Thailand has detected a potential Omicron case in a Thai man arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a test underway to confirm whether he is the fourth COVID-19 Omicron variant infection in the country, as the first three detections have now been confirmed, said Director-General of the Medical Sciences Department Dr. Supakit Sirilak, today (Thursday).

 

The three other confirmed cases include an American businessman arriving from Spain via Dubai and two Thai women returning from Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, via Qatar.

 

Dr. Supakit said that the two Thai women have recovered and are now clear of the highly transmissible variant.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-detects-fourth-potential-omicron-case-first-three-confirmed/

 

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All reports so far indicate this is a milder, more transmissible variant that will displace Delta as the dominant strain, bringing an end to the mortal dangers of this pandemic.

 

Perhaps doing the opposite, and letting it into the country may be be the right thing to do to get the world back on track.

 

We will know soon either way. It is coming.

1 hour ago, Gold Star said:

Perhaps doing the opposite, and letting it into the country may be be the right thing to do to get the world back on track.

Not until we get passed the "possibly mild symptoms in young healthy vaccinated people".  There are many more groups to think about and a lot more testing to do.

 

Too soon to be "letting it in".

6 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Not until we get passed the "possibly mild symptoms in young healthy vaccinated people".  There are many more groups to think about and a lot more testing to do.

 

Too soon to be "letting it in".

I don't think it is a case of "letting it in", more a case of keeping it out.

 

On another level it isn't the dirty farangs bringing Omicron in as 3 of the 4 are Thais and the first one was a US/Thai dual nationality person.

4 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Not until we get passed the "possibly mild symptoms in young healthy vaccinated people".  There are many more groups to think about and a lot more testing to do.

 

Too soon to be "letting it in".

I have my doubts that stopping it coming in is a possibility now but anything we can do to slow it will help so I don't think just 'letting it in' is sensible. It does seem to be less dangerous and there are vaccines that do at least seem able to lessen it's affects. I've not heard if long covid is more or less likely with it. The other problem lies in it's transmissibility which appears to be greater than previous variants. Even the smaller chance of hospitalisation or death could be counteracted by increased transmission which could end up with more deaths although I think the biggest problem is hospitals being overwhelmed by increased numbers. That certainly seems to be the concern in the UK/

8 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Not until we get passed the "possibly mild symptoms in young healthy vaccinated people".  There are many more groups to think about and a lot more testing to do.

 

Too soon to be "letting it in".

You think it can be kept out? The world is too mobile and all barriers are porous. It'll get through, like osmosis.

Lockdowns, masks, social distancing, and vaccines are only prolonging the agony. 

11 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Not until we get passed the "possibly mild symptoms in young healthy vaccinated people".  There are many more groups to think about and a lot more testing to do.

 

Too soon to be "letting it in".

even after every possible test concludes it's no harm to anyone, they still won't let people in without making them jump through hoops, and they'll keep restrictions on entertainment 

 

this is a permanent change we have to accept

2 hours ago, Gold Star said:

All reports so far indicate this is a milder, more transmissible variant that will displace Delta as the dominant strain, bringing an end to the mortal dangers of this pandemic.

 

Perhaps doing the opposite, and letting it into the country may be be the right thing to do to get the world back on track.

 

We will know soon either way. It is coming.

The news coming out is very good.  How we get to total saturation of the latest variant isn't really up to us - it is coming and that is that.  

If the variant has no worse ill health effects than now and it keeps going, most experts agree in this hypothetical situation the pandemic should be over.  

We are still waiting for the final word and it will take some weeks yet, or so they say.  

You cannot keep a virus out.  Full stop, end of discussion.  This has nothing to do with governance.  

I just wanted to edit this post and add that it has displaced delta by 95-98 percent of new infections.  Delta is basically done right now.  Furthermore, 75 percent of people getting diagnosed with omicron don't even know they have it.  They are going to hospitals for something else and they get a test as a matter of course and are surprised they have it.  

Good news indeed!  

2 hours ago, Blumpie said:

If the variant has no worse ill health effects than now and it keeps going, most experts agree in this hypothetical situation the pandemic should be over.

Do you mean no worse ill effects than Delta?  If so, how is being the same better?  If the effects are the same, but it spreads easier, then things will be worse.

 

2 hours ago, Blumpie said:

You cannot keep a virus out.  Full stop, end of discussion.  This has nothing to do with governance.

Even if you cannot keep it out, measures can slow the rate of spread.  It isn't 0 or 1.  So plenty still to discuss.

 

2 hours ago, Blumpie said:

Furthermore, 75 percent of people getting diagnosed with omicron don't even know they have it.  They are going to hospitals for something else and they get a test as a matter of course and are surprised they have it.

Vs. what percentage for Delta?

 

2 hours ago, Blumpie said:

Good news indeed!  

Uncertain news...

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

Do you mean no worse ill effects than Delta?  If so, how is being the same better?  If the effects are the same, but it spreads easier, then things will be worse.

 

Even if you cannot keep it out, measures can slow the rate of spread.  It isn't 0 or 1.  So plenty still to discuss.

 

Vs. what percentage for Delta?

 

Uncertain news...

My apologies - omicron has basically no health effects whatsoever.  A headache, no runny nose, sore muscles, that's about it!  No breathing difficulties.  

 

The percentage has shot up to 97 percent omicron vs 3 percent delta.  Delta is done in south africa so far.  

 

The fact of the matter is if all this is true, it may come to a point that you will be able to just let this thing run its course and that is the end.  Yes, they are keeping it out for now with some restrictions but you will never stop it.  Eventually it will come.  

 

The numbers are coming in daily.  This is great great news, and patience is key here.  

 

It's stunning that the health effects of omicron is literally nothing - most don't even realize they have it!  

It can't be stopped from spreading here but that's not the same as inviting it in. The truth is we're in the very early stages of learning about these new variants and jumping to conclusions that this alone means the end of the pandemic is total folly. 

18 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

My apologies - omicron has basically no health effects whatsoever.  A headache, no runny nose, sore muscles, that's about it!  No breathing difficulties.  

 

The percentage has shot up to 97 percent omicron vs 3 percent delta.  Delta is done in south africa so far.  

 

The fact of the matter is if all this is true, it may come to a point that you will be able to just let this thing run its course and that is the end.  Yes, they are keeping it out for now with some restrictions but you will never stop it.  Eventually it will come.  

 

The numbers are coming in daily.  This is great great news, and patience is key here.  

 

It's stunning that the health effects of omicron is literally nothing - most don't even realize they have it!  

I think it's wrong to say that Omicron has no health effects whatsoever.

 

Data from south africa.

 

https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NICD-COVID-19-Daily-Sentinel-Hospital-Surveillance-report-National-20211208.pdf

 

Quite a rise in hospital admissions in week 47 and 48

Quite a lot on ventilators and needing oxygen.

 

Statistically it's impossible that all of those cases are caused just by the Delta variant.

 

This article seems to indicate it's not all good news when it comes to the omicon variant.

 

https://www.voanews.com/a/south-africa-readies-hospitals-as-omicron-variant-drives-new-covid-19-wave-/6340912.html

 

Hospitals in South Africa’s Gauteng province, which contains two of the country’s biggest cities, are packed with people infected with the omicron variant. Doctors say most of the patients haven’t been vaccinated, and an alarming number of them are children under the age of five-years-old

11 hours ago, Mr Derek said:

You think it can be kept out? The world is too mobile and all barriers are porous. It'll get through, like osmosis.

Lockdowns, masks, social distancing, and vaccines are only prolonging the agony. 

You seem confused.

 

You think that vaccines only prolonged the agony of Polio? Really?

In every country that tests widely there are community cases of Omicron.

Difficult to see how it would not also be present in most South East Asian communities including Thailand.

Pfizer today raised the possibility of a fourth jab about 10 months after the third.

2022 normality..... I have no idea anymore

12 hours ago, kimamey said:

although I think the biggest problem is hospitals being overwhelmed by increased numbers.

All indicators , in the moment , point to the high probability that some form of the ever mutating virus will stay . It does not seem to disappear alone .

Would it be a good idea to build new specialized hospitals now ?

Hospitals in general are easily overwhelmed by the number of Covid admissions . To a point that normal operations of people with non life threatening cases need to be delayed .

That adds to the fact that it would be better to separate non infected persons from the infected ones anyway .

New hospitals that can specialize in the treatment of Covid cases should be built now .

I am sure that there is enough money left to do that , especially when reducing the non urgent spending for military purposes etc ...

11 hours ago, Blumpie said:

If the variant has no worse ill health effects than now and it keeps going, most experts agree in this hypothetical situation the pandemic should be over.  

A virus that has a high transmission rate , has a high probability to further mutate as well ... more people who become infected by it give the virus the chance to mutate to a , maybe , more dangerous version .

The only way out of this pandemic is to prevent the virus to even infect people . But , as we all know , this is not the case with the current vaccinations , they can , at best , just reduce the rate of infections , but not completely prevent them .

You can't keep out an enemy you can't see!  Here in Thailand as long as you have two standards which is allowing Thais to entered without being vaccinated or even tested or going through all the protocols they required from tourist but of course this is common with the thinking of the leaders here.

The clue to it coming was when the PM " said he got it under control "  let hope the news so far coming out the " OMG " latest name for the Omicron I heard a Thai mispronounced the other day LOL is true that it is mild  ???? because we know when they say control what that means.

14 hours ago, Gold Star said:

All reports so far indicate this is a milder, more transmissible variant that will displace Delta as the dominant strain, bringing an end to the mortal dangers of this pandemic.

 

Perhaps doing the opposite, and letting it into the country may be be the right thing to do to get the world back on track.

 

We will know soon either way. It is coming.

...Even though SarsCovi2 is described as a 'weak virus'; we all must get vaccinated.

Just now, tandor said:

...we all must get vaccinated.

Good idea.....

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Good idea.....

Im saying the obvious because it is the only way to combat new variants. Fortunately it appears Omicron is a 'mild' variant, but too early to say what long-term affects are. The number of cases to date indicate there are fewer cases requiring hospitalization and death.

My information source is Professor Vincent Racianello, Colombia University, YouTube Podcast, TWiV (This Week in Virology).

A number of posts and replies removed.  If you are making assertions as a fact, then please provide a link.   Also removed are a number of troll posts.  

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

of the highly transmissible variant.

I guess another wording deviating from the current agenda couldn't have been used, even though the scientist in South Africa who has discovered it stated a completely opposite thing.

What happened to "must test covid free 72 hours max before travel....must have completed 2 doses of approved vaccine...... etc. etc."

8 hours ago, Blumpie said:

My apologies - omicron has basically no health effects whatsoever.  A headache, no runny nose, sore muscles, that's about it!  No breathing difficulties.  

 

The percentage has shot up to 97 percent omicron vs 3 percent delta.  Delta is done in south africa so far.  

 

The fact of the matter is if all this is true, it may come to a point that you will be able to just let this thing run its course and that is the end.  Yes, they are keeping it out for now with some restrictions but you will never stop it.  Eventually it will come.  

 

The numbers are coming in daily.  This is great great news, and patience is key here.  

 

It's stunning that the health effects of omicron is literally nothing - most don't even realize they have it!  

Don’t top the Champagne just yet i fear 

13 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Not until we get passed the "possibly mild symptoms in young healthy vaccinated people".  There are many more groups to think about and a lot more testing to do.

 

Too soon to be "letting it in".

I'm more concerned about getting run-over on my morning bike ride.

15 hours ago, Gold Star said:

All reports so far indicate this is a milder, more transmissible variant that will displace Delta as the dominant strain, bringing an end to the mortal dangers of this pandemic.

 

Perhaps doing the opposite, and letting it into the country may be be the right thing to do to get the world back on track.

 

We will know soon either way. It is coming.

We only have to look at SA as Omicron is the top variant there. IT looks like it is changing from a pandemic to a endemic which would be good for everyone. Hopefully in time it will be no more dangerous than the common flu.

1 minute ago, vandeventer said:

We only have to look at SA as Omicron is the top variant there. IT looks like it is changing from a pandemic to a endemic which would be good for everyone. Hopefully in time it will be no more dangerous than the common flu.

Scientists all agree that if the effects actually are what we are seeing it will in fact become an endemic and the pandemic should be over.  

 

 

14 hours ago, billd766 said:

... a US/Thai dual nationality person.

Didn't get much publicity that he was anything other than an American. Thanks for the info.

8 hours ago, Virt said:

I think it's wrong to say that Omicron has no health effects whatsoever.

 

Data from south africa.

 

https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NICD-COVID-19-Daily-Sentinel-Hospital-Surveillance-report-National-20211208.pdf

 

Quite a rise in hospital admissions in week 47 and 48

Quite a lot on ventilators and needing oxygen.

 

Statistically it's impossible that all of those cases are caused just by the Delta variant.

 

This article seems to indicate it's not all good news when it comes to the omicon variant.

 

https://www.voanews.com/a/south-africa-readies-hospitals-as-omicron-variant-drives-new-covid-19-wave-/6340912.html

 

Hospitals in South Africa’s Gauteng province, which contains two of the country’s biggest cities, are packed with people infected with the omicron variant. Doctors say most of the patients haven’t been vaccinated, and an alarming number of them are children under the age of five-years-old

Indeed, far to early to tell, positive indications are there, we are all sick and tired of this virus, we all want it to be gone after nearly two years, waiting another month or so to confirm its severity and have evidence of that from the scientists is all we can do. 

 

While there are some positive vibes there are too many variables to get excited about it just yet, in SA 100% of all sequenced cases are now Omicron as of the 29th Nov and there are daily deaths, yesterday 37. We all know for that amount of deaths there will be many more in ICU.

I think it's fair to say most of us except the the new virus Omicron 

Is coming to Thailand it can't be stopped 

Vaccination is the answer everyone  needs to be vaccinated 

Plus let's start opening up the Country 

People need to work put food on the table 

We have to accept like the Flu this virus is going to be with us for a long time