Elderly Covid-19 patients in Thailand can now temporarily isolate at nursing homes

Thai health officials announced yesterday that nursing homes can now be certified as temporary community isolation centres for elderly people who are infected with Covid-19, but are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms. To pass the evaluation, the establishment must have suitable isolation rooms and adequate beds for Covid-19 patients.

The director-general of the Department of Health Service Support, Dr. Thares Krainairawiwong, said the department had updated it’s rules to allow the new measure. He said nursing homes must have separate Covid-19 zones with different entrances and exits.

“All rooms for Covid-19 patients must be properly ventilated or have separate air conditioning, and must be staffed with a different team from personnel providing normal care”.

Dr. Thares said nursing homes should also have teleconference systems while relatives can only be in touch with patients online.

In February, Bangkok was expected to open nine more isolation centres, offering 970 beds for Covid-19 patients. That month, 60% of 180,000 Covid-19 hospital beds across Thailand were occupied. There were 42,044 beds beds for patients in “level 1”, with 89,141 beds occupied. There were 24,456 beds for patients in level 2.1 with severe symptoms, with 5,104 beds occupied.

Centres have equipment to measure patients’ temperature and blood oxygen, bedding sets, shower sets, face masks, hand sanitizers, food, drinks, internet, fans, and CCTV for patients’ safety. Officials said in February that after Covid-19 patients waited for treatment on the street, the Bangkok Emergency Medical Centre or Erawan Centre, which was responsible for the emergency cases, improved their contact channel and services to fix the problems. The hotline was opened for 24 hours and increased from 30 to 100 lines, and more cars were available to pick up emergency patients quicker.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand