PM visits Bangkok’s 4th field hospital as Covid spreads
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha oversaw the preparations at Bangkok’s fourth field hospital on Wednesday as Thailand battles its third wave of Covid-19.
The Erawan 2 field hospital is housed at the Bangkok Arena in Nong Chok district.
Joining Prayut at the opening were Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The prime minister also appointed government agencies to provide disease-control services such as hotlines, transportation and vaccine administration.
The Erawan 2 field hospital was built to cope with the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. The field hospital can accommodate 400 asymptomatic patients – 180 men and 220 women.
Its services include meals, wireless internet, CCTV cameras and security guards to ensure safety. Patients will be informed of the rules before they enter the field hospital.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is implementing three plans to combat the rising Covid-19 caseload: Boosting capacity at Bangkok hospitals, modifying hotels to become "hospitels" for asymptomatic patients, and launching field hospitals.
As of Wednesday, the total number of beds in Bangkok's four field hospitals was 1,700, of which 723 beds were occupied:
Bang Khun Thian Geriatric Hospital: 449 beds
Ratchapipat Hospital: 185
Erawan 1 (84th Anniversary Stadium, Bang Bon): 89
Erawan 2 (Bangkok Arena, Nong Chok): 0
(Erawan 2 currently has no patients but will begin admitting cases once disease investigations have been completed.)
A total of 977 beds were still available.