Delta Plus COVID variant may be 15% more transmissible than Delta strain, experts say

23 Sept 06:42 Key points summarised by AI

Preliminary studies indicate the Delta Plus variant, a mutation of the Delta strain, could be 15% more transmissible, contributing to a rise in COVID-19 infections, particularly in the United Kingdom.
Despite its spread, Delta Plus is still categorized as a "Variant under Investigation" (VUI) due to insufficient data regarding its potential to cause severe sickness or evade vaccines.
Thailand detected its first Delta Plus case (AY.1 strain), prompting health officials to advise increased caution and sustained vigilance against the virus's ongoing mutation capabilities.
The recent surge in UK COVID-19 cases is attributed to multiple variants and relaxed restrictions, with Delta Plus (AY.4.2) showing similar hospitalization and fatality rates to the original Delta variant.

Uthenthawai students and alumni declare truce with Pathumwan rivals

Yesterday 20:34 Key points summarised by AI

Uthenthawai students and alumni have pledged to cease violent clashes with Pathumwan Institute rivals, coinciding with their campus's reopening after a 90-day closure.
The Minister of Higher Education is mediating the long-running conflict, while the campus closure has significantly disrupted in-person classes and laboratory work for over 1,000 students.
Uthenthawai resists relocation from its current site, citing a historical land grant from King Rama VI, despite Chulalongkorn University's plans to reclaim the land for an educational hub.
Concerns are mounting over the legality of the campus closure, its detrimental impact on uninvolved students, and the potential commercial development of the land, which critics argue contradicts the late King Rama VI's intentions.