Jeonnam National University 1, Chosun University 4, Bitgoeul Jeonnam National University Hospital 5, Total 10 Male Beds

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Prioritizes Use of 41 Beds in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk Regions

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] As COVID-19 cases continue to spread with 2 additional confirmed cases reported on the afternoon of the 3rd in the Gwangju area, the negative pressure hospital beds in Gwangju Metropolitan City are reaching full capacity.

According to Gwangju Metropolitan City, a total of 53 confirmed cases have been reported from the 27th of last month, when the 34th confirmed case in Gwangju was identified, up to today.

Since the first confirmed case in Gwangju on February 3rd, the number of confirmed cases in the past week has exceeded those reported over the past five months, indicating a rapid spread.

Moreover, many of the places visited by confirmed cases have been facilities frequently used by many people, such as temples, wedding halls, funeral homes, and churches, making it difficult to predict how many additional cases may emerge.

Currently, the Gwangju area has a total of 64 hospital beds, including 7 nationally designated treatment beds at Chonnam National University Hospital, 10 at Chosun University Hospital, and 47 beds at Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital, which is an infection-specialized hospital.

However, as of 4 p.m. today, only 10 beds remain available: 1 at Chonnam National University Hospital, 4 at Chosun University Hospital, and 5 at Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital.

In response, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held a meeting in Gwangju today and announced plans to support hospital beds due to the increase in confirmed cases in Gwangju.

They plan to prioritize the use of 41 beds across the Honam region by utilizing the regional joint response system for beds in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk: 20 beds at Gangjin Medical Center and Suncheon Medical Center in Jeonnam, and 21 beds at Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Wonkwang University Hospital, and Gunsan Medical Center in Jeonbuk.

They will also address the shortage of beds by utilizing the nationally designated residential treatment center at the Cheonan Ujeong Public Officials Training Institute, and if additional beds are needed, they will consider operating a residential treatment center in the Honam area.

The city is preparing plans to secure additional facilities for emergency situations in the future, such as the Gwangju Fire Academy dormitory (66 rooms), which is currently operating as an isolation facility (residential treatment center).

A Gwangju city official stated, “With only 10 negative pressure beds remaining, it is expected that assistance from other cities and provinces will be inevitable if the current trend continues. If such a situation arises, priority will be given to new confirmed cases who are not elderly and have mild symptoms.”

Meanwhile, on the 2nd, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin called Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop and proposed a hospital bed solidarity, saying, “Daegu has about 200 beds, and if Gwangju is short, we will provide them.”

Mayor Lee responded, “We will first use beds in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, which are geographically closer, and request additional support if needed.”

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