Thailand: Shift to ‘endemic’ forecast within 4 months

• The Public Health Ministry is setting its sights on declaring the spread of the coronavirus disease as endemic within the next four months, said its top official.
• Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said the fatality rate in the current Omicron wave is significantly lower than during the previous outbreak.
• Even though lung infections are on the rise, these numbers are also proportionally lower relative to previous caseloads, he added.
• Public Health Ministry spokesman Rungruang Kitpati said the fatalities were 10 times lower and studies suggested they will be slashed in half again if 60%-70% of elderly people get a third jab.
• Dr Kiattiphum said the ministry will hold a press conference soon to outline its management plan for transitioning to managing an endemic disease.
• In early Jan 22, the ministry said it intended to downgrade Covid-19 to an endemic disease in 2022 as the current wave showed mild symptoms and more people receive vaccines.
• Officials said lockdown measures are very unlikely to be reimposed despite the surge in infections.

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2269599/shift-to-endemic-forecast-within-4-months