Weeds, floodwaters overtake Vietnam's last Covid field hospital

The 5-hectare, 3,500-bed Field Hospital No. 13 was opened in August 2021 after nearly two months of construction.

It was one of 15 field hospitals rapidly established as the city dealt with the raging Covid-19 pandemic. All others have been dismantled, but No. 13 was left standing in case of new outbreaks.

But as the government last week decided to classify Covid-19 as a common infectious disease, the Health Ministry has proposed closing this last one as well.

The hospital had no patients on Oct. 24, and was guarded by two guards and five militiamen.

Bui Tan Hung (pictured) has worked as a guard at the hospital for nearly a year, often patrolling the area with his motorbike.

"No new patient has been admitted since I started working here," the 51-year-old man said.

The main path between the rows of houses is flooded and covered in weeds.

Floodwater and weeds have also invaded the spaces between rooms.

Vegetation has begun to cover nearly 10,000 oxygen tanks left unused in the corridors.

These beds in a room for severely affected patients are ready for use.

According to the HCMC Health Department, the hospital can be reactivated in 48 hours if needed.

Department deputy director But Nguyen Van Vinh Chau said his staff is awaiting instructions from the city's People's Committee to shut the hospital down.

"There have been new Covid variants over the past 9 months but none of them have been of concern. The global situation is stable and there are few patients in Vietnam," Chau said.

Most hospitals in the city are capable of treating Covid patients. Many people have also treated themselves at home.