Bang Khunthian gets field hospital

Bang Khunthian gets field hospital

Geriatric facility to house mild cases

Squaring up for good luck: Squares for social distancing are market out on the pavement for devotees who pay respect to the statue of Lord Ganesh outside CentralWorld shopping mall in the capital’s Ratchaprasong area. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
Squaring up for good luck: Squares for social distancing are market out on the pavement for devotees who pay respect to the statue of Lord Ganesh outside CentralWorld shopping mall in the capital’s Ratchaprasong area. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

Following the rise in Covid-19 cases, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is setting up a field hospital in the compound of Bang Khunthian Geriatric Hospital with 500-600 beds to treat infected people.

Located in the Bang Khunthian area on the outskirts of Bangkok, a section of the newly built hospital will be used to accommodate the asymptomatic infected or those with mild symptoms.

City Hall also plans to build three to four more field hospitals to accommodate between 1,500-1,700 patients to support attempts to control the latest outbreak of the virus.

BMA officials are currently looking at locations but have pledged to ensure local communities are consulted and understand why the need exists.

In Pathum Thani, Thammasat University's Rangsit campus will reopen its field hospital to treat Covid-19 patients from the eight provinces of Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Lop Buri, and Saraburi.

The 308-bed facility was first opened in March last year -- the first in Thailand to be set up specifically to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Assoc Prof Gasinee Witoonchart, the rector of Thammasat University, said the field hospital will open for services on Monday to care for Covid-19 patients exhibiting mild symptoms.

Prof Dr Surapon Nitikraipot, the chairman of the hospital's executive board, said the hospital has more than 500 doctors and 2,000 nurses ready to be assigned to the facility and hospitals across the province should the situation worsen.

He said the hospital has procured 22,000 N-95 masks for distribution to hospitals in the province.

Meanwhile, the army has arranged 2,000 beds, bedclothes and blankets to support four field hospitals for Covid-19 patients in Samut Sakhon where four more field hospitals are being set up.

Col Sirichan Ngathong, a deputy army spokeswoman, said these field hospitals are, or will be, located at the Central Shrimp Market, the provincial stadium, Krok Krak temple, Wattana Factory, Nadi municipality, Sutthiwat Wararam temple, Thep Norrarat temple and Tha Sai subdistrict administrative organisation.

Troops have also been dispatched to the province to coordinate the operation and patrol the Central Shrimp Market, which is where the latest outbreak is believed to have originated.

The army has instructed provincial officials to assign troops to all field hospitals to ensure security is strict and establish checkpoints to screen people leaving for other provinces.

The soldiers will take temperatures and look out for any obvious symptoms while monitoring whether drivers and passengers have the necessary permits and paperwork. So far, more than 3,000 vehicles have been stopped and checked, according to Col Sirichan.

She stressed that the troops themselves have been ordered to maintain the highest standards of hygiene while they work.

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