Thailand develops COVID boxes to protect health workers
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.
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./.
You should also see
InfographicADB maintains 2024 economic growth forecast for Vietnam
In its April 2024 Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has maintained its earlier forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth this year, despite ongoing uncertainties from the external environment. Vietnam’s economy is expected to achieve a growth rate of 6.0% in 2024 and 6.2% in 2025.
See more
World
ASEAN foreign ministers call for end to Myanmar violence
ASEAN foreign ministers on April 19 issued a statement calling on all parties to immediately cease violence and exercise maximum restraint in the border areas of Myanmar.
World
Indonesia’s Mount Ruang continues to emit ash
After a series of eruptions earlier this week that forced thousands to evacuate, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, continued to emit ash on April 19 afternoon.
World
Thailand gives financial support to Laos for road maintenance
The Thai cabinet has approved 1.8 billion THB (about 48.8 million USD) in financial assistance for the Lao Government to maintain and improve Highway R12, shortening the travel time from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province, through Laos, to the Vietnamese border in central Quang Binh province.
World
Indonesia develops sustainable tourism
Indonesia has been working to realise its goal of building a quality, sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism industry.
World
Vietnam to have many opportunities from digitalisation, green transformation: IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted that Vietnam will have many opportunities from digitalisation and green transformation, according to IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan.
