Lessons learned in the battle against Covid-19

[webfact]

Lessons learned in the battle against Covid-19

By The Nation

 

 

Dr Narong Aphikulvanich, deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said 2,263 beds have been set aside in 114 hospitals nationwide for Covid-19 cases, while another 500 beds have been earmarked for emergency in case there is a second wave of infections.

 

Of the Covid-19 patients hospitalised since the virus arrived in Thailand, 897 were admitted to private hospitals, followed by 529 in medical schools, 224 were treated by the Department of Medical Services, 214 by the Department of Disease Control and 147 by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration among others.

 

Dr Poj Intalaphaporn, from Rajvithi Hospital, said doctors at the hospital learned how to treat both severe and asymptomatic Covid-19 cases from the experience they gained from treating 69 patients, four of whom did not make it.

 

The first case that arrived in the hospital was a 31-year-old woman who had a cough and tested positive for Covid-19. She was treated with many medications including the anti-viral drug Favipiravir for three days before she recovered. The Favipiravir anti-viral was then used to treat other Covid-19 cases across the country.

 

Doctors at Rajvithi Hospital, however, were unable to save a 55-year-old man, who had Covid-19 symptoms for 13 days and succumbed despite being treated with Favipiravir for four days. The doctors then realised that age also played a big part in Covid-19 cases.

 

Piamlarp Sangsayan, chief of the medical division of the Central Chest Institute of Thailand, said that lying face down on the bed was very effective for patients suffering from severe pneumonia because this position helped boost oxygen levels in their blood. These patients were later put on ventilator and given Favipiravir.

 

Doctors also learned that pneumonia symptoms were the most severe in the first two weeks, but usually patients’ oxygen levels stabilised in the third week, and antibiotics used to cure pneumonia proved to be effective.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30387682

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-05-12

 

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[thesetat2013]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Doctors at Rajvithi Hospital, however, were unable to save a 55-year-old man, who had Covid-19 symptoms for 13 days and succumbed despite being treated with Favipiravir for four days. The doctors then realised that age also played a big part in Covid-19 cases

It was known from the onset of this virus that it caused more sever reactions to the elderly. Most of the Chinese elderly were hit the hardest. So I beg to wonder why it took this doctor's so long to realize that age made a difference? 

Here I thought thaoland laid so many claims to be the hub of medical care yet they show so much ignorance in this report. 

[bluesofa]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

2,263 beds have been set aside in 114 hospitals nationwide for Covid-19 cases, while another 500 beds have been earmarked for emergency in case there is a second wave of infections.

'in case there is a second wave of infections.' The way I see it, of course there will be a second wave.

 

Relaxing some of the restrictions means that people will relax their guard too. Already I can see more and more people not bothering to wear face masks, thinking it's all over. It will be, unless everyone remains vigilant.

 

[Bkk Brian]

If there's a serious outbreak in Thailand through a second wave then the Health System will be overwhelmed. The number of beds available for COVID 2,263 + an extra 500 earmarked? 

 

The hospitals could hardly cope with the situation last month with relevantly low numbers. I'm afraid lack of preparation means Thailand is just winging it and hoping.

[sungod]

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

 

 

The hospitals could hardly cope with the situation last month with relevantly low numbers. I'm afraid lack of preparation means Thailand is just winging it and hoping.

From what I read in the media the hospitals coped quite well. Be interested if you have anything that contradicts that. Thailand scores very highly in the global pandemic preparedness rankings too.

[twocatsmac]

6 minutes ago, sungod said:

From what I read in the media the hospitals coped quite well. Be interested if you have anything that contradicts that. Thailand scores very highly in the global pandemic preparedness rankings too.

If they believe their own amazing figures, then why the severe lockdowns etc? and there’s not been extensive coordinated nationwide testing.  Hence, low numbers infected.

 

I genuinely hope it’s cautiousness.

[mrfill]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

and antibiotics used to cure pneumonia proved to be effective.

The very reason why the death rates are so high in places like the US, UK, Italy, Spain etc

The pneumonia-like symptoms do not respond to the usual pneumonia medicines. Except in Thailand, of course.

[Bkk Brian]

11 minutes ago, sungod said:

From what I read in the media the hospitals coped quite well. Be interested if you have anything that contradicts that. Thailand scores very highly in the global pandemic preparedness rankings too.

Yea the US ranks number 1 on the Global Pandemic Preparedness rankings and UK number 2, I guess they need to look at that again may not be a reliable measure after all.

 

Read article by Dr Boon "The Coming Storm" just google it. The 3 major hospitals in Bangkok that specialize in Covid treatment including Siriraj and Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute were full with covid related patient.

 

Medical personnel still lack personal protective equipment (PPE) suits to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while there are enough masks for them, Deputy Prime Minister/Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. https://www.pattayamail.com/coronavirus/thai-health-minister-concerned-about-ppe-suit-shortages-296031

 

 

[sungod]

33 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

If they believe their own amazing figures, then why the severe lockdowns etc? and there’s not been extensive coordinated nationwide testing.  Hence, low numbers infected.

 

I genuinely hope it’s cautiousness.

I have not seen any severe lock downs to be honest, I'd class that as the type of thing we saw in China with people confined to apartments/houses allowed out once a week for shopping.

[sungod]

26 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Yea the US ranks number 1 on the Global Pandemic Preparedness rankings and UK number 2, I guess they need to look at that again may not be a reliable measure after all.

 

Read article by Dr Boon "The Coming Storm" just google it. The 3 major hospitals in Bangkok that specialize in Covid treatment including Siriraj and Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute were full with covid related patient.

 

Medical personnel still lack personal protective equipment (PPE) suits to cope with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) while there are enough masks for them, Deputy Prime Minister/Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. https://www.pattayamail.com/coronavirus/thai-health-minister-concerned-about-ppe-suit-shortages-296031

 

 

Fair points, I dont think 3 hospitals nearly full really tested the health system though. They basically admit anyone here who has tested positive too, despite the severity. So there is some give in the system there too.

[DrTuner]

They forgot to thell the most important, what was the maximum occupancy?

 

They weren't all in at the same time, but let's assume they would have been ..

 

897+529+224+214+147 = 2011 plus "among others"

Capacity 2,263+500 = 2763 max

 

The curve was flattened sufficiently for the system to cope. I think Thailand got lucky with the original D614 strain. The real test with G614 may still be to come.

[DrTuner]

36 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Read article by Dr Boon "The Coming Storm" just google it. The 3 major hospitals in Bangkok that specialize in Covid treatment including Siriraj and Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute were full with covid related patient.

He also mentioned "university hospitals", which means Chula and Mahidol. Those are the places that also do RT-PCR testing and have wards for the patients. BIDI is just 250 beds so no wonder if it was full.

[SkyFax]

05 May 2020 |-- Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, Thailand’s specialized hospital for infectious diseases and the first hospital in the country to admit COVID-19 patients, today announced its outcomes for January - April 2020 operations.

 

The institute’s director Dr Apichart Vachiraphan said the hospital has treated a total of 14,327 patients during the period, with 5,062 patients fitting the Person Under Investigation (PUI) criteria for COVID-19.

 

The hospital has treated 214 confirmed COVID-19 patients, with 207 recoveries and 4 deaths. There are now only three active cases at the hospital.

 

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG200505235823545

[Bkk Brian]

29 minutes ago, sungod said:

Fair points, I dont think 3 hospitals nearly full really tested the health system though. They basically admit anyone here who has tested positive too, despite the severity. So there is some give in the system there too.

If you've read the article, in addition the University hospitals were also full.

 

The key here is available specialist beds throughout the country that have the facilities and infrastructure to treat covid cases. As the original post states that is only 2,263+500 again, thats totally inadequate for a major outbreak. 

[Misty]

1 hour ago, twocatsmac said:

If they believe their own amazing figures, then why the severe lockdowns etc? and there’s not been extensive coordinated nationwide testing.  Hence, low numbers infected.

 

I genuinely hope it’s cautiousness.

Thailand's testing as a percentage of the population is on the low side - at 3,264 tests per million people, it's on par with countries like Rwanda and Iraq.  Compare that to Iceland, with 158,816 tests per million people (10 deaths).

 

Be interesting to know why the Thai testing level is that low.

[DrTuner]

One might also notice most if not all of the capacity is in Bangkok. Either patients get there or tough it out in the provinces.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Dr Narong Aphikulvanich, deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said 2,263 beds have been set aside in 114 hospitals nationwide for Covid-19 cases, while another 500 beds have been earmarked for emergency in case there is a second wave of infections.

Which if you believe the government are now empty?

[Alex 012]

Lessons learned

 

- This was a big misunderstanding 

- No money in state coffers for citizens. All embezzled.

- China tourists not coming back on the double in Jun.

- Things are not under control 

- Trust nothing from poltical

- farangs are scum and dirty 

[AgMech Cowboy]

3 hours ago, twocatsmac said:

If they believe their own amazing figures, then why the severe lockdowns etc? 

Thailand are not trying to flatten the curve. They are trying to stop the virus from infecting others.

[Krataiboy]

Lessons learned in the battle against Covid-19

1 Don't believe anything the mass media tells you.

2 Don't believe anything politicians tell you.

3 Don't believe anything Neil Ferguson and Dr Fauci tell you.

4 Don't believe anything Bill Gates tells you.

 

Check it out - or chuck it out.