Gyeonggi Province "Must Still Prepare for the Worst in COVID-19"... Strengthening Public-Private Medical Cooperation System

Im Seung-gwan, Co-Head of the Gyeonggi-do COVID-19 Emergency Response Team, is giving a briefing.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is strengthening the public-private cooperation system encompassing public and private medical institutions to prepare for the worst-case scenario of a rapid increase in confirmed cases of the "novel coronavirus infection" (COVID-19).

Im Seung-kwan, co-head of the Gyeonggi Province COVID-19 Emergency Response Team, stated at a briefing on the 20th, "In the current global situation where infectious diseases are spreading, it is impossible to completely block the source of infection," adding, "We must also prepare for the worst-case scenario, such as a mass outbreak of patients due to an explosion of infections."

To this end, on the 18th, the province discussed efficient bed utilization plans with heads of general hospitals in the province and established a treatment cooperation network with 19 hospitals participating in the treatment of confirmed patients within the province, launching it for the first time nationwide.

On the same day, Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province held a meeting with directors of private general hospitals in the province to exchange opinions on strengthening the public-private cooperation system and securing beds for treating severe patients.

Governor Lee said, "Although it seems to be temporarily in a lull, considering reinfections are occurring, we cannot predict when the situation will become urgent again," and requested cooperation, saying, "We must continue to secure hospital beds for severe patients in preparation for the worst-case scenario."

As of midnight on the day, the number of confirmed cases in the Gyeonggi area increased by 2 from the previous day to 656.

Among the confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province, 396 have been discharged, and currently, 246 are isolated in hospitals and residential treatment centers.

Of the 155 confirmed cases that occurred in the province since the 1st, 55 (35.5%) are overseas entrants. Among these, 48 cases (87.3%) originated from Europe and the United States, representing the highest proportion.

There are 71 confirmed cases related to Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, of which 49 are within the province.

Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, which was temporarily closed on the 1st, has resumed limited treatment for existing patients and emergency trauma patients starting from this day.

The number of confirmed cases related to Pocheon Hanseong Internal Medicine Clinic increased by 2 to 6 since the briefing on the 17th.

The two additional confirmed cases were identified as the spouse of the fourth confirmed case, a cleaner at Hanseong Internal Medicine Clinic, and a patient who had contact with the first confirmed patient.

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