How Did a Thai Couple Become 'Super Spreaders' Infecting 250 People with Omicron?

Couple Returning via Quarantine-Free Entry
Visited 3 Bars, Infected 248 People

Citizens in Bangkok undergoing COVID-19 testing.
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 rapidly spreads in Thailand, a couple returning to Thailand from abroad has been identified as a 'super spreader' who transmitted the Omicron variant to about 250 people.

According to local media such as the daily Bangkok Post on the 30th, Thai health authorities announced that the number of confirmed Omicron variant cases in the country has increased to 740, and 248 infections were traced back to the couple who returned from Belgium.

The couple entered Thailand on the 10th using the quarantine-free entry system. Although they tested negative upon arrival, they were later confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant.

Unaware of their Omicron infection after arrival, the couple visited three bars in Kalasin Province in the northern region.

According to the Department of Disease Control, one of the bars visited by the couple failed to properly comply with quarantine measures, operating until midnight while admitting many customers.

Opat Kankawinpong, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, said, "The super spreader event originated at this bar and led to cluster infections in 12 provinces in the northeastern and northern regions," adding, "This serves as a reminder to citizens to choose restaurants that are less crowded during the year-end and New Year period and have well-equipped indoor ventilation systems."

In this regard, local media reported that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration issued an administrative order extending the suspension of operations for entertainment venues such as bars and karaoke until January 15 next year.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, as of the previous day (29th), 740 confirmed Omicron cases were reported in 33 out of 77 provinces, with Bangkok having the highest number at 277.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.