Field hospitals in Bangkok admitted 2,611 COVID-infected patients over the first 14 days of the New Year as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha repeated his appeal to the public to comply strictly with universal infection prevention measures, Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said today (Saturday)
Even though the Omicron variant may not cause severe symptoms in most cases, including in children and the elderly, he said the prime minister remains concerned over its rapid rate of transmission.
To cope with the Omicron outbreaks, Thanakorn said the Defence Ministry, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Ministry of Higher Education Science, Research and Innovations have opened 118 field hospitals, which can accommodate a total of 24,646 COVID-19 patients.
Additionally, there are 11 community isolation facilities, containing 2,951 beds, operated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations.
According to the Public Health Ministry’s protocols, asymptomatic and mild cases, who represent about 90% of COVID-19 infections, will remain at home or in community isolation facilities. Field hospitals are meant for those with moderate symptoms, while general hospitals are reserved forsevere cases.
Thanakorn claimed that the COVID-19 infection rate remains under control.
7,793 new cases were recorded nationally in the past 24 hours, including 270 cases among arrivals from abroad and 7,523 locally-acquired infections. The death toll was 18.
Between February 28th last year and this January 13th, 109,089,753 doses of vaccines were administered throughout Thailand. 51,695,957 people have received first doses,47,360,883 have received two doses, 9,479,827 have received three and 553,086 have received four doses.
