Setting up field hospitals:

Ten field hospitals in Bangkok and surrounding provinces are to be set up to provide 3,000 beds to accommodate the growing number of Covid19 patients, infected as a result of the night entertainment cluster in the capital’s Thong Lor area.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich told a press briefing yesterday that the ministry is speeding up the establishment of the field hospitals on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s orders.

The military is racing against time to having the facilities up and running given the resurgence of the virus which is infecting more people at a faster rate than previously, given that it is thought to be the UK variant of the coronavirus.

The ministry plans to use 10 military areas in Bangkok and nearby provinces to set up over 3,000 beds.

The locations of the hospitals include the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok; the boxing stadium at the Engineering Division in Ratchaburi; the stadium, gym and garage of the Engineering Department in Ratchaburi; three field hospitals in Samut Sakhon; the Disaster Relief Training Centre of the Armed Forces Development Command in Chachoengsao; and the Flying Training School in Nakhon Pathom’s Kamphaeng Saen district.

Air force spokesman AM Thanat Chanamphai, said the flying training school has been converted from a state quarantine facility to a 100-bed field hospital.

Meanwhile, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital in Don Muang district of the capital is testing people for Covid-19 and providing treatment. The directorate of Medical Services said it has not run out of Covid-19 test kits.

Air force commander-in-chief ACM Airbull Suttiwan said he has ordered air force officers to suspend nonessential travel and strictly comply with health checks. Officers who need to travel must record the timeline of their movements.

Army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae has inspected field hospitals in Quartermaster Department in Nonthaburi and 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.