Footage shows the main airport serving Bangkok, Thailand, today (July 9) as it is turned into a field hospital to cope with a surge in Covid-19 cases.

The Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) will have one of its newest terminals converted into a medical centre with the capacity to treat more than 5,000 patients.

Ministers asked the operators, Airports of Thailand Plc, to convert the newly completed terminal into a facility with an intensive-care unit, medical rooms and support for patients with mild to medium symptoms.

Hospitals are struggling to cope with rising numbers of Covid-19 patients following an increase in cases that started in April.

Ministers have also announced a raft of new restrictions and hope that a surged in infections can be reduced across the country before tourists are due to return in October.

Thailand recorded 9,276 Covid-19 cases 72 deaths on Friday (July 9) taking the total number since Marc last year to 317,506 cases and 2,534 deaths.