Thammasat to open first virus field hospital

Thammasat University Hospital has set aside a part of its premises as a field hospital to treat Covid-19 patients, as the number of confirmed cases is expected to rise sharply in the coming weeks.

The 308-bed facility — the first in Thailand to be set up specifically to deal with the coronavirus pandemic — will open tomorrow, said the chairman of the hospital’s executive board, Surapol Nitikraipoj.

The new facility is intended to increase the amount of beds available to treat Covid-19 cases, as there are not enough beds in Siriraj, Chulalongkorn Memorial, Ramathibodi and Vajira hospitals.

Mr Surapol said the first 10 patients to be admitted to the field hospital will be transferred from Ramathibodi Hospital tomorrow.

Thammasat University rector, Gasinee Witoonchart, said the university will provide all of the necessary resources to support the government’s attempts to control the virus outbreak.

The director of Thammasat University Hospital, Paruhas Tor-Udom, also said the hospital is ready to accommodate and treat Covid-19 patients.

Dr Paruhas said the number of coronavirus patients could surge this week as thousands of migrant workers affected by the partial shutdown of Bangkok and its surrounding provinces headed home over the weekend.

Ronnapob Patthamadit, an assistant of the minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, said both state-run and private hospitals have agreed to collaborate on an unprecedented scale to fight the spread of coronavirus.

The government is also giving all the support it can offer to the efforts, he said.

On a related note, Thammasat University’s vice rector, Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, said the university has announced measures to assist lowincome workers and food vendors on its campuses, which have been closed down in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

The measures include a 50% discount on rent for food stalls, both at the university-run main canteen and privately-run cafeterias, on its campus.

It has also announced that it won’t lay off workers, including cleaners and security guards during the ongoing crisis.