restaurant selling alcohol) in Mueang Chonburi, 3 cases
Cluster, Cool Club (restaurant selling alcohol) in Si Racha, 4 cases
Risky occupations meeting many people, 15 cases
12 medical personnel
Back from other provinces 33 cases

9.1 Bangkok, 8 cases
9.2 Chiang Mai, 3 cases
9.3 Ubon Ratchathani, 3 cases
9.4 Chanthaburi, 2 cases
9.5 Nakhon Phanom, 2 cases
9.6 Prachin Buri, 2 cases
9.7 Phuket, 2 cases
9.8 Sisaket, 2 cases
9.9 Samut Songkhram, 2 cases
9.10 Khon Kaen, 1 case
9.11 Chaiyaphum, 1 case
9.12 Nakhon Nayok, 1 case
9.13 Prachuap Khiri Khan, 1 case
9.14 Petchabun, 1 case
9.15 Yasothorn, 1 case
9.16 Surin, 1 case

10. Close contacts from previously confirmed cases in families – 112 cases, in workplaces – 91 cases, close personal contacts – 44 cases, and joined a party – 59 cases

11. Close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation), 39 cases

12. 273 cases close contacts of a confirmed patient (under investigation)

Thai police in Omicron alert - crackdowns nationwide to stop spread of variant after PM's order. Daily News reported that Thailand was finally getting tough with the Omicron variant with orders issued by the prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. ASEAN NOW / Daily News

Picture: Daily News

Daily News reported that Thailand was finally getting tough with the Omicron variant with orders issued by the prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

This comes more than a month after the emergence of the easily spread and fast spreading variant was identified in South Africa then swept through Europe and the US.

Many have said Thailand was slow to react because of a lack of testing despite the fact that Omicron soon showed up in the kingdom.

Now cases are surging in Thailand the Royal Thai Police has been instructed to ensure that Rule 9 of the emergency decree in particular is followed to the letter.

This was contained in a Government Gazette announcement to be followed as of yesterday, January 9th.

RTP spokesman Pol Col Krissana Patanacharoen said that chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk had instructed his deputies nationwide to make sure that everyone - especially businesses - were following established Covid-19 protocols.

This will mean that the loophole that allowed bars and pubs to act as restaurants will be scrutinized and prosecutions for law breaking will follow.

The serving of alcohol will be stopped in places and at times when it is illegal and vigilance in this matter will be a priority.

Many establishments in Thailand have sought to open under SHA and SHA+ rules - these will be closely checked.

9 pm closing will be strictly enforced.

Pubs, bars, massage places and the like will be closely checked to make sure there is no law breaking.

ASEAN NOW notes that there was a certain amount of laissez-faire going on in Thailand especially in tourist areas like Pattaya, nightlife areas of Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

That attitude in the coming days is expected to end as law enforcement cracks down under established rules at least until the end of January.