Emergency in Intensive Care Beds in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Operating Rate at 76.4%, Exceeding 'Emergency Plan' Activation Threshold

On the morning of the 14th, citizens are lined up in a long queue to get tested at the COVID-19 screening clinic at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Two weeks after the implementation of the "gradual return to normal life (With Corona)" policy, the number of severe COVID-19 patients has surged, rapidly depleting intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The bed occupancy rate in the Seoul metropolitan area has exceeded the 75% threshold for activating the "emergency plan," with Seoul and Gyeonggi Province approaching 80% occupancy.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 15th, as of 5 p.m. the previous day, 699 out of 1,125 dedicated COVID-19 severe patient beds nationwide (62.1%) are in use. Although there is still some capacity, the occupancy rate in the Seoul metropolitan area, where confirmed cases are concentrated, is rapidly increasing. In the metropolitan area, 525 out of 687 beds (76.4%) are occupied. This surpasses the 75% ICU bed occupancy rate, which was one of the key indicators for activating the "emergency plan" to halt the easing of quarantine measures during the With Corona process. In particular, Seoul and Gyeonggi Province have occupancy rates of 78.6% and 78.5%, respectively, nearing 80%.

Health authorities are continuously striving to enhance medical response capabilities. Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the morning meeting, "The number of severe patients remains around 400 daily," and emphasized, "An administrative order to secure beds has been issued to ensure seamless medical response even if 7,000 new confirmed cases occur daily, and preparations are underway to expand beds to handle up to 10,000 daily confirmed cases."

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