Starting Tomorrow, Only Severe COVID-19 Patients Will Be Hospitalized... Severity Classified into 4 Levels (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the shortage of hospital beds worsens, with COVID-19 patients dying while self-isolating due to lack of beds, the government has decided to provide inpatient treatment starting with patients of moderate severity or higher. Mild cases 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."

◆Hospitalization for Severe Cases, Living Treatment Centers for Mild Cases=Under the new treatment system, confirmed cases will be classified into four severity levels: 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 a hospital.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), explained, "The discharge and isolation release criteria have been changed this time," adding, "Even patients currently hospitalized can be medically reassessed and reallocated based on severity and progress after inpatient treatment."

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

Treatment beds for severe patients are also being continuously expanded. Deputy Head Park said, "We are expanding treatment beds for severe patients in national university hospitals," and added, "We plan to secure as many severe patient beds as possible through cooperation with private university hospitals and tertiary general hospitals."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆Four out of Five Confirmed Cases are Mild=Deputy Head Park stated, "About 80% of confirmed patients are mild cases that do not medically require hospitalization," and added, "Considering the limited medical resources, focusing on providing appropriate treatment to severe patients minimizes damage."

Director Jung also said, "Unlike SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) or MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), COVID-19 spreads from mild symptoms at the early stage of infection, especially transmitting more strongly and rapidly in closed spaces with close contact." She continued, "However, fortunately, 80% of cases are mild and can be fully recovered," and explained, "A strategic shift toward minimizing damage is necessary."

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