The Public Health Ministry yesterday is asking patients to inform hospitals more clearly whether they are in a group of people exposed to the coronavirus so medical staff can better protect themselves, after two more doctors were among 107 new Covid-19 patients yesterday.
The total takes the number of infected doctors and nurses to six and has forced a quarantine of 25 medical staff.
Their illness and the 14-days self-isolation needed will have an impact on medical manpower amid concerns over Thailand's limited resources to cope with the viral disease if the number of new infections continue to rise.
As of yesterday the number of patients in Thailand stood at 934.
"One doctor can treat hundreds of people, but when the doctor becomes ill, he or she must be quarantined," Public Health Ministry spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said. The two doctors-turned patients treated a patient without knowing her husband is in a risk group. That information was revealed only later, Dr Taweesin said.
The doctors developed only mild symptoms, so "they continued to work, performed operations, had lunch with other people", he said, adding this caused 25 medical staff to be put under quarantine. Among the 107 new cases reported yesterday is a group of 13, made up of the two doctors and others including six returnees and foreigners -- from Britain, France and Germany -- as well as five who were in crowded places or working with foreigners, including a cashier, according to the Public Health Ministry.