On September 19, 2022, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Dr. Satit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Dr. Supakit Sirilak, Director General of the Department of Medical Sciences and other leaders received a Huo-Yan Air Laboratory (with three cabins) donation from the Mammoth Foundation – represented by the BGI Genomics International Management Team – to the Department of Medical Sciences of the Ministry of Public Health to help Thailand in battling against COVID-19 and other epidemic diseases that threaten public health.

[Mr. Xiaohan Wang, BGI Genomics, Southeast Asia General Manager, 1st from the left; Dr. Saowalak Dansakul, Bangkok Genomics Innovation, CEO, 2nd from the left; Mr. Jeremy Cao, BGI Genomics, Vice President of International Department, 5th from the left; Mr. Preecha Laohapongchana, Bangkok Genomics Innovation, Director, 6th from the left; Mr. Goanpot Asvinvichit, Bangkok Genomics Innovation, Director, 7th from the left; Mr. Han Zhiqiang, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand; 8th from the left  Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, 9th from the left; Dr. Satit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, 9th from the right; Dr. Supakit Siriluk, General Department of Medical Sciences, Director; 8th from the right; Dr. Ballang Uppapong, General Department of Medical Sciences, Deputy Director, 7th from the right; Dr. Piya Sirilak, General Department of Medical Sciences, Deputy Director, 6th from the right;  Dr. Prapai Wongsinkongman, Medical Scientist, Advisory Level, 5th from the right; Dr. Apiwat Thawatsin, Medical Scientist, Advisory Level, 4th from the right; Dr. Uruyakorn Chansang, Medical Scientist, Advisory Level, 3rd from the right; Dr. Wantana Paveenkittiporn, Medical Scientist, Advisory Level, 2nd from the right; Dr. Archawin Rojanawiwat, Director, National Institute of Health, 1st from the right]

This laboratory was developed by BGI Genomics Co., Ltd. Mr. Zhiqiang Han, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand and other staff of the Embassy, Mr. Jeremy Cao, the deputy general manager of BGI IntDx, donated the laboratory to these senior Ministry representatives.

On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the Ministry of Public Health, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin expressed appreciation to the Mammoth Foundation and the Chinese government. China and Thailand share a close friendship and are committed to jointly combating COVID-19.

With effect from October 1, 2022, the Thai Ministry of Public Health has lowered the level of COVID-19 from dangerous infectious disease to infectious disease under surveillance, and various health care systems have been in place so that Thai people can resume their normal lives and accelerate economic recovery.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Huo-Yan Air Laboratory is a complete, high-throughput nucleic acid testing platform developed by BGI Genomics in response to COVID-19. It is a mobile laboratory equipped with medical waste management system, real-time PCR detection equipment, nucleic acid detection equipment, etc. This mobile laboratory can be ready in only 24 hours. A functioning integrated electrical system and ventilation system can analyze more than 5,000 samples every day, which serve the purpose of targeted screening and rapid deployment. Currently, 102 Huo-Yan Air Laboratories have been built in 38 countries and regions around the world.

Mr. Anutin, DPM and Minister of Public Health mentioned, “This lab can be packed and moved for rapid deployment. It can also cater to other post-pandemic needs, such as immunology lab and point of care testing. The Ministry of Public Health will make full use of it to benefit the population.”

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen China, is the world’s leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Our services cover more than 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July of 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.