This week: new Covid variants, arrival increases, Tangmo confession and sex video earning stats
Latest Omicron variants arrive
Thailand this week reported its first case of Omicron XE, a combination of two previous versions of the Omicron variant.
The World Health Organisation warned that XE could be the most transmissible strain of the new coronavirus although its severity is still being investigated.
The Public Health Ministry played down concerns, saying there is no need to panic as it is not believed to result in as many complications as some previous mutations.
Officials also said a parcel delivery man may be infected with a new XJ variant never before detected in Thailand.
Suvarnabhumi airport arrivals increase
Suvarnabhumi airport has seen a sharp rise in the number of international arrivals since the requirement for pre-flight Covid-19 tests was lifted.
The airport reported an average 11,623 travellers from overseas destinations from Friday to Monday, a 66% rise from the average in March of 7,003 visitors a day.
The airport attributed the rise to the scrapping of pre-travel RT-PCR tests for visitors coming under Test & Go, Sandbox and quarantine schemes from April 1.
The government is considering scrapping on-arrival RT-PCR tests for foreign visitors from next month.
Tangmo's manager admits giving false statements
The manager of Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong has admitted to a charge of giving false statements to police in connection with the death of the actress.
Idsarin “Gatick’’ Juthasuksawat confessed to police that she had given false statements to investigators.
Police will also press charges against another person believed to be offering advice to all five people on the vessel on how they should talk to investigators.
B100,000 a month for selling sex clips
In an indication of just how much money you can make working from home, a transgender woman caught producing and selling sex videos online said she earned about 100,000 baht a month.
Police learned that a Twitter user by the name “Dreammie •Vip group 590 ฿” posted pornographic videos online, to more than 120,000 followers.
Subscribers pay a fee of 234 baht for access to her videos on the OnlyFans website. Prior to the arrest, she had 430 subscribers.
