Omicron to quadruple Thai COVID numbers in best case

Health ministry forecast says up to 30,000 daily infections possible

Foreign travelers arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on Nov. 1: The Thai health ministry's latest COVID projections highlight risks to the country's tourism industry. © Getty Images

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

December 28, 2021 16:40 JST

BANGKOK -- The Thai government predicted the highly infectious omicron variant of COVID-19 would at least quadruple the kingdom's daily confirmed cases by late January, making a quick recovery of the country's vital tourism industry unlikely.

The Ministry of Public Health came up with three scenarios for omicron outbreaks in Thailand on Monday. In the best case, Thailand would see 10,000 cases per day, with 60 to 70 fatalities, by late January.