Thailand finds first local cases of South African Covid-19 variant, scientists say

Myanmar migrant worker Chit Kaung, 21, looks from his room as he has been stuck for 12 days due to lockdown measures after more than a thousand Covid-19 cases were detected in his workers' dormitory in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday May 22, 2021. - Reuters

BANGKOK, May 22 (Reuters): Thailand has detected the first local cases of the coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa, a group of scientists said on Saturday, saying the finding should prompt vaccination efforts to be ramped up.

The South African variant, known as B.1.351, carries mutations that threaten the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, several studies have shown.