"Delta"

Omicron is fast becoming the dominant Covid-19 variant in Thailand instead of Delta, expert virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The Thai public has been advised not to panic over reports of the new Covid-19 variant “Deltacron”, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha saying the country’s health system is prepared to tackle any outbreak.

Deltacron, a new coronavirus variant, has been identified in Cyprus, Dr Leontios Kostrikis, who leads the team of scientists working at the University of Cyprus’ biotechnology and molecular virology lab said on Saturday.

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 accounts for only 9 per cent of new cases in Thailand since November 1, though Delta is still the dominant strain, a Department of Medical Science survey revealed.

"This is and will continue to put immense pressure on exhausted health workers and health systems on the brink of collapse and again disrupting lives and livelihoods," said the WHO chief.

Data collected worldwide on the Covid-19 Omicron variant until December 23 indicates that it is less severe than Delta, which still makes up the majority of cases in Thailand, Public Health permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Thursday.

While the number of Omicron cases is expected to rise in the United States, the most recent data show that more than 99 percent of coronavirus samples that have been genetically sequenced showed the Delta variant, and it is too early to know whether Omicron will become dominant against Delta or not.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) met on Tuesday to discuss Thailand’s November 1 reopening as well as the new, more contagious version of the Delta variant.

The even more quickly transmitted version of the Covid-19 Delta variant, Delta Plus, was detected in Thailand in September, when a 49-year-old got infected.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 4.8 percent in September, after dropping by 0.2 percentage points in the previous month. The measure was down considerably from its recent high in April 2020, but remained well above the pre-pandemic level of 3.5 percent.

Delta is "by far" the worlds dominant coronavirus variant, a top World Health Organization scientist said Tuesday.

Manufacturing managers across Southeast Asia reported a heavy blow in August from one of the worlds worst Covid-19 outbreaks, while producers in North Asia continued to enjoy robust output.