Samut Sakhon governor Verasak Vichitsangsri is making a fine recovery from Covid-19 and his lung capacity is almost back to normal, according to Prasit Watanapa, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital.
Mr Verasak was confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 on Dec 27, about a week after his province saw a spike in cases, mostly among migrant workers.
"His latest lung X-ray shows an improvement of 80-90% from the first one, which was white because his lungs were filled [with fluid]. Now his lungs are nearly back to normal," Dr Prasit said, adding he was satisfied with the governor's blood-oxygen level.
Mr Verasak no longer requires antibiotics and his regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs has been reduced, the doctor said, explaining that the drugs were being fed to him orally through a tube.
His reliance on sleeping pills has also reduced, Dr Prasit said, as has his dependence on a ventilator, but he would eventually need to undergo physical therapy to rehabilitate his muscles.
The governor still cannot talk because he still needs suction tubes and is not yet able to cough up mucus on his own, Dr Prasit said. He did not say how long the governor, whose province has been hit hard by the pandemic, would have to stay in hospital.