Korat hotels offer space to treat cases

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Two hotel operators in downtown Korat are offering their premises to be used for treating Covid-19 patients in a bid to ease the strain on the hospital system.

On Thursday, Somchai Chatpattanasiri, owner of the Panjadara Hotel and former MP for Nakhon Ratchasima, offered his property in Muang district as a temporary treatment facility.

Mr Somchai offered the use of Panjadara Hotel through his Facebook page, saying the hotel could accommodate up to 500 patients. His offer won immediate praise from netizens.

Meanwhile yesterday, Ratpratheep Keeratiurai, of Sripattana Hotel on Suranaree Road in Muang district, said he was also willing to let the government use his hotel for treating infected people or as a field hospital.

“We have told the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial chamber of commerce that we will cooperate with state authorities. Sripattana Hotel and its 183 rooms will be available for use as a treatment facility for patients,” he said.

Addressing the shortage of beds as the number of cases climbs, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said 1,600 beds in Bangkok are scattered throughout public and private hospitals and medical schools.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insisted that Thailand will have sufficient supplies of the medicine Favipiravir used to treat lung infections.

China has agreed to send 100,000 tablets to the ministry, bringing stocks to 180,000 tablets, he said.