The Impact of 'COVID-19'... Citizens Avoid Hospitals Even for Common Colds

Experts Advise "Contact the Public Health Center for Consultation"

A citizen is receiving consultation at the 'Screening Clinic' installed on the first floor of the Seogu Public Health Center in Gwangju Metropolitan City.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Due to the spread of the ‘COVID-19’ infection, even patients with common colds are reluctant to visit hospitals.

Before the outbreak of ‘COVID-19’, it was difficult to muster the courage to visit the hospital for common cold symptoms because of the thought, “Could it be COVID-19?”

Given this situation, ordinary citizens are accumulating doubts about whether it is okay to visit hospitals as usual.

Experts advise that to prevent possible virus spread, it is best to contact the local public health center first, inform them of your symptoms, and confirm whether you should seek medical treatment before visiting a hospital.

According to frontline public health centers in Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 13th, the symptoms of a common cold and those of the novel coronavirus infection are relatively similar.

A cold generally infects the upper respiratory tract such as the nose and throat. Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, fever, headache, and muscle pain.

However, unlike a cold, ‘COVID-19’ infects the lower respiratory tract. Symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, and fatigue resemble those of a cold or flu.

Therefore, citizens primarily worry about being infected with the novel coronavirus when these symptoms appear.

In response, public health center officials recommend contacting the local public health center first, as hospitals and health centers mostly have many people with weakened immune systems, increasing the likelihood of ‘COVID-19’ infection spreading.

At the public health center, patients showing COVID symptoms are first investigated for the likelihood of overseas travel and contact with confirmed cases so far.

If deemed likely, specimens are collected from nasal mucosa and sent to the Health and Environment Research Institute for virus infection testing. Based on this test, positive or negative results are determined.

It takes several days to get the results, during which epidemiologists in Gwangju decide on isolation measures, placing patients in negative pressure rooms at Chonnam National University or Chosun University Hospitals, or ordering self-isolation.

If no likelihood is found, the patient is classified as having a common cold.

An official from a Gwangju public health center said, “Since the symptoms of a cold and novel coronavirus infection are similar, it is difficult to accurately diagnose with basic tests,” and added, “If you have cold symptoms and visit a hospital, please be sure to wear a mask, and it is best to contact the public health center first for consultation.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.