Thailand sounds alarm as Arcturus strain arrives just in time for Songkran

[webfact]

 

Thailand is once again on the defensive against COVID-19 after laboratory tests showed that the new, more contagious subvariant XBB.1.16 has landed on these shores.

 

Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department, reported that 27 cases of XBB.1.16 had been detected in Thailand as of April 17 and one of these had died.

 

“The deceased was an elderly foreigner with underlying health conditions. His death, therefore, may not directly reflect the severity of this subvariant but rather its impact on other risk factors,” Supakit said.

 

Health authorities have raised the alarm about XBB.1.16 and urged the public to keep their guard up. But they said there is no need to panic.

 

Threat of XBB.1.16

XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, is a subvariant of the Omicron bug that swept across the world last year. On March 22, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed XBB.1.16 as a variant under monitoring (VUM).

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sounds-alarm-as-arcturus-strain-arrives-just-in-time-for-songkran/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-04-20

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[dinsdale]

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

Health authorities have raised the alarm about XBB.1.16 and urged the public to keep their guard up. But they said there is no need to panic.

This rubbish is exactly why those who are ingnorant of the facts will panic.

[mania]

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

 

This rubbish is exactly why those who are ignorant of the facts will panic.

Elections looming & panic is what they want ???? Easier to add the required restrictions

[humbug]

What a coincedence!

 

Like others have mentioned, big surprise, elections in a few weeks, and everyone panic, and scare to go out in public to vote

 

They will try every trick to reduce the oppositions votes

 

 

[markclover]

So where did this one come from?  A wet market in Russia?

[novacova]

What?? I thought the  covid craze and Songkran party were over already.  

[dinsdale]

16 minutes ago, markclover said:

So where did this one come from?  A wet market in Russia?

Intertesting comment as a US senate investigation paper just released is saying that the covid origin may have come from an infected palm civit illegally sold to a wet market as meat from someone in the Wuhan institute. Interesting.

[webfact]

Temporary Covid-19 surge may result in 10,000 daily cases
by Mitch Connor

 

Picture courtesy of UNICEF Thailand/Preechapanich

A new wave of Covid-19 infections is expected to bring daily cases to 5,000-10,000, but a swift decline in numbers is predicted thereafter, according to Dr Nitipatana Chierakul, Head of the Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis Division at the Faculty of Medicine in Siriraj Hospital.

 

In a statement on his Facebook page, Dr Nitipatana noted a rise in infections caused by the Omicron XBB.1.16 sub-variant but highlighted the majority of cases were mild. He explained that severe reactions were likely due to pre-existing health conditions. He said…

“During the new wave, daily cases are estimated at 5,000-10,000 patients, which is relatively low compared to last year. It is anticipated that cases will reduce within a few weeks.”

Dr Nitipatana acknowledged that high-contact festivals, such as Songkran, naturally lead to increased virus transmission. However, he believes this will not be significant enough to harm society or the economy.

Regarding long-acting antibody (LAAB) treatment and other Covid-19 antiviral pills, he advised that they might not be necessary for everyone.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/temporary-surge-may-result-in-10000-daily-cases-for-a-brief-period

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-20

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

 

 

[Rimbuman]

Is the scamdemic still running?

[MrJ2U]

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 

This rubbish is exactly why those who are ingnorant of the facts will panic.

Don't panic then.

[BangkokReady]

This is the problem with "emergency powers".  People don't want to give them up once the emergency is over.

[spidermike007]

Dr. Nitipatana Chierakul, Head of the Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis Division at the Faculty of Medicine in Siriraj Hospital should be immediately arrested and changed with panic mongering. And his license to practice medicine should be permanently revoked. This is outrageous and highly irresponsible behavior. 

 

There is nothing scientific to point towards such a surge. This is likely based on an insane estimate of some sort. 

 

Lock up the doc. 

[Skeptic7]

Lock it up❗Lock it up❗

????????

[ozimoron]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

This is the problem with "emergency powers".  People don't want to give them up once the emergency is over.

How did any "emergency powers" benefit the government who used them in any way?

[jak2002003]

4 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

How did any "emergency powers" benefit the government who used them in any way?

Are you serious? 

[h90]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Dr. Nitipatana Chierakul, Head of the Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis Division at the Faculty of Medicine in Siriraj Hospital should be immediately arrested and changed with panic mongering. And his license to practice medicine should be permanently revoked. This is outrageous and highly irresponsible behavior. 

 

There is nothing scientific to point towards such a surge. This is likely based on an insane estimate of some sort. 

 

Lock up the doc. 

While I would want the same. Think of the consequences if someone has the power to lock a doc up because he don't like the docs opinion.....That would be far worse.
But maybe someone could look at his bank account and look how he earned how much money.....if I quadruple my income during a pandemic, I would not want it to end as well.

[h90]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

This is the problem with "emergency powers".  People don't want to give them up once the emergency is over.

The emergency will never end.....It will be the forever emergency...and if it is not the next athlete's foot fungus that justify it, than it will be global warming or narcotics

[ozimoron]

11 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

Are you serious? 

Very.

[brewsterbudgen]

Oh no! Back to masks??

[lavender19]

Just had it . Nothing more than a fever ,sore throat and a cough for a few days. I've had worse colds.

[ozimoron]

36 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Oh no! Back to masks??

They never went away. I just spent a couple of days in Bangkok. Masks everywhere.

[ikke1959]

Okay they knew it why let people play Songkran?? Abolish this life taking 7 days dangerous event, as long as there is nowhere Covid found anywhere in the world...

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Dr. Nitipatana Chierakul, Head of the Respiratory Disease and Tuberculosis Division at the Faculty of Medicine in Siriraj Hospital should be immediately arrested and changed with panic mongering. And his license to practice medicine should be permanently revoked. This is outrageous and highly irresponsible behavior. 

 

There is nothing scientific to point towards such a surge. This is likely based on an insane estimate of some sort. 

 

Lock up the doc. 

Nobody is going to panic at this news, it's simply not going to happen.

 

10k cases a day is nothing in a country this size.

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

Nobody is going to panic at this news, it's simply not going to happen.

 

10k cases a day is nothing in a country this size.

It might climb to 1,000 a day, then rapidly decline. That would be my guess. 

[stereolab]

5 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Oh no! Back to masks??

What do you mean - back to masks.!

[zzaa09]

13 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 

This rubbish is exactly why those who are ingnorant of the facts will panic.

Ignorance and a prevailing narrative for 3+ years. 

[mania]

8 hours ago, ozimoron said:

How did any "emergency powers" benefit the government who used them in any way?

Well for one the no gathering in public spaces turned a large wave of young anti Junta away

[RandiRona]

lets shut down all Airports , border crossings , all schools , all businesses and achieve Zero covid deaths..... China did it successfully so why cant Thailand!!

ohh... in the meantime , lets not worry about road deaths , Amulets are good enough to save the ones who buddha desires.

[Enzian]

I'm all for over-reaction, I loved the Nana station area during Covid, it was like my own private little fiefdom, nobody on the sidewalks, and the massage ladies were so eager...

[bignok]

3 hours ago, Enzian said:

I'm all for over-reaction, I loved the Nana station area during Covid, it was like my own private little fiefdom, nobody on the sidewalks, and the massage ladies were so eager...

Good points. Keep it going for 10 years. Scares off tourists. These strains will be around for ever in some form.