Health ministry stockpiles medication in anticipation of Covid-19 surge

Thailand’s health ministry has stocked up on Covid-19 treatment, in anticipation of a surge in infections following the Songkran holiday. Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul says hospitals are also standing by to treat at-risk patients, while those who are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms can be treated at home.

The Bangkok Post reports that around 110 million favipiravir pills have been distributed to hospitals around the country and the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation also plans to distribute 45,000 courses of Pfizer’s Paxlovid antiviral treatment.

Yesterday, Thailand reported 16,994 and 124 Covid-related deaths. However, the case numbers do not include 8,276 positive results from antigen testing, which brings the country’s total yesterday to 25,270.

In related news, the National Health Security Office has called on people in high-risk categories to avail of free antigen test kits. Jadej Thammatacharee from the NSHO says his office has teamed up with organisations including the Krungthai Bank, the Pharmacy Council, and others, to introduce Covid-19 screening sites and allow people to register for 2 free antigen test kits, which are available from 2,000 locations, including participating pharmacies and health clinics.

According to Jadej, around 3.38 million kits have been distributed to 1.28 million high-risk people in phase 2 of the campaign, which kicked off last month. Of the 627,611 results reported, 31,156 tested positive for the virus.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post