On coronavirus ICU front line: A Thai nurse's story

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (R), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, poses during an interview with Reuters in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

At the end of every 12-hour shift working with critically ill coronavirus patients, Thai nurse Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong has to disinfect herself before going home, where she sleeps in a separate room from her husband to avoid infecting him.

The 36-year-old nurse in the intensive care ward at Bangkok's King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital says it's a gruelling time, but saving lives is the most important thing - along with protecting her own loved ones.

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (L), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients speaks on a mobile phone while keeping social distancing with her husband Udomsak Tantrarattanapong at their house in Bangkok, Thailand, April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

"I’m scared of getting infected and the virus leaking from the hospital," said Suparvadee, who has worked in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 14 years.

But, despite her worry, she encourages patients to have hope.

"I keep telling patients that they are not fighting alone," she said.

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (C), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), push a stretcher troller before transferring a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Suparvadee's job involves knowing every detail of each patient's condition. The novel coronavirus outbreak had also forced staff to learn a new workflow because none of them has experience with this kind of virus, she said.

Since March 9, her hospital has treated nearly 200 coronavirus patients. Staff pride themselves on having not lost a single one.

The hospital also pays close attention to preventing infections among staff.

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (R), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients eats her diner while keeping social distancing with her husband Udomsak Tantrarattanapong at their house in Bangkok, Thailand, April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

While fully suited in protective gear, Suparvadee guides her junior nurses on safety measures through their 12-hour shifts.

On Wednesday, Thailand reported nine new coronavirus infections but no deaths, taking its tally to 2,947 cases and 54 deaths since the outbreak began in January.

Suparvadee's husband, Udomsak Tantrarattanapong, 37, said he understood and supported her work.

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (C), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, speaks with other nurses during a short brief in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

"I told her to keep on fighting because whenever something new happens she gets through it just fine - and I’m sure she will this time as well," said Udomsak.

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients drives her car back to her house after working in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients hands over a patient's emergency bag to an ICU nurse wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) before transferring a COVID-19 patient for a CT scan in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients pose with other nurses before transferring a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (L), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients removes her personal protection equipment (PPE) after transferring a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Suparvadee Tantrarattanapong, (R), an ICU nurse who volunteers to work with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients eats her lunch while keeping social distancing with others in the intensive care unit at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, April 24, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha