Despite the arrival of the Omicron variant, there will be no lockdown in Thailand, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday afternoon.
A foreigner who had travelled from Spain on Nov. 30 tested positive for the variant last Friday, bringing the first Omicron case in Thailand.
Anutin said the Department of Medical Sciences is testing the patient’s sample even more closely to make sure it is actually the Omicron variant, and the results should be ready in about three to four days.
He also said Thailand’s travel measures were still effective as all arrivals must present a negative RT-PCR test result and a vaccine certificate and spend the first night in quarantine to wait for another RT-PCR test result.
“These measures will allow officials to check for all Covid-19 variants and provide treatment if they test positive,” he said.
Anutin said the only way to prevent the spread of Omicron is to take good preventive measures and get a double vaccination.
“We will not impose a lockdown as the country has only just reopened and many businesses are starting to recover. We want people to live their normal lives instead of panicking, especially as the New Year’s Eve party is just around the corner,” he said.
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