Thailand's 1st local COVID-19 case in 100 days found infected with G viral strain

Thailand's first local COVID-19 case after 100 days was found with the G strain of COVID-19, the same strain which is spreading worldwide, the Ministry of Public Health said on Friday.

According to epidemiological data, the G strain is easily communicable than the L and S strains, said Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Ministry's Department of Medical Sciences.

Opas who also plays a key role in Thailand's committee in stemming the COVID-19 spread said the G strain is mostly found among returnees and travelers in state quarantine.

He also said G strain infections are rare in Thailand but warned that the country is still of concern as more illegal migrant workers try to make their way into the Thai soil to find work.

Opas said infection can be avoided if everyone strictly observes basic hygiene requirements by wearing face masks outdoors and washing hands regularly with sanitizer.

Thailand's new local COVID-19 case was a disk-jockey who worked in a pub in Bangkok and was thrown into prison for allegations of drug offense.

After he tested positive for COVID-19, authorities traced all who came in contact with him, and more than 1,000 people tested negative.

Health authorities believed that the infected case caught the virus at one of his workplaces from returnees from abroad.

Cumulative infections in Thailand, to date, are 3,461, with 3,312 recoveries and 91 others are still in the hospital. The death toll remains at 58.