The Thai Medical Sciences Department has found four possible cases of infection by the BA.2.2 strain of the COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant in Thailand, but has asked the public not to panic because BA.2.2 is not yet regarded as a variant of concern, said the department’s head, Dr. Supakit Sirilak today (Monday).

 

The strain was found in one foreigner and three Thais, with confirmation still pending. He said, presently, there is insufficient information to assess the severity or transmissibility of the strain accurately.

 

Dr. Supakit said, presently, there is insufficient information to assess the severity or transmissibility of the strain accurately. He said it is too soon to conclude that BA.2.2 can spread faster or is more serious than other variants.

 

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Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/four-possible-cases-of-ba-2-2-sub-variant-detected-in-thailand-no-cause-for-alarm/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-14

 

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Well this current variant is not so much fun but seems to be massively less harmful than the previous version so we should welcome future variants with open arms assuming it continues along the same trajectory.....

 

Do be sure to let me know when it is time to panic though, I'll need to take the time to look up what I should do in such a 'panic' scenario.

the very same omicron is in largely unvaccinated Hong Kong. And it's bad there, with shocking pictures from hospitals. No need to wait to see how much 30% of unvaccinated thais will suffer.

Each variant is a potential danger to those already post-covid. How long protection from the previous infection would last? If it's only some 90 days, as estimated, so those infected in December might get it at some stage.

Even darker days on the horizon 

Scare-ient 4 and counting.

.

Hong Kong registered the most deaths per million people globally in the week to March 9, according to data publication Our World in Data.

 

Un vaxed or not, it is killing people the highest in the world.  Seems to be worse then the current Omicron.  All possibly coming just in time for Songkran.

47 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

Even darker days on the horizon 

Yes, but set aside the opportunity to throw water into the face of complete stranger ( apparently hugely rewarding for those not enthusiastic about engaging their brains too much )

 

Well....no contest.

 

Let the hilarity begin and to hell with the consequences.

 

42 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Scare-ient 4 and counting.

New variants can be scary. 

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

New variants can be scary. 

Postings about new variants being scary can be scary.????????????

I don't know that it's worth panicking over but I also don't think it's worth ignoring.   Omicron is more transmissible than previous variants and this sub-variant is thought to be even more transmissible.  That means that considerably more people will catch it.  The vaccines are not as effective against Omicron and this sub-variant, so there will be more vaccinated people getting sick, but the rate of hospitalization will be considerably lower for them.

 

The entire issue has to do with numbers.  Even with lower levels of hospitalization, when you have a huge number infected, the actual number of hospitalizations will be high and deaths will increase.  

 

2 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

New variants can be scary. 

This is a sub-variant, and no it is not scary.

Thailand Detects 4 Suspected Cases of BA 2.2 Variant

 

 

BANGKOK, (TNA) – Thailand found four suspected cases of BA 2.2 sub-lineage of BA.2 variant of Omicron, discovered in Hong Kong, said Director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, Supakit Sirilak.                          

 

He said random checks on 1,961 samples for the coronavirus strains found 99.7 per cent were the Omicron variant, comprising 32.4 per cent of BA.1 and 67.6 per cent of BA.2.   

                  

His department weekly conducts genomic sequencing of the virus and reports the results to the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID), the leading database on genomic influenza data. Omicron has mutated into three subvariants (BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3).

 

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Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-902144

 

-- © Copyright TNA 2022-03-15

 

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Troll post removed.  Continue and face a suspension.

 

4 hours ago, arithai12 said:

This is a sub-variant, and no it is not scary.

Except in Hong Kong

5 hours ago, Scott said:

I don't know that it's worth panicking over but I also don't think it's worth ignoring.   Omicron is more transmissible than previous variants and this sub-variant is thought to be even more transmissible.  That means that considerably more people will catch it.  The vaccines are not as effective against Omicron and this sub-variant, so there will be more vaccinated people getting sick, but the rate of hospitalization will be considerably lower for them.

 

The entire issue has to do with numbers.  Even with lower levels of hospitalization, when you have a huge number infected, the actual number of hospitalizations will be high and deaths will increase.  

 

Except in Thailand, of course.

 

Many here ignore the threat of new variants because of a religious belief that all future variants of Covid will be mild. But, as long as a large segment of people remain unvaccinated, there exists the potential threat of a lethal new variant.

 

Some of the deadenders here would react to a new variant that kills more people with the usual “they died with Covid, not from Covid”, ignoring the reality that without Covid, those people would still be alive.

Yes. Let's not forget that the virus is so bad that the majority of people need to take a test to discover that they are "sick".

Rumours in Thailand about the virus generally = Fearmongering.

9 hours ago, internationalism said:

the very same omicron is in largely unvaccinated Hong Kong. And it's bad there, with shocking pictures from hospitals. No need to wait to see how much 30% of unvaccinated thais will suffer.

Each variant is a potential danger to those already post-covid. How long protection from the previous infection would last? If it's only some 90 days, as estimated, so those infected in December might get it at some stage.

Poor poor man (or woman). Still live in fear? If so, Let it go. Its not worth it. 

There is absolutely nothing to indicate this variant will not be weaker than Omicron has been. Omi has been nothing but good news so far. The virus appears to be burning itself out. Numbers are dropping all over the world (except here, due to Anutin's blunders, and a few other nations, like Russia) and that is great news. 

 

It is time to stop the panic and fear mongering and reject projections of Covid doom. It serves this administration well, but it is not connected to reality, or science. 

10 hours ago, ukrules said:

Well this current variant is not so much fun but seems to be massively less harmful than the previous version so we should welcome future variants with open arms assuming it continues along the same trajectory.....

 

Do be sure to let me know when it is time to panic though, I'll need to take the time to look up what I should do in such a 'panic' scenario.

Most of my sons school have had Ba2, and I have had it and my wife, my son and I were unvaccinated we breezed through with hardly a snivel , my Thai wife and my friends Thai wife both double Pfizer vaccinated spent a week in bed with omicron while all us unvaxxed got hardly a sign in fact I only knew by doing a RAT test which cleared after ten days, but  I never got sick at all and I am 69. Most of the people we know have it and get over it easy.

The problems are with the elderly , obese and diabetic, the average age of death un the UK is 82.5. I am surpised BA2has not displaced BA1 in LOS as it is doing so everywhere else in the world ,and it is very mild if you healthy.

 

What people are doing now just about everywhere is not reporting it or using tracer apps, so they say the official count could be over a million infections in NZ not a few hundred thousand. Its all over and if you have had it you  will develop natural immunity. That has been pointed out in many studies available online.

This was to be expected Thailand is one of last countries to maintain a state of emergency and entry restictions in respect of covid. Why?

9 hours ago, overherebc said:

Scare-ient 4 and counting.

Doesn't look good in Hong Kong.

It is down to the Thai government to stop the spin doctors, conspiracy theorists and the uneducated people from spreading old wives tales about the mythical dangers of vaccination, because that's where the bulk of this nonsense is coming from. Sure, unfortunately, a few people with unforeseen health issues will react badly to the vaccine, the governments job is to look after the many not the few.

 

Many sit on their computers or their backsides in the villages spreading malicious nonsense and what they don't know, (which is quite a lot), they make up!

 

It is proven science, vaccinations save lives and by and large protect the majority of people from the worst effects of the virus.

 

They should put pressure on these anti-vax groups, because it is the unvaccinated that allow these variants to strengthen and evolve.

 

The powers that be should threaten with refusing to treat in the hospitals those who refuse vaccines or can't be bothered,where they are putting health workers lives at risk.

 

Incidentally, speaking to my son last night in the UK, where the vast majority are vaccinated and boosters have had a big response, he says people are back to normal and do not dwell on or have  conversations about Coronavirus.

 

He said the biggest talking point these days in the workplace of the UK is the war in Ukraine!

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Omicron sub-variant in Thailand, but has asked the public not to panic because BA.2.2 is not yet

Yet What??? Oh yes, we will not panic until after another Songkran fiasco.

Time to rethink letting Songkran happen as in years past?  While I must admit I have enjoyed being a participant in previous Songkran activities including being doused with water (not the ice cold version) and even having the Thai people asking (much of the time) if they could powder my face.  It was good fun.  But, times have changed!  More likely than not, proceeding with full Songkran activities this year including much interprovincial travel is likely to bring about many new and possibly deadly infections not to mention the road deaths/accidents/injuries that are bound to occur.   

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

Except in Hong Kong

And just wait for it......... China is next. 

7 hours ago, Scott said:

I don't know that it's worth panicking over but I also don't think it's worth ignoring.   Omicron is more transmissible than previous variants and this sub-variant is thought to be even more transmissible.  That means that considerably more people will catch it.  The vaccines are not as effective against Omicron and this sub-variant, so there will be more vaccinated people getting sick, but the rate of hospitalization will be considerably lower for them.

 

The entire issue has to do with numbers.  Even with lower levels of hospitalization, when you have a huge number infected, the actual number of hospitalizations will be high and deaths will increase.  

 

I agree completely 100% with you @Scott.  I know of many folks that have tested positive on an ATK test in the last few days.  Fevers of over 38 degrees, upper respiratory symptoms, muscle fatigue and a cough along with a runny nose is what they have told me they have.  I am now isolating and had to cancel travel plans, which is ok in my book, because my GF has become one of the ATK statistics as of yesterday.  Even though I am twice vaccinated with AZ and have a Moderna booster does not mean I can not pick this up, just need to hope that if that happens I don't get hit to hard with it.  Strange as to how she picked it up when we have pretty much kept to ourselves except for a trip to Makro, out to eat twice last week, and then a trip to a hospital with our housekeeper this past Saturday but then we socially distanced there as well.  I am negative on both a saliva and nasal ATK test as well as the housekeeper, who now is isolating in her own room here at the Condo. Mask wearing in the condo is a thrill a minute with all of the air purifier running at full steam as well.

34 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

I am 69. Most of the people we know have it and get over it easy.

The problems are with the elderly , obese and diabetic, the average age of death un the UK is 82.5

I thought 69 was classed as elderly, anyway encouraging that you had no symptoms. 

Are you saying I shouldn't get my moderna 3rd shot? 

47 minutes ago, Dialemco said:

This was to be expected Thailand is one of last countries to maintain a state of emergency and entry restictions in respect of covid. Why?

Simple answer? MONEY

10 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

Even darker days on the horizon 

Yes when the price of weat goes up that will be 

 

War 

Disease

Famine

 

Just pointing it out

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

.....but has asked the public not to panic.....

The only people panicking are the alleged experts in the food chain.