BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) – The Public Health Ministry considers the Omicron cluster in Kalasin province as a super spreader because it has covered as many as 200 cases.
Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said that the 200 cases from the Kalasin cluster raised the total Omicron cases in the country to 740 and infections from the cluster were growing in the Northeast and the North.
According to him, the department has checked samples from 8,000 COVID-19 cases and found as many as 740 Omicron cases. They consisted of 489 imported cases and 251 local infections.
Bangkok had the most Omicron cases because it stands close to Suvarnabhumi airport where most arrivals land. The second most cases were in the northeastern provinces of Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham and Kalasin.
Omicron cases existed in 33 provinces and 19 of them reported local infections.
As many as 75% of arrivals through the Test & Go entry program had Omicron infections.
Dr Supakit blamed disease transmission on parties at places with poor ventilation. The government allowed pubs and bars to turn themselves into eateries where alcoholic beverages can be served but such venues compromised disease controls, he said. (TNA)
