On May 4, 2021, at 10.30 hrs., Pol.Gen. Aswin Kwanmuang, Governor of Bangkok, had a site visit to inspect the BMA operation of proactive COVID-19 testing service using Biosafety Mobile Units granted by H.M. King and distributed alcohol-based hand sanitizers to people who were waiting for service at Phatthana Bon Kai Community’s Happy Center and Khlong Toei Market in Khlong Toei District.
The Governor of Bangkok said that he had strongly advised all officers-in-charge to appropriately set up and organize waiting line or queue management system by making an appointment with people to come for service on the specified period of time to reduce waiting time and avoid overcrowding while using services. The Governor has also assured the public that if infected, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is ready to send everyone to healthcare and treatment system of the BMA hospitals based on their symptoms. The BMA will administer Favipiravir, an oral antiviral drug approved for the treatment of influenza in Japan now being used for COVID-19 treatment in Thailand, to COVID-19 patients based on symptom severity assessed by doctors. The BMA has already procured additional Favipiravir tablets at a sufficient amount to meet the demand of Bangkok residents. At Pathum Wan District, officers can conduct nasal swab test for 1,000 people per day. Khlong Toei District was instructed to add 4 more proactive COVID-19 testing service points and each service point could conduct swab test for 1,000 people per day, bringing the total number of tested people to 4,000 people. The tested people will be informed of the test result within 24 hours. People testing negative, or the test did not detect signs of COVID-19, will be requested to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The district office was also assigned to add more vaccination service points to cover all people in need. In this regard, the BMA sets a goal to inoculate 50,000 people, accounting for 70% of people in the area.
