139,000 antigen test kits for Phuket to boost tourism

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) provided 139,375 sets of antigen test kits (ATK) for distribution in Phuket to support the tourist promotion drive in the sandboxed island, NHSO Zone 11 deputy director Panida Chantharangsikul said yesterday.

Dr Panida said a total of 800,675 ATK sets were allocated to southern provinces under the jurisdiction of NHSO Zone 11, based in Surat Thani.

Phuket had received the largest share, at 139,375 sets, she said.

Public and private organisations in the province helped distribute the ATKs because they realised it would expedite testing for Covid-19 and help contain the virus, she said.

The provincial health office, hospitals, pharmacies and clinics had participated.

Patong and Vachira Phuket hospitals, in particular, had the staff and equipment that enabled them to distribute the test kits to target groups and patients in home and community isolation, she said. Twenty-seven pharmacies had also taken part. As a result, the test kits had been quickly distributed.

Dr Panida said drug stores also helped in advising people to get ATKs at tambon clinics and from health volunteers in their areas.

The distribution of ATKs had enabled people to test themselves for Covid-19, before entering the treatment process. Without the kits, they would have to go to testing units and centres, she said.

As of 9.05am on Oct 6, a total of 477,798 ATK sets had been distributed to 233,910 people throughout the country, according to the NHSO.

The office said 105,526 of the recipients, about 45%, had reported their test results, with 1,144 being positive.

In Phuket, 42,184 ATK sets had been given to 21,092 people, of whom 69 tested positive and had entered the treatment process.