Almost all the 4,000 beds in field hospitals across Pattani are now occupied due to a spike in Covid-19 infections, the provincial Public Health Office says.
Dr Anurak Saraphap, head of the Pattani Provincial Public Health Office, said on Wednesday that with nearly all beds occupied, the office needs to find at least 10,000 beds for community isolation treatment.
He had asked the Pattani provincial disease control committee to impose tighter restrictions in restaurants, markets, mosques and cafes to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 in the province. On Sunday, daily new cases in Pattani hit 566, a new high, bringing the accumulated number of infections to 26,692 with 327 deaths, he said.
Muang district was the worst hit with 1,264 active cases. It needs to reopen several closed field hospitals to treat the ill, Dr Anurak said.
He said Pattani Hospital was struggling to handle an increasing number of Covid-19 patients over the past week. The hospital was short of medical personnel, due to some being infected with Covid-19, which was placing extra strain on those still working.
Some surgical operations are unable to be carried out at the hospital due to the staff shortage forcing some patients to be transferred to Somdejprayuparach Hospital in Sai Buri district.
In Songkhla, the provincial Public Health Office reported 475 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, taking the accumulated total to 36,313. No deaths were reported on Wednesday. Currently, the province has 6,340 active cases.
According to active case findings, most patients have been detected in Hat Yai, Chana, Muang, Singha Nakhon, Saba Yoi, Rattaphum and Thepa districts. Daily new cases between Oct 6-12, have been consistently high at between 400-600.
The surge is expected to continue for the next two weeks as more than 50% of the province’s residents have yet to be vaccinated, the health office said, adding that 90% of patients being treated were not vaccinated.
Meanwhile, Surapol Kampalanonwat, chairman of the Tourists Business Federation of Songkhla, said the Hat Yai Sandbox tourism reopening programme will be launched in the next few days to welcome back tourists. Many shops in the district were joining the programme.
Songkhla governor, Jessada Jitra, said the province will seek 250,000 additional vaccine doses and 170,000 ATK sets. More testing, home isolation and community isolation treatment will also be arranged, he said.
Source: Bang