Health Covid-19's XEC Variant Spreads Like Wildfire, Says Thai Health Ministry

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Photo: Xinhua/VNA

 

The alarming spread of the XEC variant of Covid-19 has put Thailand's Public Health Ministry on high alert as the virus is reportedly spreading seven times faster than the common flu. A concerted effort led by Minister Somsak Thepsuthin aims to safeguard vulnerable groups, while also keeping a vigilant eye on its proliferation in schools throughout the nation.

 

According to official figures, since January 1st, 108,891 cases of the XEC variant have been logged, resulting in 27 fatalities.

 

The majority of the deaths, around 80%, have tragically been among senior citizens, highlighting the virus's dangerous impact on the elderly, classified under the "608 group."

 

Despite the swift transmission, the strain, a descendant of Omicron, is noted for its relatively mild severity. However, its rapid spread raises significant concerns, especially with the variant having already impacted children as well.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged educational institutions to keep a watchful eye and manage potential clusters amongst pupils.

 

Health expert Dr Teera Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University underlines that this Covid-19 strain continues to be the foremost infectious disease, affecting individuals across all ages, including young children, teenagers, and those in the working-age bracket.

 

In just a week, Covid-19 hospital admissions saw a 35.5% jump, numbering 43,213 both for in-patients and outpatients.

 

Three fresh fatalities were recently reported in Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai, and Bangkok Noi, underscoring the persistent threat posed by this highly transmissible variant.

 

The country remains in its 21st week of applying disease control measures to mitigate further spread and protect at-risk populations.

 

The Thai authorities maintain vigilance, focusing resources on shielding the most vulnerable while the quick spread of the virus prompts continuous review and adaptation of health protocols.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-21

 

 

[connda]

Best to shove swabs up kid's noses, mandate masks for everyone, social distance because we tell you to, force everyone to get shots, and of course start closing all "non-essential businesses" again.  Time to hammer the final stake though the heart of the Thai economy and put an end to small and medium size businesses in the name of Covid - The king of all diseases.  And close the airports.  No more tourism!  And roll out the "Experts" again to scare the commoners into compliance.  Gotta pick up where they left off.

[connda]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In just a week, Covid-19 hospital admissions saw a 35.5% jump, numbering 43,213 both for in-patients and outpatients.

In Thailand, they'll hospitalize people for having a freaking cold.

[edwinchester]

4 hours ago, connda said:

Best to shove swabs up kid's noses, mandate masks for everyone, social distance because we tell you to, force everyone to get shots, and of course start closing all "non-essential businesses" again.  Time to hammer the final stake though the heart of the Thai economy and put an end to small and medium size businesses in the name of Covid - The king of all diseases.  And close the airports.  No more tourism!  And roll out the "Experts" again to scare the commoners into compliance.  Gotta pick up where they left off.

That is absolutely not happening. All they are suggesting, after stressing the mild symptoms, is to take care for the sake of those in vulnerable groups who make up the vast majority of serious cases.

[edwinchester]

4 hours ago, connda said:

In Thailand, they'll hospitalize people for having a freaking cold.

Only if you want to be, it's a private hospital and you can pay or have insurance. If it's a Govt Hospital they'll give you a packet of paracetamol and tell you to go home and rest.

[Moonlover]

6 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Only if you want to be, it's a private hospital and you can pay or have insurance. If it's a Govt Hospital they'll give you a packet of paracetamol and tell you to go home and rest.

And the latter is probably the most appropriate advice.

[Kinnock]

4 hours ago, connda said:

In Thailand, they'll hospitalize people for having a freaking cold.

Yes, but that's partly driven by health insurance that only pays out if you stay overnight, and the lack GP surgeries.

[ViajeroLA]

How someone could be so stupid to take anything "covid-related" seriously is just beyond imagination 🙃

[Pouatchee]

7 hours ago, connda said:

Best to shove swabs up kid's noses, mandate masks for everyone, social distance because we tell you to, force everyone to get shots, and of course start closing all "non-essential businesses" again.

 

I get what youre saying, but having astbma snd COPD i just digned up for a covid booster and influenza booster too. Im in canada coming to thailand in end of june and the last thing i want is to be hospitalised again. I spent the worst 3 months of my life this winter bring hospitalised a dozen times.

 

For me, covid is something to be taken seriously... despite what many say i know for a fact it could pfobably kill me.

[Magictoad]

7 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

I get what youre saying, but having astbma snd COPD i just digned up for a covid booster and influenza booster too. Im in canada coming to thailand in end of june and the last thing i want is to be hospitalised again. I spent the worst 3 months of my life this winter bring hospitalised a dozen times.

 

For me, covid is something to be taken seriously... despite what many say i know for a fact it could pfobably kill me.

You are a 100% correct.  I'm in Pattaya and wondering where I can get a Covid-19 vaccination. I really had to hustle last time. They were like gold dust. My sister in the UK in her 80s goes every year for a Covid vaccination. The local pharmacy does them as well as her GP. This anti vax thing is an American thing that is unknown in Britain. I think it's because the NHS provides free vaccination to the whole population that only religious extremists and some other freaks/hippies object to vaccinations. I notice that there is a strong anti vax movement here on AN because they can't hang out on medical or scientific forums. It's insane !

[JoseThailand]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo courtesy of Photo: Xinhua/VNA

 

The alarming spread of the XEC variant of Covid-19 has put Thailand's Public Health Ministry on high alert as the virus is reportedly spreading seven times faster than the common flu. A concerted effort led by Minister Somsak Thepsuthin aims to safeguard vulnerable groups, while also keeping a vigilant eye on its proliferation in schools throughout the nation.

 

According to official figures, since January 1st, 108,891 cases of the XEC variant have been logged, resulting in 27 fatalities.

 

The majority of the deaths, around 80%, have tragically been among senior citizens, highlighting the virus's dangerous impact on the elderly, classified under the "608 group."

 

Despite the swift transmission, the strain, a descendant of Omicron, is noted for its relatively mild severity. However, its rapid spread raises significant concerns, especially with the variant having already impacted children as well.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged educational institutions to keep a watchful eye and manage potential clusters amongst pupils.

 

Health expert Dr Teera Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University underlines that this Covid-19 strain continues to be the foremost infectious disease, affecting individuals across all ages, including young children, teenagers, and those in the working-age bracket.

 

In just a week, Covid-19 hospital admissions saw a 35.5% jump, numbering 43,213 both for in-patients and outpatients.

 

Three fresh fatalities were recently reported in Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai, and Bangkok Noi, underscoring the persistent threat posed by this highly transmissible variant.

 

The country remains in its 21st week of applying disease control measures to mitigate further spread and protect at-risk populations.

 

The Thai authorities maintain vigilance, focusing resources on shielding the most vulnerable while the quick spread of the virus prompts continuous review and adaptation of health protocols.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-21

 

 

 

Nobody's gonna believe this crap again

[daveAustin]

30 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

You are a 100% correct.  I'm in Pattaya and wondering where I can get a Covid-19 vaccination. I really had to hustle last time. They were like gold dust. My sister in the UK in her 80s goes every year for a Covid vaccination. The local pharmacy does them as well as her GP. This anti vax thing is an American thing that is unknown in Britain. I think it's because the NHS provides free vaccination to the whole population that only religious extremists and some other freaks/hippies object to vaccinations. I notice that there is a strong anti vax movement here on AN because they can't hang out on medical or scientific forums. It's insane !

Nothing wrong with being wary of a vaccine that was rushed through the system without usual extensive testing. Personally will never take it again as side effects were harmful and went on for months. Folks can do what they want as long as they don’t push it on others. 

[Pouatchee]

16 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Nothing wrong with being wary of a vaccine that was rushed through the system without usual extensive testing. Personally will never take it again as side effects were harmful and went on for months. Folks can do what they want as long as they don’t push it on others. 

 

totally agree. thing is people are as pushy against vaccination as others are against trump. if people could just put up and shut up. think what you want just dont push it on others. some things just get old and boring really quick

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

48 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Nothing wrong with being wary of a vaccine that was rushed through the system without usual extensive testing.

 

 

Except what you claim above re without usual testing simply isn't/wasn't true, as explained below from USA Today Fact Check and Boston University COVID vaccine myths article, among others:

 

"Having a running start does not mean the testing process was accelerated, however. Hotez ... stated the vaccine still underwent testing among a large group of human volunteers, even more than a typical trial with over 30,000 to 60,000 people. (emphasis added)

 

What accelerated the vaccine process was manufacturing.

   

"The two accelerants are doing the manufacturing of risk (scaling up manufacturing based on the assumption the vaccine will work, also called at-risk manufacturing) and manufacturing the vaccine in parallel with clinical trials. That's new because we usually wait for the phase three results," he said.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/21/fact-check-covid-19-vaccine-nearly-20-years-making/3873247001/

 

 

Boston University - 2021:

Myths vs. Facts: Making Sense of COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation

When so much wrong information is readily available, convincing people to get vaccinated has proven to be a huge challenge

...

MYTH: The COVID vaccines were not rigorously tested, which is why they have only emergency authorization approval and not full Food and Drug Administration approval. (Update: Pfizer’s vaccine received full FDA approval on August 19)

 

FACT: “Vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps, but conducted some of the steps on an overlapping schedule to gather data faster.”—Johns Hopkins Medicine (emphasis added)

 

Davidson Hamer, a faculty member of BU’s School of Public Health:

"The development was more rapid than many other vaccines. But it used the same process of phase one and phase two trials following appropriate safety measures. Stage three trials were large-scale trials done rigorously with very clear outcome definitions. The safety measures and approaches taken are standard for clinical trials. They just did it more rapidly than usual."

 

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/myths-vs-facts-covid-19-vaccine/