Dealing with Omicron

Syringes with needles are seen in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken on Nov 27, 2021. (Reuters photo)
Syringes with needles are seen in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken on Nov 27, 2021. (Reuters photo)

The new Omicron Covid variant may spoil the festive mood of December and slow economic activities next year if it is identified as a serious threat to public health.

The World Health Organization warned that Omicron is a "variant of concern" because it may be more contagious and resistant to existing Covid-19 vaccines.

Thailand is likely in a better position than some European countries thanks to higher public awareness about wearing masks and more positive attitudes about vaccination, said one financial firm.

Businesses worry if the spread of the new variant becomes serious and the government reintroduces lockdown measures, the manufacturing and transport sectors will be the hardest hit.

Thai manufacturers believe they have ample experience in dealing with Covid-19 outbreaks. Since the Delta variant was detected in Thailand, measures were enacted to contain the spread such as factory accommodation isolation, bubble and seal, and providing tests.

The president of the Thai Hotels Association said the real consequences of the variant might be seen in the next 1-2 weeks.

Hotel bookings last week kept growing despite news reports about new cases globally, she said.

"There is no sign of massive cancellations or postponements, while bookings at key destinations such as Phuket doubled as the Russian market has already returned."

She said if the Omicron variant triggers a new outbreak, the government should prepare the healthcare system to take care of Covid-19 patients instead of imposing another lockdown.

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Vocabulary

  • ample: more than enough - มากพอ, เพียงพอ
  • attitude: someone’s opinions or feelings about something, especially as shown by their behaviour - ทัศนคติ, ลักษณะท่าทาง
  • awareness: the state of knowing about something - การรับรู้, การทราบ
  • cancellation: a decision to stop something that has been arranged from taking place - การยกเลิก
  • concern: interest or worry - ความสนใจ, ความกังวล
  • consequences: results of effects of something - ผลที่ตามมา
  • contagious: of a disease that can be caught by touching someone with the disease or a piece of infected clothing - ซึ่งแพร่กระจายได้ง่าย
  • enact (verb): to perform something - นำแสดง
  • isolation: set apart from; disconnected from - แยกออกมา ตั้งอยู่เดี่ยวๆ
  • measure: a firm action taken to solve a problem or stop a dangerous unpleasant situation - มาตราการ
  • postponement: delay - การเลื่อนออกไป
  • resistant (adj): not harmed or affected by something - ต้าน,ต่อต้าน, ต้านทาน
  • sector: a part of a country’s economic or business activity - ภาค (เศรษฐกิจ)
  • trigger: to cause - ก่อให้เกิด กระตุ้น
  • variant: a thing that is a slightly different form or type of something else - สิ่งที่ผันแปร, สิ่งที่แตกต่างกัน
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