Bangkok, 03 April, 2020, at 10.00 Hrs. – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide the latest update that some 132 hotels with 16,000 rooms nationwide have applied to be converted into field hospitals or ‘hospitel’ to care for mild-symptom Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, its joint effort with the Thai Hotels Association (THA) will see about 16,000 rooms nationwide converted into hospitels to accommodate mild-symptom COVID-19 patients or people requiring to quarantine; such as, returnees from COVID-19 affected areas or patients discharged from a hospital who need to self-quarantine for 14 days. All rooms are expected to be ready for use within this month.
The criteria for hotels to be converted into field hospitals covers five areas: safe building structure with isolated air conditioners; well-trained staff on health measures; equipped with essential medical equipment; preparedness on medical supplies and protective equipment, and has a community-friendly environment and a waste management system.
Of the total 132 hotels with 16,000 rooms, there are 85 hotels with 10,700 rooms that meet these criteria in Bangkok, 15 hotels in Chon Buri, eight in Nakhon Ratchasima, and six in Chiang Mai.
So far, two pilot hotels have passed the criteria to be used as field hospitals, including the 270-room Princeton Bangkok Hotel and the 439-room Palazzo Bangkok Hotel. The Princeton Bangkok Hotel currently accommodates about 50 patients.
The criteria for patients to be assigned to a ‘hospitel’ includes having been treated in a main hospital for not less than seven days, has chest x-ray results, willing to cooperate, ability to communicate, ability for self-care, no mental risks, no chronic conditions, and has medication as prescribed by the main hospital. In addition, the main hospital must be willing to re-admit the patient should his/her symptoms change.
There will be a team of 3-5 medical personnel stationed at the designated field hospital per 100 patients, and each room must be equipped with at least two kinds of basic medical equipment – digital thermometer and fingertip pulse oximeter.
The patients must remain in the hospitel for at least 14 days after the date of their discharge from the main hospital. After leaving the hospitel, they must also self-quarantine at home for another 14 days to ensure there is no further transmission.
The Ministry of Public Health will pair the approved hotels with main hospitals that are located within close proximity. It urges the public for understanding not to shun hotels in the programme and to trust its health measures to maintain a clean and safe environment for all.
Interested hotels can apply for the programme via www.hss.moph.go.th or for more information, call +66 (0) 2193 7024, 7059, 7097 during normal business hours.