Thailand getting ready 7,000 beds at field hospitals in two airports

BANGKOK: Thailand is preparing 7,000 beds at an unused area in two of its major international airports — Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang — in Bangkok, amid a rapid surge in new Covid-19 infections especially in the capital city.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said Airports of Thailand (AOT) has agreed for the field hospitals to be set up at the unused area within the airports to accommodate more Covid-19 patients.

He said the recently completed satellite terminal at Suvarnabhumi will provide at least 5,000 beds.

“Don Mueang is in the process of preparing warehouse building area to set up a 2,000-bed field hospital for patients with mild symptoms,” he was quoted saying by The Nation.

Over the last 24 hours, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said Thailand recorded 9,539 new Covid-19 cases and 86 deaths on Saturday, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 336,371 and 2,711 fatalities to date.

He said Bangkok, the epicentre of the latest outbreak recorded 2,741 new cases and 39 fatalities. To date, there have been 126 clusters in Bangkok.

Of the 9,539 new cases, he said 9,521 were local transmission of which 2,305 found via active case detection and 18 imported cases.

In the bid to limit the people’s movement, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen Chalermpol Srisawat said the security forces and local administrative officials have been deployed to almost 150 checkpoints at Bangkok and nine provinces under the “maximum and strict controlled area” since Saturday.

He said 88 checkpoints have been set up in the capital and another 20 in another five provinces neighbouring Bangkok, namely Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom and another 39 checkpoints at our other southern provinces — Songkhla , Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

In bid to contain illegal border crossings and stem the spread of Covid-19, Chalermpol said the authorities would place more personnel and equipment along the borders as well as establish stronger collaboration with villagers and local administrative officials.

To halt the rapid surge of Covid-19 in the kingdom, Thailand is set to implement stringent measures to contain the virus starting today.

Late last week, the Thai government announced a curfew across Bangkok and nine other hotspot provinces, which comes into effect on Monday, barring people from venturing out between 9 pm and 4 am. – Bernama