Thailand: No lockdown imposed amidst appearance of Omicron variant

No lockdown will be imposed in Thailand despite the appearance of the Omicron variant, said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on December 7.

People in Thailand waiting for vaccination against COVID-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
People in Thailand waiting for vaccination against COVID-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

A foreigner who had travelled from Spain on November 30 tested positive for the variant, making him Thailand’s first Omicron case.

Anutin said the Department of Medical Science is testing the patient’s sample carefully to ensure it is actually the Omicron variant, and results should be ready in about three to four days.

He also said that Thailand’s travel measures are still effective as all arrivals are required to show a negative RT-PCR test result and vaccine certificate and spend the first night in quarantine to wait for another RT-PCR test result.

The only way of preventing the spread of Omicron is maintaining good preventive measures and getting double-jabbed, he stressed.