Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has ramped up its vigilance against the fast-spreading XEC variant of Covid-19, which is now transmitting nearly seven times faster than the regular flu.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said on Monday that resources and personnel are being redirected to protect vulnerable groups, with particular attention being paid to the rise in cases among schoolchildren.
Since January 1, Thailand has entered its 21st week under ongoing disease control measures. To date, the country has recorded 108,891 cases of the XEC variant and 27 related deaths.
The majority of fatalities have occurred within the “608 group”—which includes senior citizens—with 80% of deaths reported among the elderly.
Children have also been affected, with the current outbreak linked to the XEC strain, a subvariant of Omicron.
Although the variant is not considered highly severe, health authorities warn that its accelerated spread poses significant risks to at-risk populations.
Officials continue to emphasise the importance of preventive measures despite the relatively low fatality rate.
Dr Teera Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine stated that the XEC strain is spreading nearly seven times faster than influenza, making it the most prevalent infectious disease across all age groups.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has called on schools to remain vigilant for possible cluster outbreaks among students.
In the past week, 43,213 hospital cases—both in-patient and out-patient—have been reported, marking a 35.5% increase compared to the previous week.
Three recent deaths linked to the virus were confirmed in Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai, and Bangkok Noi district.
