Rebuilding the COVID-19 Treatment System... Hospitalization for Severe Patients, Residential Treatment Centers for Mild Cases (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the shortage of hospital beds worsens, with COVID-19 patients dying in self-isolation due to lack of beds, the government has decided to provide inpatient treatment starting with patients of moderate severity or higher. Mild patients will be treated at 'Living Treatment Centers' utilizing state-operated facilities or lodging facilities.

On the 1st, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced a plan to restructure the COVID-19 treatment system accordingly. Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of CDSCH (Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a briefing, "We have decided to revise the guidelines to transform the treatment system according to severity, reflecting the characteristics of COVID-19 identified so far and the opinions of medical experts."

Under the new treatment system, confirmed cases will be classified into four stages of severity: mild, moderate, severe, and critical. Patients with moderate or higher severity will be promptly admitted to negative pressure isolation rooms or infectious disease-dedicated hospitals for treatment.

Mild patients will live and receive treatment at regional 'Living Treatment Centers' utilizing state-operated or lodging facilities. However, if inpatient treatment is deemed necessary, they will be promptly admitted to hospitals.

Living Treatment Centers will be selected by city and province and operated in a way that establishes a medical support system with nearby medical institutions. First, starting from the 2nd, the Central Education Training Institute under the Ministry of Education in Daegu City will be operated as a Living Treatment Center. Medical management will be handled by Kyungpook National University Hospital.

Deputy Head Park said, "About 80% of confirmed patients are medically mild cases that do not require hospitalization," adding, "Considering the limited medical resources, focusing on providing appropriate treatment to severe patients minimizes damage."

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