Authorities: "ICU discharge after 20 days is a one-time measure... 22 deaths, all occurred before transfer"

"Release from Isolation Only, Treatment Continues in General ICU"
"Extension of Stay Possible Upon Medical Staff's Justification"

On the 22nd, medical staff are caring for patients in the intensive care unit for severe COVID-19 cases at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The quarantine authorities emphasized that the recent order to lift isolation and transfer patients who have been long-term admitted to COVID-19 intensive care units is a "one-time measure." They explained that the 22 reported deaths during this process occurred independently of the order.

On the afternoon of the 24th, Lee Se-ran, head of the Patient Bed Management Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the COVID-19 back briefing, "The order to lift isolation and transfer was made only once," adding, "We plan to review the necessity of issuing isolation lift orders again if deemed essential through periodic monitoring."

Based on data from the Patient Information Management System as of the 19th, the day before the 20th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters issued an order on the 20th to lift isolation and transfer a total of 210 patients who had been hospitalized in severe COVID-19 beds for more than 20 days since symptom onset. Lee explained, "We had not properly monitored the ICU situation since COVID-19," and "Upon reviewing the ICU bed shortage this time, we found some patients had been admitted for over 70 days."

According to the authorities, among these patients, 98 have been transferred to general wards for treatment, 66 are still deemed by on-site medical staff to require treatment in isolation wards and are undergoing a clarification process. Three patients have administrative errors regarding symptom onset dates and are under investigation, 21 patients' conditions are still being confirmed, and 22 patients have died.

On the 22nd, medical staff are caring for patients in the intensive care unit for severe COVID-19 cases at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The authorities emphasized that the 22 deceased patients died before or independently of the transfer or room change orders, prior to the medical institutions' related responses. Lee Se-ran explained, "After issuing the transfer order on the 20th, we received related responses from hospitals between the 21st and 23rd," adding, "We were informed that the deaths occurred during that period."

Regarding the administrative orders issued even for those with such severe prognoses that death followed immediately after the order, Lee stated, "The criteria for lifting isolation focus on the COVID-19 virus," and explained, "The causes of death include underlying conditions, and after 20 days, it is judged that there is no infectivity."

Gwak Jin, head of the Patient Management Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, also added, "Lifting isolation does not necessarily require a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test; it is judged based on clinical presentation," and "Many patients had respiratory diseases as underlying conditions, so if their symptoms are stable and have not worsened compared to before onset, lifting isolation is possible."

Lee emphasized that even when isolation is lifted, it is done under the judgment that there is no risk of further transmission, and that treatment for the patient continues. He explained, "It is a transfer from an isolation ICU to a general ICU," adding, "If there is no infectivity, there is no need to stay in an isolation room, and the same treatment can be received in a general ICU, so we recommend and request transfer whenever possible." He continued, "Isolation is not lifted unconditionally," and said, "If there is clinical improvement and medical staff provide justification by comparing the patient’s condition to before COVID-19, the ICU stay period is naturally extended."

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