Thailand steps up home isolation as COVID-19 cases strain hospitals

BANGKOK: Thailand will increase the number of people required to isolate at home with COVID-19 to 100,000, health officials said on Monday (Aug 2), as capacity in healthcare facilities dwindles amid a surge in cases driven by the Delta variant of the virus.

Earlier in the pandemic, all COVID-19 patients in Thailand were admitted to hospitals, but last month authorities introduced home isolation for more than 30,000 people with minor or no symptoms for Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

“There are currently 60,000 patients in home isolation and we expect to expand that capacity to 100,000,” health official Natthapong Wongwiwat told a news briefing.

Patients isolating at home will receive medical equipment, medicine, meals, and phone consultations with doctors, he said.

“If their conditions worsen, they will be transferred to a field hospital or hospital,” he said.