Surgeons at Bangkok Hospital on New Phetchaburi Road in the capital could simply wait no longer to operate on the broken risk of a man who had recently returned from Japan and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 infection, a hospital official has explained.
Panpit Suwangool, director of its Infectious Diseases Clinic, said on Thursday (March 12) that the man had returned from Japan two days prior to being admitted with a wrist broken while playing sports overseas, and it required surgery.
He was tested for Covid-19 and appeared clear of the disease, but was told to remain at home in self-quarantine for nine days, when he would be tested again. The result was again negative, Panpit said.
The surgical team could wait no longer and performed the wrist operation – clad in full protective suits as a precaution.
The man returned to self-quarantine and after 13 days was tested a third time, but this time showed a positive result, becoming Thailand’s 58th confirmed virus victim.
He was transferred to a state hospital for further treatment, while 77 medical personnel at Bangkok Hospital underwent tests for the virus and others went into 14-day self-quarantine, Panpit said.
None of the hospital staff have shown signs of infection thus far.
Panpit said no one being treated at the hospital for other ailments is at risk, since anyone admitted who has travelled overseas to an at-risk locale is taken to a separate, more secure building.
