Officials in Thailand on Wednesday began building a Covid-19 treatment center on the grounds of an international airport as the country grapples with a prolonged surge in infections. The Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok plans to turn a cargo warehouse into a 1,800-bed facility that is expected to open Aug. 12. The facility will treat asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms, and is a joint effort by a private hospital, the government and volunteers. The warehouse “hasn’t been used for years, is open, airy and has good ventilation,” said Dr. Rienthong Nanna, director and chairman of the hospital involved, Mongkutwattana General. “Patients in the community are like ticking time bombs, and we take them to the hospital to defuse the bombs, and the bombs won’t spread the virus more,” he said.

Source: International New York Times July 29, 2021 14:37 UTC