Concerns Rise Over Shortage of Treatment Beds Amid Surge in Church-Related COVID-19 Cases

71% of Isolation Treatment Patients in Seoul and Gyeonggi
60% Increase in Isolation Treatment Patients Since the 10th

On the afternoon of the 14th, officials are leaving after completing disinfection work at the entrance of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyo-jin] As confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from churches in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions surge, concerns about a shortage of treatment beds are increasing.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 16th, as of midnight that day, a total of 1,103 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Korea are currently receiving isolation treatment at medical institutions or government-operated living treatment centers.

By region, 785 patients are in isolation treatment in Seoul (403) and Gyeonggi (382), accounting for 71.2% of the total. In Seoul and Gyeonggi, 376 locally transmitted cases were reported over two days.

As of the 10th, there were 663 patients in isolation treatment, including 159 in Seoul and 165 in Gyeonggi. However, since the 11th, confirmed cases have sharply increased due to outbreaks at Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi, and Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, resulting in about a 60% increase in isolation patients in less than a week.

As of the previous day, there are 1,479 beds in infectious disease-dedicated hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, which includes Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. Of these, 621 beds (42%) are already in use, and only 858 beds (58%) are available.

There are 339 intensive care treatment beds in the metropolitan area for both COVID-19 and general patients, but only 98 beds (28.9%) are available.

Accordingly, concerns are rising that the bed shortage crisis that occurred in late February in Daegu and Gyeongbuk may recur.

The Central Accident Response Headquarters (CARH) activated the "Metropolitan Area Bed Joint Response System" on the same day.

When the daily confirmed cases in the metropolitan area are below 100, Stage 1 (under 50 cases) and Stage 2 (50?99 cases), local governments operate beds and living treatment centers within their regions according to demand. However, when the number of confirmed cases reaches 100 or more, Stage 3, CARH and local governments jointly operate an "Integrated Patient Classification Team" to allocate available beds within the metropolitan area.

On the same day, CARH designated eight hospitals as base dedicated hospitals: Seoul Medical Center, Seobuk Hospital, Seonam Hospital, Boramae Hospital, Incheon Medical Center, Gyeonggi Medical Center Suwon Hospital, Gyeonggi Medical Center Anseong Hospital, and Seongnam City Medical Center.

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