Thailand’s Medical Services Department has issued a set of guidelines to deal with COVID-19 Omicron variant cases, to ensure the infected are provided with safe and timely treatment. The department has divided Omicron cases into asymptomatic, probable cases and mild cases, who can be isolated at home or in community facilities, and the severe cases who need to be hospitalised.
Symptoms of infection by the Omicron variant cases are not much different from those by other variants. Most patients develop symptoms related to infection of the upper respiratory tract, such as fever, sore throat and coughing, with a mild lung infection in some cases. These patients will be given anti-viral Favipiravir tablets and, after three days, they will begin to feel better and subsequently recover.
According to the department’s protocol, asymptomatic, probable cases or mild cases, who are not at risk of other associated diseases and with normal lungs, will be isolated at home or at facilities designated by the state.
Cases who are found with pneumonia or a blood oxygen level of less than 94% will be hospitalised. Those with a respiratory rate higher than 25 breaths per minute, have fever over 39oC or have underlying conditions will require close monitoring.
