Predicted Surge in COVID-19 Cases and Bed Shortages, Government Unprepared

Less than a Month After Daily Life Recovery, Medical System on 'Emergency'
Confirmed Cases Around 4,000, ICU Bed Shortage Continues
Government Considering Temporary Pause on With Corona
Professor Eom Jung-sik: "Bed Shortage Is an Issue, but Staff Shortage Is a Bigger Problem"

On the 18th, a 'mobile negative pressure room' was installed in the parking lot of Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, in preparation for a surge in critically ill patients. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Since the transition to phased daily recovery (With Corona), the quarantine situation has rapidly worsened. The number of new daily confirmed cases exceeded 4,000, marking an all-time high, and as the number of critically ill patients increased, the shortage of hospital beds has become a serious issue.

The government has judged the situation to be extremely urgent and has even hinted at the possibility of suspending With Corona. Experts emphasized that while the shortage of beds is important, efforts should now focus on securing specialized personnel who can be deployed in intensive care units.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 25th, as of 5 p.m. on the 24th, out of a total of 1,135 intensive care beds nationwide, 812 were in use, showing an occupancy rate of 71.5%.

In the metropolitan area, 583 out of 695 beds (83.9%) are in use. By region, Seoul has an 85.5% occupancy rate (295 out of 345 beds in use), Gyeonggi 82.7% (224 out of 271 beds), and Incheon 81.0% (64 out of 79 beds). The government considers the beds to be virtually fully occupied.

The situation is similar in non-metropolitan areas. Gyeongbuk has all 3 intensive care beds in use (100%), Daejeon 92%, Gwangju 82.8%, and Chungnam 78.9% occupancy rates.

Meanwhile, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to hover around 4,000 daily. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 26th, as of midnight, the number of new confirmed cases was 3,901.

This is 37 fewer than the previous day (3,938), but the spread continues with two consecutive days in the high 3,000s. On the 23rd, the number of new confirmed cases reached a staggering 4,115, the highest since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The number of critically ill patients is also on the rise. After reaching a record high of 549 on the 23rd, the numbers increased to 586 on the 24th, 612 on the 25th, and 617 on the 26th, marking consecutive daily records.

On the morning of the 5th, COVID-19 medical staff were busy moving around at Pakae Hospital in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

The government is taking measures such as issuing administrative orders to secure additional beds, but it recognizes that this alone has limitations. Even if beds are secured, there is a shortage of specialized personnel to be deployed.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare's CDSCH, explained at a briefing on the 25th, "Through administrative orders, about 1,135 intensive care units have been secured nationwide, which is the maximum that specialized personnel and hospitals can handle," adding, "The issue with intensive care units is not just about beds. There is a limit to securing specialized personnel and operational systems."

He continued, "To secure more than this, there is a concern about encroaching on existing medical resources," and said, "There are patients in intensive care units whose conditions have improved or who are moderate cases. We are focusing on quickly discharging patients who do not need to be in intensive care or whose conditions have improved."

Earlier, the quarantine authorities stated that the medical system could handle up to about 5,000 daily confirmed cases when With Corona began on the 1st. However, even at the current level of 3,000 to 4,000 cases, medical response is not smooth.

As a result, some criticize the government for rushing into daily recovery without sufficient measures to secure beds and personnel. The medical community has also repeatedly emphasized the need for thorough preparation to prevent the medical system from collapsing before implementing With Corona.

The government is currently reviewing an "emergency plan" to temporarily halt the With Corona system and strengthen quarantine measures again. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum attended the 4th Daily Recovery Support Committee on the 25th and said, "With the spread of infections among the elderly centered in the metropolitan area, the number of severe patients and deaths is rapidly increasing, and the medical response capacity is almost exhausted," adding, "We need discussions on whether the current medical response system is sufficient to sustain phased daily recovery and what should be prioritized for improvement."

Experts also suggested temporarily halting With Corona to take time for reorganization. Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said, "It is difficult to predict infectious disease situations. Experts always urge the government to prepare for the worst-case scenario, but due to system limitations, it is difficult for the government to do everything," adding, "In a situation where confirmed cases are rapidly increasing and the medical system is paralyzed like now, it is necessary to temporarily halt With Corona and take time to reorganize."

He added, "The shortage of beds is a problem, but a bigger issue is the lack of specialized personnel to work in intensive care units," emphasizing, "Even if beds are available, they are useless without personnel to deploy. Although it is already late, conditions and training to cultivate personnel who can care for critically ill patients must be supported now."

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