Almost 100,000 people in Bangkok have entered home isolation, while 20% of the COVID-19 tests conducted in Bangkok, using Antigen Test Kits (ATK), have returned positive results, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today (Thursday). 

Home and community isolation programs are designed for infected people who are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms, as hospitals in Bangkok and many parts of the country are experiencing bed shortages.

In Bangkok, there are currently 232 centres connecting patients in home isolation with medics to watch over them. 64 community isolation facilities have also been established and operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), with a combined capacity of 6,958 beds. 43% or 3,015 beds are already occupied, according to CCSA Assistant Spokesperson Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan.

She added that in addition to the community isolation facilities, there are over 100 similar facilities operated by civil societies and communities, as she urged their mangers to register with their respective district offices, so officials can manage infected waste and hygiene.

Two more hotels are to be converted in “hospitels” for COVID-19 patients this month, which will increase the number of rooms to 1,000, she said, adding that about 2,500 beds in “hospitels” operated by private hospitals are now 98% occupied.

20% of people taking the ATK tests in Bangkok since July 20^th were also found to be infected, said Dr. Apisamai. People who need to be tested include those whose temperatures are 37.3^oC and over, patients with respiratory problems, those who have been in close contact with confirmed cases, those who have visited high risk places, such as markets, communities and factories, and those whose occupations require contact with a lot of people.

Eight new clusters have also been found in Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Samut Sakhon, Ayutthaya and Phuket. 

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of public health Dr. Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, said today that 94,664 infected migrant workers, who used to work in Bangkok, have returned to their home provinces for treatment. Some had notified their destination hospitals in advance, so they were admitted on arrival, while others chose to self-isolate in hotels, he said.

Dr. Thongchai pleaded with those wanting to return to their home provinces to notify their destination contacts in advance, so health officials can assess their condition and put them in the right category, so that they can be admitted to the appropriate facilities to help contain the spread of the disease.