The first community isolation facility in Bangkok is scheduled to open tomorrow (Friday), with the goal of separating those infected with COVID-19 from their crowded community, before they go to hospital.

The pilot project is a joint effort by the Office of National Health Committee (ONHC), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and health networks. The facility is located in the grounds of Saphan Temple, in Phra Khanong district, which is adjacent to Khlong Toey, the largest slum in Bangkok.

Dr. Prateep Thanakitcharoen, secretary-general of the ONHC, said today that the project is a model of community-based management, for the prevention and control of diseases by community committee, with the support of the public and private sectors.

The facility will accommodate those infected with COVID-19,who will be separated from their families and communities, to prevent the spread of the disease. They will be given proper care while they are waiting to be taken to a general or a field hospital, said Dr. Prateep.

925 people in Khlong Toey slum were tested yesterday and 50 of them tested positive for the virus.