Hospitals under the supervision of the Department of Medical Services in Bangkok still have room to accommodate more COVID-19 patients, as only 22.41% of the beds are currently occupied, said Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the department.

The department’s hospitals are Lerdsin, Rajavithi, Nopparat Rajathanee and the Central Chest Institute of Thailand.

Dr. Thongchai said that COVID-19 infections started to surge after the opening of the new school semester, but most of the patients have mild or no symptoms and can be treated at home.

He said that the number of patients suffering from acute respiratory infections (ARI) arriving at hospitals for treatment has, however, increased, prompting hospitals to provide after-hours services and screening in emergency wards, separate from other patients, adding that telemedicine services are also being provided, so patients need go to a hospital to get medicines.

Currently, 2,527 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals under the Medical Sciences Department, representing a 22.41% occupancy rate.

The in-patients include 240 cases without symptoms (9.7%), 687 cases with mild symptoms (27.8%), 1,146 cases with moderate symptoms (46.3%), 402 cases with severe symptoms (16.2%) and 278 cases who need ventilators (11.2%).

Dr. Thongchai offered an assurance that there are sufficient beds and medical supplies in the department’s hospitals to accommodate more COVID-19 cases and other patients as normal.

On Friday, Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital announced that all its beds are now fully occupied with COVID-19 patients and there are still patients who are waiting to be transferred to other hospitals.