Authorities: "Rapid Increase in Deaths and Critical Patients Not Due to Bed or Treatment Supply Issues" (Update)

On the 15th, as 880 new COVID-19 cases were reported, approaching the 900 mark again, medical staff were collecting samples at a temporary screening clinic set up in the parking lot of the Amsa-dong Prehistoric Residential Site in Gangdong-gu. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, the number of new confirmed cases had increased by 880. Due to the holiday effect, which reduced the number of tests compared to weekdays, the number of new cases dropped to the low 700s the previous day, but as testing increased, the count approached the 900 level again. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Regarding the increase in patients who have died or whose symptoms have worsened after contracting the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the quarantine authorities stated on the 15th that this is due to the recent overall increase in the number of new confirmed cases. They do not believe it is due to delays in hospital bed allocation or failure to receive timely treatment.

According to the quarantine authorities, as of 0:00 AM on the day, the number of new deaths was 13, marking the first time since the domestic outbreak of COVID-19 that the figure reached double digits. Previously, the highest number was 9 deaths per day during the first wave when patients increased in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas. The number of critically ill patients also rose by 20 from the previous day to 205. During the first wave, the number of critically ill patients never exceeded 100, and during the second wave in the Seoul metropolitan area in August and September, the highest was 175, but it has recently increased sharply.

Kwon Jun-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing that "the number of patients is so large, and the number of patients aged 60 and over, who can be considered a high-risk group, has increased." He added, "In terms of infection locations, there has been an increase in nursing hospitals, nursing homes, and medical institutions where many vulnerable people aged 60 and over gather."

There have been concerns that the increase in new confirmed cases or cluster outbreaks might lead to patients being diagnosed long after infection or that the rapid surge in patients and shortage of hospital beds might delay hospitalization and worsen patient conditions. However, the authorities do not agree with this. Deputy Director Kwon stated, "We do not consider this to be a problem related to the preparedness of the medical system, hospital bed availability, or insufficient supply of therapeutic drugs such as Remdesivir."

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