Daejeon Expands 'Nationally Designated Negative Pressure Rooms' from 8 to 21

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The number of nationally designated negative pressure isolation rooms in Daejeon will be expanded from the existing 8 to 21. Negative pressure isolation rooms are considered essential for isolating and treating severe patients of emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

On the 14th, Daejeon City announced that Konyang University Hospital and Daejeon Veterans Hospital were selected in the "National Designated Inpatient Treatment Bed Negative Pressure Isolation Room Expansion Project" recently announced by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, enabling the expansion of 13 negative pressure isolation rooms.

The public contest was conducted nationwide targeting all medical institutions starting from April. Subsequently, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, together with a selection evaluation committee composed of private experts, evaluated the hospital's infectious disease-related infrastructure, the appropriateness of negative pressure isolation room facilities and operation plans, contribution to community public health, regional balance, and necessity to select targets for expanding negative pressure isolation rooms.

As a result of the selection, Konyang University Hospital secured 5 rooms with 5 beds, and Daejeon Veterans Hospital secured 8 rooms with 8 beds. Going forward, Konyang University Hospital and Daejeon Veterans Hospital will receive 4.55 billion KRW in national funding to expand negative pressure beds.

Negative pressure beds refer to specially designated spaces equipped with special facilities and equipment for infectious disease management, designed to prevent infection of patients and medical staff and to block the spread of pathogenic microorganisms when admitting and treating patients with emerging infectious diseases during national public health crises.

Jung Hae-gyo, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Daejeon City, said, "We will strive to ensure appropriate treatment of severe patients in the region and minimize fatality rates through the expansion of negative pressure beds."

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