"Patthana," Minister of Public Health, urges the public not to panic over the spread of the new COVID variant. He points out that there are no signs of increased severity, that monitoring continues, and expresses confidence in managing the situation effectively.,
At 09:25 on 2 June 2026 at the Government House, Mr. Patthana Phromphat, Minister of Public Health, spoke about the COVID-19 situation. He said the variant detected since last week is NB.1.8.1, a mutation from the original strain found in Thailand. Symptoms are similar—cough, sore throat, and fever—with sore throat being more prominent. The Ministry of Public Health is continuously monitoring the situation and urges the public not to panic, emphasizing strict surveillance.
Regarding whether this variant spreads more easily than the original strain, monitoring is ongoing. People with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or cough are advised to wear surgical masks regularly to prevent spreading the virus to others nearby. He emphasized that panic is unnecessary because surveillance is continuous, expressing confidence that the situation is manageable and that control measures remain in place.
When asked if symptoms would be as severe as in previous outbreaks, Mr. Patthana said there are currently no signs indicating increased severity. However, vigilance remains high. The Department of Disease Control has been releasing public information since 24 May. He reiterated that the Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Disease Control are closely monitoring the situation, and at this time, additional vaccines are not necessary.
When asked about the potential for this variant to spread as widely as the Omicron strain, Mr. Patthana said that medical experts should provide those details.
Meanwhile, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, stated that the government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also Minister of Interior, is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. They coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health and relevant agencies to continuously safeguard public health.
The Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, reports that the main circulating COVID-19 variant in Thailand is NB.1.8.1, derived from the JN.1 strain. However, there is no evidence that this variant causes more severe symptoms or unusually rapid spread.
Surveillance data in Thailand shows that although the number of infections tends to rise seasonally, there is no large-scale cluster outbreak. Most patients exhibit mild symptoms, and the healthcare system can adequately handle the situation.
Ms. Lalida urged the public to follow official information closely and not to panic due to rumors or misinformation. She emphasized the importance of maintaining personal hygiene, especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women, known as group 608.
For self-protection, the Ministry of Public Health recommends frequent handwashing, wearing masks in crowded or confined spaces, avoiding close contact with people showing respiratory symptoms, and if experiencing fever, cough, sore throat, or fatigue, to perform an ATK test and rest to prevent spreading the virus to others.
"The government confirms that there are currently no signs the circulating variant is more severe. The public can continue daily activities as usual, provided they take care of their health and follow public health guidelines appropriately," she said.
The public can obtain more information by calling the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422, available 24 hours.