Hotels urged to become temporary 'hospitels' - The Nation



Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi

By THE NATION

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) is inviting its members to become "hospitels" by turning their hotels into temporary hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients, association president Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said on Thursday.

"The move aims to reduce crowdedness at hospitals and promote continuous care for Covid-19 patients after new cases increased rapidly since late March," she said.

The Ministry of Public Health has set the following guidelines for hotels that wish to join the programme:

• Must have more than 30 rooms

• Pass the ASQ (alternative state quarantine) evaluation

• Must have evidence of acknowledgement by surrounding communities

• Must have one nurse for 20 patients, one IC (infection control) nurse, one doctor, one pharmacist, one radiologist and one clinical psychologist

• Must have a digital thermometer and pulse oximeter for each patient, and a portable x-ray

• Can take care of patients who have been hospitalised for 5-7 days and display no progression of symptoms

• Patients must agree to stay at the hotel and can take care of themselves

"Hotels that pass the criteria will be visited by staff from public or private hospitals, such as Phyathai Hospital, Paolo Hospital, BDMS Hospital to provide necessary advice," Marisa added.

Dr Thares Karasnairaviwong, director-general of the Department of Health Services Support, added that currently 23 hotels are registered with the department to take care of Covid-19 patients, with combined capacity of 4,900 beds, while almost 2,000 patients are now being treated at these hotels.