Thailand will turn 15 train cars into places to treat COVID-19 patients

Liputan6.com, Bangkok – Thailand decided to immediately change 15 unused train carriages in Bangkok as an emergency ward to treat patients COVID-19 mild-to-moderate symptoms, officials said following a spike in cases and a slow vaccination programme.

The plan comes as Thailand’s healthcare system struggles to keep up with a constant rise in infections, running out of hospital beds for those who need them most.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said there was still a lot of work to be done to get the trains ready as COVID-19 treatment wards. Mashable Asia, Sunday (1/8/2021).

“Several modifications still need to be made such as removing the top bunk beds, installing window nets, as well as water and electricity systems,” the BMA said in a statement.

“More toilets and showers will be built outside the carriages.”

One might question why using old train carriages is necessary. But it makes sense when you look at Thailand’s COVID-19 figures. For example, on July 27 alone, the country recorded 14,150 new cases and 118 deaths. This brings the national total to 526,828 cases and 4,264 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

And with the introduction varian Delta which is highly contagious, cases will only increase unless more stringent measures are put in place to reduce its spread.

But before that can happen, hospitals treating COVID-19 patients must find a way to get freer isolation beds.

It was in that situation that the train carriage was planned as a maintenance ward COVID-19 started to be considered.

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