Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has instructed all provincial administrations to prepare for the setting up of field hospitals in the worst case scenario, where hospitals become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, said CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin today.
Citing China’s ability to build a huge field hospital in Wuhan in just a week, last year, he said he does not want to see sick patients being left on the roadside in Thailand, because hospitals could not accept any more.
Dr. Taweesin cited the case of Samut Sakhon province, which took the lead in erecting two field hospitals, while those in another province protested against a field hospital to accommodate infected Myanmar migrant workers from Samut Sakhon.
He said that, despite the protest, there is the good example of the mayor of a sub-district administration in Samut Sakhon who agreed to allow his farm to be used as a field hospital.
Dr. Taweesin said he plans to visit the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Muk Dahan, Amnat Charoen, Yasothon and Si Sa Ket to inspect potential locations for field hospitals.
Ratchaburi Provincial Governor Ronnapob Luangpairote announced today that the province will not allow a field hospital to be set up to accommodate infected Myanmar migrant workers from Samut Sakhon.
A small group of people in Muang district, led by an MP for the province, protested a few days ago against the planned hospital, to be set up inside the Burachat barracks.
Colonel Chainarong Supaphan, commander of the Engineering Battalion, also opened the barracks to the protesters and the media to assure that no such facility is built in the camp.
There are 20 infections in Ratchaburi, including 11 still in hospitals and nine who have recovered.
