Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) has opened another facility to provide free COVID-19 testing, with Rapid Antigen Test kits, for members of the public, to ease the workload on the two existing testing centres, NHSO Secretary-General Dr. Jadet Thammathat-Aree said today (Thursday).
He said that the new facility, which opens from today until July 21st, from 9am to 4pm, is located at the Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment, or the Thanyarak Institute, on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road – Rangsit highway in Pathum Thani province, and will have the capacity to test 5,000 walk-ins each day without charge.
The free COVID-19 testing service is the result of a joint effort by the NHSO, the Thanyarak Institute and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Those who want to get tested are required to show their ID cards to officials at the facility.
Dr. Jadet said that, if anyone tests positive for the disease, NHSO officials will arrange for them to enter home or community isolation.
Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima hospital’s director, Dr. Kriangsak Watcharakoonkiat, said that the hospital would send 10 medics, including a doctor, to help in providing the testing service.
The three existing testing facilities, at Thupatemi Stadium in Don Mueang area, the Rajamangala Stadium in Hua Mark and the government complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, jointly operated by the NHSO, the Urban Institute for Disease Prevention and Control and the Faculty of Medical Technology of Mahidol University, have been packed every day, as the number of people showing up exceeds the daily limit of 3,000 tests.
Meanwhile, the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) has announced that anyone living in the ten maximum control and restricted “Dark Red” provinces can subscribe for Sinopharm vaccinations this Sunday, from 8am, through the CRA SINOP app, instead of today as originally planned.
CRA Secretary-General Dr. Nithi Mahanonda apologised for the sudden postponement, due to technical difficulties, saying that bookings will open on Sunday and only 40,000 will be accepted.
The charge for the vaccination service is 888 baht per dose, as the CRA imported the vaccine from China with its own money, to offer an alternative for the public while the country is experiencing a shortage of vaccines.
