Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai is running short of ambulances, to bring those with COVID-19 to the field hospital,which was recently set up at the international trade exhibition centre, as the number of new infections surges.
According to the provincial health office, 186 new cases were recorded today (Saturday), raising the total to 450 in just 48 hours. The field hospital can currently only accommodate 240 patients, split between male and female.
Workers are racing against time to increase the number of beds to 500, and then 1,000, if there are more infections.
The provincial health office is now appealing to the public for donations of bottled drinking water, garbage bins and bags, sanitation paper, beds and mattress for use in the field hospital.
It is reported that several infected patients were seen arriving at the field hospital in their own cars, while others arrived on public transport, carrying luggage containing personal effects for use during their 14-day quarantine.
Some people have expressed concern that using public transportmay contribute to the further spread of the disease.
