The Delta variant now accounts for 95.4% of new COVID-19 infections in Bangkok and has spread to 76 out of Thailand’s 77 provinces, said Director-General of Medical Sciences Department Dr. Supakit Sirilak today (Tuesday).

He cited random tests on 1,632 new COVID-19 cases across the country, which show that 91.9% of them, or 1,499 cases, are of the Delta variant, which was first identified in India, and has now become the dominant strain in many parts of the world.

He said, in other provinces, the Delta strain accounts for 83.2% of all new infections, 16% are the Alpha variant and 0.8% the Beta strain, found only in Thailand’s southern provinces, with three new cases in Phuket and one in Phatthalung.

Only the central province of Suphan Buri has not yet seen a Delta infection, said Dr. Supakit, adding that this does not mean that the province is free of the dangerous variant.

As daily infections are increasing steadily, to an average of 20,000 new cases a day, he urged members of the public to observe strict safety measures by wearing face masks all the time when they are outdoors, maintaining social distancing and avoiding high-risk activities.

Dr. Supakit also advised the public not to seek antibody tests, noting that the tests are unnecessary and a waste of money, because a high level of antibodies does not mean one is protected against infection by new variants.