Two inmates at Chiang Mai Central Prison have been infected with the Alpha Plus variant of Covid-19, according to the provincial public health office. Both cases were detected late last month.
Meanwhile, the governor advised schools that are due to provide on-site learning when the new semester begins on Monday to postpone reopening for two weeks if a Covid outbreak is reported in the area.
Dr Kittipan Chalom, an assistant public health officer, said the two detected cases of the Covid subvariant were discovered late last month from genome sequencing.
He said one of the patients had become reinfected with Covid while the other was a close contact of his who had been taking care of him. The first patient, who is HIV positive, contracted the Covid virus in May when the Alpha variant was the dominant strain in Thailand.
A sample sent for whole genome sequencing showed he was infected with the Alpha subvariant.
According to Dr Kittipan, the patient had no travel history or contact with others. However, people with a compromised immune system can harbour the virus for longer periods, thus allowing it to mutate.
He said genome sequencing for Covid-19 infections is regularly being carried in line with the Public Health Ministry's guidelines, adding that the Delta variant is currently the dominant strain.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed confidence that the virus surge in Chiang Mai would be brought under control, saying resources were been mobilised to curtail its spread.
He said the local public health system was more prepared than numerous other provinces and that, for the time being at least, there was no need to set up a forward command centre.
According to Mr Anutin, most community infections in the northern province were linked to people who visited markets in urban areas. The ministry is aware of the situation and has been trying to address it, he noted.
Chiang Mai governor Prachon Pratsakul asked schools located in areas that have seen a Covid-19 outbreak to delay on-site classes.
He said clusters of infections are being reported in several areas, so education institutes should consider online learning until Nov 14.
The province issued restrictions on large gatherings and will only open four districts -- Muang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao -- to international visitors.
