A second field hospital, to accommodate COVID-19 patients from Bangkok’s Khlong Toey slum area, is being planned, with an old building next to the Port Authority head office as the first choice of location. After conversion, the former warehouse would be able to accommodate 200 patients.

Being an old structure, however, the warehouse may not be suitable, due to the level of dust and poor ventilation, so Saphan Temple, in Phra Khanong district, adjacent to Khlong Toey, which can accommodate an additional 200 patients, is the backup location.

The first 200 bed community isolation facility in Khlong Toey district was opened there last Friday, to separate those infected with COVID-19 from others in their crowded community, before being transferred to hospital.

The plans for the field hospital came after the Ministry of Interior sent an urgent letter to the Port Authority of Thailand, regarding the use of their warehouse.

The Director of the Port Authority, Sub-Lieutenant Kamolsak Phromprayoon said they will discuss the setting up of field hospitals with the Ministries of Transport, Interior, Public Health and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.