829 Local Infections in the Capital Region Over 5 Days: "Social Distancing Should Be Raised to Level 3"

Rapid Increase in COVID-19 Cases in Densely Populated Seoul Metropolitan Area
Daily Recoveries Around 20 in Japan
Seoul Metropolitan Hospital Beds at Full Capacity 'Red Alert'
Experts Urge "Urgent Proactive Measures"

[Asia Economy Reporters Heungsun Kim and Hyunui Cho] 991 people. The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea over the past five days is close to 1,000. Among them, 897 cases were reported in the Seoul metropolitan area. As confirmed cases surge mainly in the metropolitan area, where more than half of the population is concentrated, concerns about shortages of national medical resources such as medical personnel and hospital beds are growing.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 18th, the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea recorded three digits for five consecutive days: 103 on the 14th, 166 on the 15th, 279 on the 16th, 197 on the 17th, and 246 on the 18th. The spread in the metropolitan area is particularly severe. Of the 930 community-acquired cases in the country over the past five days, 829 occurred in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. That is about nine out of ten new confirmed cases. In Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where the cumulative number of confirmed cases at Sarang Jeil Church has exceeded 380, difficulties in tracing church members and contacts are causing a high possibility of a rapid increase in related confirmed cases.

◆ Slow Increase in Recovered Patients Amid Rapid Surge in Confirmed Cases = The problem is that while daily confirmed cases are rapidly increasing, the number of recovered patients is decreasing. The number of patients released from isolation was 46 on the 14th, 38 on the 15th, 9 on the 16th, 7 on the 17th, and 17 on the 18th, averaging about 20 per day. As the increase in confirmed cases and recovered patients shows a significant gap, the number of patients receiving treatment under isolation has again exceeded 1,000.

Considering that confirmed patients are hospitalized for an average of 20.7 days, the number of isolation beds available for patients is rapidly decreasing. According to the quarantine authorities, as of 8 p.m. on the 16th, out of 1,479 beds in infectious disease-dedicated hospitals in the metropolitan area, 752 beds were available. On the previous day, the 15th, 858 beds were vacant, meaning 106 beds were occupied within a day. If about 200 new confirmed cases continue daily, beds could be fully occupied within this week. Regarding beds for severe patients, 242 out of 339 beds in the metropolitan area are occupied. For mild or asymptomatic patients, there are three living treatment centers?two operated by the Central Accident Response Headquarters and one by local governments?that can accommodate about 450 people.

The government plans to secure additional beds in preparation for this situation. Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "As confirmed cases increase in the metropolitan area, medical resources such as beds and medical personnel must be prepared in advance. The government is already operating a joint response system in the metropolitan area. We will strengthen cooperation among local governments to ensure that mild patients receive treatment at living treatment centers and severe patients at hospitals."

The government plans to maximize the operation of infectious disease-dedicated hospitals to secure an additional 528 beds, expanding the total number of beds to 2,007, and also plans to operate additional living treatment centers. Kim Kang-lip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said regarding beds for severe patients, "So far, there are only 13 critically ill patients, and about 100 intensive care beds are available in the metropolitan area, but we will secure additional intensive care beds through equipment support in preparation for an increase in critically ill patients."

◆ "Urgent Need for Preemptive Social Distancing Upgrade" = Experts unanimously agree that the government should immediately consider raising social distancing to Level 3. They argue for a preemptive response before confirmed cases surge further. Professor Eunmi Cheon of Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "There have been three-digit confirmed cases for five consecutive days, so it is appropriate to raise the level to 3 in principle. However, the government seems to think it is still too early. They should observe the spread for a day or two, and if it is not controlled, then raise it to Level 3." Professor Woojoo Kim of Korea University Guro Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department emphasized in a media interview, "There is no time to wait two more weeks to block the accelerating outbreak." Professor Wonseok Choi of Korea University Ansan Hospital said, "How we reduce patient cases over the next month will determine whether we can prevent a major COVID-19 outbreak in fall and winter. Social distancing levels should be raised proactively."

Meanwhile, as the government is reportedly deciding this week whether to implement a full Level 2 social distancing, Seoul and Gyeonggi are expected to take preemptive measures. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as the spread in the metropolitan area worsens, Seoul and Gyeonggi have started reviewing the implementation of Level 2 without delay or postponement, without waiting two weeks, and are expected to reach a conclusion soon.

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