Most Covid-19 cases linked to mild variant

A medical worker administers the nasal swab component of an antigen rapid test for Covid-19 screening in 2022. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

The NB.1.8.1 strain has become the dominant Covid-19 variant in Thailand over the past year, although health authorities say there is no evidence it spreads faster or causes more severe illness.

Department of Disease Control (DDC) director-general Dr Montien Kanasawat said Covid-19 cases had risen slightly from the previous week, but no cluster outbreaks or new deaths had been reported.