Volunteers aid Covid patients in stressed Thai capital

They travel to the forgotten around the capitals outlying neighbourhoods, taking care of desperate people who cant find a place in Thailands overburdened health care system or are living in the streets.They are ordinary Thais like Ekapob Laungprasert, who said he suddenly realised that overworked nurses and hospitals needed as much help as those sick from COVID-19.

They travel to the forgotten around the capital's outlying neighbourhoods, taking care of desperate people who can't find a place in Thailand's overburdened health care system or are living in the streets.

They are ordinary Thais like Ekapob Laungprasert, who said he suddenly realised that overworked nurses and hospitals needed as much help as those sick from COVID-19. The businessman helped set up one of the volunteer groups helping those in need. 'Saimai Will Survive' is named after the Bangkok neighbourhood where he lives.

Because Thailand seeks to medically isolate anyone who tests positive, almost a quarter of a million people are now in field hospitals and other facilities. People with mild or no symptoms are now being allowed to self-isolate under remote observation, but space is still limited at medical facilities.

With Thailand averaging about 14,000 new cases daily, 2,500 of them in Bangkok, thousands are left on their own.

Responding to calls from neighbours and others, Ekapob, his team and others like them risk their own health to bring care and supplies to Covid patients, who would otherwise fall through the cracks.

They buy supplies with public donations and deliver medicines, food and oxygen. They also provide rapid virus tests and help secure hospital beds for people who become critically ill.

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