A huge crowd packs Khao San Road for the Songkran celebration in Bangkok on April 16. (Photo: VNA)Bangkok (VNA) –Thai health officials nationwide have been ordered to watch for new COVID-19outbreaks and prepare medication and equipment for inpatients, inthe wake of Songkran festivities.
Health ministry permanent secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong onApril 17 said medical and health personnel were instructed to keep localcommunities informed, encourage annual vaccination against the pandemic andensure adequate medical supplies and equipment were on hand and hospital bedsavailable for severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Songkran revellers should monitor their health for seven daysand stay clear of elderly people and others with underlying illnesses. If theyfeel ill, they should take an antigen test. Besides, people were still advisedto wear face masks in crowded places and get an annual vaccine shot, he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-generalof the Department of Medical Sciences, said Omicron remained the dominantvariant of COVID-19 and its XBB.1.16 subvariant should be dominant in thefuture.
There was no evidence the new subvariant was more severe thanthe currently dominant Omicron subvariants in terms of antibody avoidance andsymptoms, he said./.
