ASAJAYA: Stay calm and don’t panic following the discovery of the new Omicron XE variant in neighbouring Thailand on April 5.
The advice to people in Sarawak came from Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who said the people would be informed accordingly if the virus was detected in the country.
“The COVID-19 virus would always mutated. At the moment, I don’t think the XE variant is deadly considering that Thailand has not closed their doors yet.
“So I believe entry to that country is still open,” he said after completing the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (PEMADAM) Sarawak lambuk porridge presentation ceremony at SMK Hajah Laila Taib, Jalan Kampung Tambirat, here on Wednesday (Apr 6).
He advised the people not to be worried as tourists were still welcome to that country.
For the record, Thailand reported the first Omicron XE case, a combination of two versions of the previous Omicron variant BA.1 and BA.2, shortly after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned of the sub-variant.
The XE variant was initially reported by the Medical Genomics Centre, Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok.
