Hospitals hit pause on Covid test
After a surge in of Covid-19 cases came crashing in Thailand earlier this week, people have been swarming hospitals for coronavirus tests.
Today, private hospitals in Bangkok announced one after another that they will be hitting pause on their Covid-19 tests as their beds are quickly filling up.
More Covid-19 news:
- New Covid regulations in BKK & other provinces
- Covid-19 cases in Thailand increase by 327
- Return of alcohol sales pause and closing of venues at 9PM
- Thai virologist warns of another Covid-19 surge
Self quarantine
Covid has once again attacked Thailand – spreading to over 37 provinces and having the number of confirmed cases reaching as high as 405 on 8th April, and up to 559 cases today according to Matichon and The Thaiger.
With that said, people have been continuously filling one hospital bed after another in the name of Covid-19 testing. On 9th April, over ten private hospitals came out to announce their temporary unavailability of Covid-19 tests as their hospitals are overflowing with patients. The hospitals include Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Chaophya Hospital, Phyathai 1 Hospital, Phyathai 2 Hospital, Sukhumvit Hospital, Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, MedPark Hospital, Petcharavej Hospital, Piyavate Hospital, and Paolo Hospital Kaset.
Image credit: Matichon
Prof. Dr. Teerawat Hemajuda from Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre and Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has also come out on Facebook suggesting people to quarantine themselves for 14 days if they have been to places of risk.
Other safety instructions such as keeping away from others, wearing masks, and washing your hands often were also given with the doctor’s reassurance that the virus can go away on its own although it is still important to take precautions.
Any people with serious symptoms can still visit the hospital for treatment, however, the hospital labs are unfortunately unavailable for the time being.
When one door closes, another (hopefully) will open
Just as Thailand steps into a post-Covid world, Covid-19 pulls it back from the door. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t find another one – the day will come.
Some good news to lighten it up:
- Thai govt announces an app for Covid vaccination registration
- 7-day quarantine confirmed for international visitors
- Phuket expats can register for Covid vaccinations
Cover images adapted from: Traveloka (Left), Matichon (Right)
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