Capital Region ICU Operation Rate Surpasses 80% for the First Time... Waiting List Increases

On the 18th, patients and medical staff wearing protective suits are moving at Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. About two weeks after the phased daily recovery (With Corona) was implemented, the number of new COVID-19 cases surged in Seoul. As of this day, 279 out of 345 dedicated beds for severe patients in Seoul are in use, with 66 beds available for admission. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, the intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rate in the Seoul metropolitan area has exceeded 80% for the first time.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 21st, as of 5 p.m. on the 20th, the nationwide occupancy rate of beds dedicated to severe patients was 66.6%. Out of a total of 1,127 beds, 751 beds are currently in use for patient treatment, leaving 376 beds available.

The bed occupancy rate in the Seoul metropolitan area, where the outbreak is concentrated, rose to 81.5%, up from 79% the previous day. In Seoul, 82.9% (286 out of 345 beds) are in use; in Gyeonggi, 80.2% (211 out of 263 beds); and in Incheon, 79.7% (63 out of 79 beds). Currently, 560 out of 687 beds in the metropolitan area are occupied. Available beds are 59 in Seoul, 52 in Gyeonggi, and 16 in Incheon.

The occupancy rate of beds dedicated to severe patients in 14 non-metropolitan cities and provinces is 43.4%. Gyeongbuk, with a total of 3 beds, is using all 3 beds. Gwangju has an occupancy rate of 72.4% (8 available beds), Daejeon 68.0% (8 available beds), Gyeongnam 60.4% (19 available beds), and Chungnam 60.5% (15 available beds), all exceeding 60% occupancy.

For semi-intensive care beds, which treat patients whose condition is improving from severe or who have a high risk of worsening, 286 out of 455 beds are in use, resulting in an occupancy rate of 62.9%.

By region, the Seoul metropolitan area shows an occupancy rate of 78.3% (216 out of 276 beds in use), with Seoul at 55.6% (36 available beds), Gyeonggi at 86.6% (23 available beds), and Incheon at 95.7% (1 available bed).

The occupancy rate of beds in infectious disease-dedicated hospitals for treating moderate patients is 65.3%, with 6,567 patients admitted out of 10,053 beds. An additional 3,486 beds are available for patient admission.

Additionally, the occupancy rate of residential treatment centers, where mild patients are admitted, is 57.1%, with 7,470 more patients able to be admitted.

As of midnight, the number of patients under home treatment reached 5,118, surpassing 5,000. By region, there are 2,476 in Seoul, 2,094 in Gyeonggi, 206 in Incheon, 76 in Gangwon, 63 in Daegu, 51 in Chungnam, 50 in Busan, 31 in Gyeongnam, 27 in Jeju, 11 in Chungbuk, 11 in Gyeongbuk, 10 in Jeonbuk, 7 in Daejeon, 3 in Gwangju, and 2 in Jeonnam.

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