Authorities: 34 COVID-19 Patients Severely Ill or Worse... 19 in 'Critical' Condition (Update)

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As of the 2nd, among the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea, 19 patients are in critical condition, and 15 patients are receiving oxygen therapy as severe cases.

At the regular briefing held in the afternoon, Kwak Jin, head of the Epidemiological Investigation and Patient Management Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, stated, "Among the confirmed patients currently hospitalized, 15 patients are receiving oxygen mask treatment or classified as severe with a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius or higher, and 19 patients are in critical condition, undergoing endotracheal intubation and using mechanical ventilators."

For severe patients among those isolated and receiving treatment, therapies such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mechanical ventilation, and oxygen mask treatment are administered. ECMO is a device that removes blood from critically ill patients whose heart and lungs are not functioning properly, supplies oxygen, and returns it to the body. Mechanical ventilation through endotracheal intubation is used to treat patients who cannot breathe on their own. Patients whose condition is better than this but have decreased oxygen saturation due to pneumonia receive oxygen mask treatment.

Meanwhile, as of 10 a.m. on the same day, the total number of COVID-19 patients in South Korea is 4,212. Among the confirmed cases, 26 have died so far.

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