Choi Dae-jip "Create Dedicated COVID-19 Hospitals and Transfer Full Authority to KDCA"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Korean Medical Association (KMA) recommended on the 11th that the government designate dedicated hospitals for COVID-19 (cohort hospitals) to secure intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

Choi Dae-jip, president of the KMA, held an emergency online press conference on the same day, stating, "With hundreds of new confirmed cases occurring daily, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, the healthcare system is at an increased risk of collapse."

He explained that dedicated COVID-19 hospitals should be operated starting from the Seoul metropolitan area, where patient numbers are rapidly increasing, and frontline medical institutions should also expand and secure new negative pressure isolation beds for critically ill patients.

The KMA also emphasized the need to secure medical personnel. President Choi said, "Medical staff must be secured to treat severe patients," adding, "Along with this, exceptional support and protection measures for them must be established."

He further stressed the necessity of more proactive testing to quickly identify asymptomatic infected individuals, highlighting the need to expand the testing capabilities of public health centers and screening clinics.

Amid the quarantine authorities easing isolation release criteria, the KMA also saw the need for guidelines regarding recovering patients.

President Choi stated, "Even if there was a fever until yesterday, if 10 days have passed since hospitalization and the patient has been well for just one day, they are allowed to be discharged and return to society," adding, "Since the risk of infection transmission cannot be completely ruled out, guidelines must be prepared to ensure that discharged patients can safely reintegrate into society."

The KMA also demanded that the government fully delegate the role of control tower to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) for a swift and efficient response to the COVID-19 situation.

President Choi said, "The government should no longer try to be the main actor in K-quarantine during the COVID-19 crisis," and urged, "Since the KDCA has been upgraded, it should be granted the corresponding responsibilities and authority, and decision-making power over quarantine should be delegated to it."

Regarding the government's recent announcement of securing vaccines for 44 million people, the KMA called for accurate disclosure of related information.

President Choi said, "Although the government announced that it has secured COVID-19 vaccines for 44 million people, there are widespread opinions that no actual supply will enter the country," and demanded, "Detailed information about COVID-19 vaccines should be disclosed to medical professionals and the public."

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