A TOT phone booth transformed into a makeshift COVID box for testing. The kiosk wards off the infection risk among healthcare workers. (Source: bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) of Thailand is turning the TOT Public Company’s phone booths into coronavirus test kiosks to ward off infection risks among health care workers and address the shortage of personal protective equipment.
TOY Senior Executive Vice-President Morakot Thienmontree said that the first batch of 50 booths, called "COVID Boxes", are expected to be built this month and deployed at selected hospitals in line with necessity.
Two circular holes will be drilled on the side of the cubicle so health workers can put their hands out to collect samples from patients.
The cubicle's interior is fitted with a positive pressure fan with a filter to prevent aerosol from entering the compartment, which is also equipped with illumination.
During each round of examination, health staffers have to wear protective clothes and a mask inside the cubicle and insert their hands into plastic gloves to collect samples from patients outside the box. They need to change their gloves after each examination.
The development of each box costs less than 1,000 THB (30 USD), he said.
TOT was assigned to make 200 COVID Boxes from telephone booths as an initial target to support hospitals in need.
Morakot said his company has thousands of phone booths stored at the state enterprise's headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road as well as other branches, including provincial offices. It will select booths that are in good condition for the project. They will be cleaned until they are ready for modification.
Thailand has to date recorded 2,613 infections, including 41 deaths./.
VNA
