Thailand studies first native Omicron case, eyes reinstating quarantine
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand is thinking about reinstating obligatory quarantine for international guests because of considerations over the unfold of Omicron, because the well being ministry reported on Monday the rustic’s first case of native transmission of the coronavirus variant.
The general public well being ministry will suggest scrapping a quarantine waiver for vaccinated guests and revert to resort quarantine and a “sandbox” programme, which permits unfastened motion in explicit places, minister Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned.
The proposal used to be pushed by way of worries over the unfold of Omicron, Anutin instructed the Inside of Thailand tv display, including it is going to be made to the federal government’s COVID-19 taskforce “quickly”.
The minister’s remarks come after Thailand reopened to international guests in November, finishing just about 18 months of strict access insurance policies that contributed to a cave in in tourism, a key business and financial motive force that drew 40 million guests in 2019.
Thailand had detected 63 other folks inflamed with the Omicron variant to this point, Anutin mentioned, with one case of native transmission and the remainder imported circumstances.
The primary in the community transmitted case used to be present in a Thai girl who examined certain to Omicron after contracting the virus from her husband, a Colombian who returned to Thailand from Nigeria in overdue November, a well being ministry professional instructed a day by day briefing.
“She is doubtlessly the primary in Thailand to get Omicron from an in a foreign country traveller, her husband, and the primary in the community transmitted case,” mentioned Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, an professional from the Illness Keep an eye on Division.
Each the husband and the spouse have been totally vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, he mentioned.
The couple had one high-risk touch, a taxi motive force, who used to be being quarantined and pending a 2nd coronavius take a look at due on Wednesday, Chakrarat added.
(Reporting by way of Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Enhancing by way of Ed Davies)
