Exhausted ICU Beds... Deaths Increasing by 100, Time from 1 Month to 1 Week

Seoul, which was out of stock, has 4... Gyeonggi and Incheon have '0'
Cumulative confirmed cases reach 50,000... Deaths near 700

On the 20th, when the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) reached 1,097, the highest ever since domestic occurrence, citizens visiting the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza were waiting to be tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the number of new domestic cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues to record four digits daily, hospital beds are rapidly running out. In the Seoul metropolitan area, where cases are concentrated, there have been ongoing instances of patients dying while waiting for bed assignments.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 21st, as of midnight that day, the number of new confirmed cases increased by 926, bringing the cumulative total to 50,591. The cumulative confirmed cases surpassed 40,000 on the 10th and exceeded 50,000 in just 11 days.

The number of critically ill patients is 274, about three times the 97 patients recorded on the 1st of this month. However, nationwide intensive care unit (ICU) beds have fallen below 40 for two consecutive days for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The situation is particularly severe in the metropolitan area. As of the previous day, there were zero ICU beds available in Gyeonggi and Incheon. Seoul ran out of ICU beds for the first time on the 19th but saw a slight increase to four beds the following day. There are only two general ICU beds left, and beds for semi-critical patients?those who have improved from critical condition or may worsen?are completely depleted.

As the number of patients who test positive but cannot be admitted or receive proper treatment in time increases, deaths are also rising rapidly. The number of deaths on this day increased by 24 from the previous day, totaling 698. It took about a month for the cumulative death toll to rise from the 500s (November 20) to the 600s (December 15), but it took only about a week to increase from 600 to 700. The surge in cases of 'death while waiting' among confirmed patients has triggered a red alert for Korea's COVID-19 medical response capacity.

As the shortage of beds worsens, the government is mobilizing even private medical institutions. An administrative order was issued to convert 100% of at least 1% of beds in national university hospitals and private tertiary general hospitals into COVID-19 severe patient beds by the 26th. Additionally, the criteria for admission to residential treatment centers have been relaxed to allow elderly patients aged 65 and over and those with chronic underlying diseases to be admitted based on medical staff judgment.

Concerns have been raised that such measures could collapse the overall domestic medical system. A representative from a tertiary general hospital pointed out, "It is inevitable that treatment for critically ill patients with diseases other than COVID-19 will be disrupted, and even healthy elderly patients and those with chronic underlying diseases can suddenly worsen."

However, the government maintains that the third stage of social distancing is 'not yet' necessary. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized on the day, "Adjusting the distancing level should be carefully prepared and used as a last resort," adding, "First, special quarantine measures are needed for infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and ski resorts."

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