RATCHABURI: About 20 people, led by a Palang Pracharath MP, turned up at the City Office on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to a proposed field hospital for Covid-19 patients at a military camp in Muang district.
They were motivated by Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha's announcement during a television interview on Monday that preparations were under way for a field hospital at Fort Bhanurangsi military camp in Muang district, Ratchaburi.
He said it would treat people infected with the new coronavirus.
Kulwadee Nop-amornbodi, a PPRP MP for Ratchaburi, led a group of supporters to the City Office on Tuesday to ask governor Ronnapop Luangpairote about the hospital plan.
They carried a white cloth banner spraypainted with a message in black opposing the plan.
Prakorb Sapyodkaew, chairman of the shrimp farmers association of Bang Phae district, said it would be unfair to local residents if people infected with Covid-19 were brought from elsewhere to be treated in Ratchaburi.
"The Fort Bhanurangsi camp is in the heart of the town, and we don't believe government authorities would be able to prevent the virus spreading out of the camp," Mr Prakorb said.
Wantewin Sawetthanapokin, a Muang district resident, said Mr Sathit should first ask the people of Ratchaburi if they agreed with the idea. Infected patients should instead be taken to Rayong, he said. Rayong is the deputy health minister's home province.
The provincial governor personally accepted the group's petition letter, which was addressed to the prime minister.
He said the first he heard about the field hospital proposal was from a television channel on Monday night. He had not been consulted about it.
The governor said he would ask the military for more information.