While the government is upbeat about its Phuket reopening scheme, health personnel in Bangkok are struggling to deal with a surge of new Covid-19 infections and deaths.

Hospitals are experiencing a shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and staff to take care of patients in serious condition. The Public Health Ministry has mobilised 144 newly-graduated doctors from several provinces to help take care of patients amid the shortage of medical personnel in Bangkok.

"I would like to say sorry [for calling you to come] and thank you for your help," said Thongchai Kiratihatthayakon, deputy permanent secretary for public health, at a welcoming event. "Now, Bangkok and the surrounding provinces are in a real crisis, patients are beginning to die at home.

"We do not want Thailand to be the same as Europe last year when many patients were allowed to die at home because there were no beds at hospitals," he said.

"Now [the outbreak] is not manageable, that's why we want you all."

Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, Vajira Hospital, Thammasat University Hospital, and the field hospital at Mongkutwattana Hospital have shortages of ICU beds for patients with severe symptoms, and they plan to increase the number of beds.

In light of this, more medical personnel are needed to look after patients, Dr Thongchai said.

A record 61 deaths and 6,087 new cases were reported across the kingdom over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said an exodus of workers from closed construction sites in Bangkok has led to an increase in infections in 32 provinces.