Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, called an urgent meeting today, with senior public health officials and administrators at Bangkok’s City Hall, to tackle the lack of hospital beds and to discuss the plan to set up a patient reception and screening (triage) centre, before they are sent to hospital or isolation, as befits their condition.

Anutin admitted that the hospital bed problem in Bangkok is complex. Even though his ministry is not directly responsible for the problem, he said he does not want it to worsen, adding that he has asked the minister of tourism and sports for permission to use the indoor stadium at Hua Mark as a triage centre for COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, the country recorded 2,438 new COVID-19 cases today (Sunday), including 1,078 in Bangkok alone and 11 more fatalities, according to CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin.

Dr. Taweesin said that, of the 11 deaths, eight were working people aged 27-45, while three others were in the 62-70 age group.

Cumulative infections, since April 1^st, are 26,597, including 24,207 who are still being treated in hospitals.  507 cases are severe and 138 of them are on ventilators.

Four other provinces have also recorded high daily infections, among them Chiang Mai, 163 cases, Nonthaburi, 115 cases, Samut Prakan, 77 cases and Cho Buri, 75 cases.

The CCSA spokesman also described as “groundless” a report that a chartered flight, carrying several well-to-do Indian nationals escaping COVID-19 in India, has landed in Thailand.

He explained that Thais living abroad are being encouraged to return home, while foreign arrivals have been suspended.