Another one of the nightmares of this Covid pandemic is finally on the horizon. The fearful prospect of the collapse of the Thai public health system as it faces the same dire conditions as those of Europe and the US last year, or more recently in India, has arrived -- where the number of Covid patients overwhelms the capacity of hospitals and medical staff. Bangkok Post

Home alone info needed

Another one of the nightmares of this Covid pandemic is finally on the horizon. The fearful prospect of the collapse of the Thai public health system as it faces the same dire conditions as those of Europe and the US last year, or more recently in India, has arrived -- where the number of Covid patients overwhelms the capacity of hospitals and medical staff.

Thailand -- the former poster boy for effective Covid management -- is now walking down that perilous path. On Sunday, Covid cases hit a new record high. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) admitted that hospitals in the capital were maxed out, with 500 Covid patients, presumably in critical condition, still waiting in line for a hospital bed. The number on that waiting list continues to mount.

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The Public Health Ministry quickly announced a "home isolation" policy for target patients in the "green" group -- those showing no Covid-19 symptoms and who reside in dark red-zones in Bangkok and its vicinity areas.

Covid patients isolated at home will be monitored via an app downloaded by patients that contains essential details such as the patient's health data and treatment history. The data is relayed by the hospitals where the patients are registered with medical treatment.

In addition, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) will provide support in terms of medical-grade equipment for measuring oxygen levels as well as medicine including Favipiravir -- if the patient develops a mild fever. The NHSO will cover food costs at 1,000 baht per day; food will be delivered to the patient. If the patient's condition becomes worse, they will be referred to a hospital.

The policy, despite coming just in the nick of time, gives society some relief. At the very least, the Ministry of Public Health has a Plan B. Yet the home isolation policy requires more than just financial help and a good app. Efficient home isolation won't work without a well informed and cooperative public. Many Covid patients and relatives are clueless over how to take care of isolated patients at home.

Patients fear infecting family members and being shunned by their neighbours. Meanwhile, community members are afraid of living next door to a Covid patient, as it means possible transmission.

That may explain why many patients, regardless of the severity of their condition, frantically run to trustworthy hospitals, or pay a fortune to get admitted to a private hospital. This pandemic has shown how dysfunctional the state's PR machine can be. Home isolation might sound easy, yet it requires well-informed family and understanding neighbours.

Yet in the last 18 months, there has been no systematic PR campaign on home isolation to train people on how to compartmentalise isolated rooms, serve meals, dispose of infectious waste, prevent transmission and above all, make family and neighbours feel safe with home isolation.

All the public has heard from the state in the last 18 months are daily updates on cases from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Because of the virus' mutation, this pandemic won't be ending soon. If Covid cases in Thailand continue to soar, the government will not have enough resources to take care of Covid patients.

The government needs to prepare for this doomsday scenario. It needs to overhaul its communication system. Without a public that understands exactly what is going on, home isolation and the public health system alike will fail.