Spraying disinfectant to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Bangkok (Photo:VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Military hospitals and field hospitals run by themilitary of Thailand have been told to prepare to take in Covid-19 patients asthe number of infections in Thailand continues to rise, local media reported.
Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said on March 29 that PrimeMinister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the armed forces toopen up their hospitals to help stave off a shortage of beds for coronaviruspatients.
As such, all military-run hospitals will admit Covid-19 patients if state-runhealthcare facilities run out of beds, Lt Gen Kongcheep said was quoted assaying by the English-language Bangkok Post newspaper.
Military personnel are alsoassisting public health authorities organise health checks for Thai expats whohad recently arrived from abroad at airports, seaports and land bordercheckpoints across the country, he said.
In an effort to curb local transmission, soldiers have been ordered to takepart in a routine cleaning campaign to reduce the risk of contracting the virusat public areas across the country. Military personnel are also producingwashable, fabric face masks, which are distributed to communities where masksare in short supply.
Meanwhile,Chulalongkorn University’s Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre debuted aCovid-19 strip test on March 29 to ease the workload of the country'soverworked medical personnel.
Centre chief Narin Hiransuthikul said the team at the university's Faculty ofPharmaceutical Sciences has conducted more than 100 trials of the test, whichhas a 95 percent accuracy.
He said there are currently enough strips to test 50 university employees and50 members of the public each day. Those wishing to register must registeronline.
Thailand recorded 136 new infection cases and two deaths on March 30, raisingthe total number of Covid-19 cases to 1,524 and and death toll to./.
VNA
