No extraordinary preparations for Omicron XBB.1.16 sub-variant in Thailand

[webfact]

 

The Public Health Ministry has dismissed a report circulating on Thai social media that the Ministry of Public Health has made extensive preparations to cope with the spread of a sub variant of COVID-19, called Omicron XBB.1.16, or Arcturus.

 

Dr Yongyos Thammawut, deputy permanent secretary of public health, said today that the Department of Medical Sciences and its network of laboratories have been monitoring COVID variants between October 1st and December 2nd and have conducted gene sequencing of 253 COVID cases.

 

It was discovered that 24.5% of the cases are XBB.1.9.2, followed by 23.3% of EG.5, 17.8& of XBB.1.16 and 11.90% of XBB.2.3.

 

He said that XBB.1.16 and XBB.2.3 cases have tended to decrease over the past two months, compared to XBB.1.92 and EG.5.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-12-16

 

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[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Public Health Ministry has dismissed a report circulating on Thai social media that the Ministry of Public Health has made extensive preparations to cope with the spread of a sub variant of COVID-19, called Omicron XBB.1.16, or Arcturus.

They confirmed however they use d the "wait and see" approach.

[dinsdale]

Just another mild Omicron variant that for the vast majority of people should be of no concern. As for mask wearing well what's the point. More mild infections you get the greater your natural immunity. Of course Covid can be asymptomatic so you can get infected, have zero symptoms and your immunity still gets boosted.

[spidermike007]

So far every subsequent strain of covid has proven to be weaker and weaker, more feeble and more feeble, though the transmission rates are higher, the fatality rates are consistently lower. Why should they be making special preparations for yet another more people variation? Perhaps common sense is finally prevailing? 

[stoner]

why would there be ? 

[hughrection]

Let's take bets on how long it takes the usual suspect to pounce on this post and feed us with reems of studies from the CDC, WHO and others about how dangerous it really is.

 

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ........ 

[QuantumQuandry]

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

So far every subsequent strain of covid has proven to be weaker and weaker, more feeble and more feeble, though the transmission rates are higher, the fatality rates are consistently lower.

 

Arguably true for Omicron (if we define 'weaker' as the chance it will kill you once you have it) but Delta was more deadly than Alpha.

[dinsdale]

14 hours ago, QuantumQuandry said:

 

Arguably true for Omicron (if we define 'weaker' as the chance it will kill you once you have it) but Delta was more deadly than Alpha.

Omicron's greater transimmability basically wiped Delta off the globe. Evolution in action. Your definition of weaker is incorrect. Omicron has both less severe symptoms and a way, way, way smaller chance of killing someone than Delta.