Hospitals in Bangkok are running out of test kits for Covid-19 as Bangkokians rush to get tested following a new outbreak in the capital. Hospital staff say that the scale of those seeking testing is unprecedented causing a shortage.
A cluster originating in Bangkok’s upscale entertainment districts in Thonglor and Ekkamai has many residents in the capital wary of contracting the disease with many choosing to get tested for possible infection.
As a result hospitals, both private and public, around the city have run out of testing kits and have had to turn away patients.
Kanokchon Tuntivechakul, a office worker living near Ekkamai, told Thai Enquirer that she had to visit several hospitals before finally finding one that had test kits.
“There were at least a hundred people in the queue ahead of me at the hospital. The nurse told me they were running out of test kits as they had hundreds to test the day before,” Kanokchon said.
Officials at multiple hospitals in Bangkok told Thai Enquirer on Friday that the demand for testing was ‘unprecedented’ leading to temporary shortages.
“We did not have enough tests because the demand has frankly been overwhelming,” said an administrator at Viphawadee Hospital who asked to not be named.
“It’s a temporary shortage as we have ordered more and things should be back to normal after Songkran,” said the administrator. “It is unfortunate though because the testing needs to be done now to prevent the spread of the disease.”
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