Repeated Deaths During Home Treatment... Growing Blind Spots Cause Anxiety Among Confirmed Patients

Over 490,000 Home Treatment Patients as of 22nd
Deaths Continue Among 7-Month-Old Infants and 50s Receiving Home Treatment
Health Authorities "Streamlining Transfers and Hospital Beds"

Citizens waiting to be tested at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 22nd. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea continues to hover around 100,000 daily, concerns are growing over the increasing number of patients undergoing home treatment who are dying. In particular, single-person households, who have no one to contact the hospital on their behalf even if their condition rapidly worsens, are expressing greater anxiety about home treatment for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, with the number of home treatment patients doubling every week, there are concerns that the quarantine authorities' capacity to manage the situation will soon reach its limit. The government has announced plans to secure more emergency hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

Recently, there have been consecutive deaths of a man in his 50s and a 7-month-old infant who were undergoing home treatment after testing positive for COVID-19 but did not receive timely medical care.

On the 19th, in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, a man in his 50s identified as Mr. A, who was confirmed positive and staying alone at home, was found dead. It is reported that in his last phone call with family before his death, he said, "I don't feel well."

Also, on the 18th in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, a 7-month-old male infant who tested positive died due to delayed transfer to the emergency room. The parents called 119 after the infant, who was under home treatment, had a seizure. Although paramedics arrived within six minutes, the infant was already in cardiac arrest.

Paramedics performed CPR and searched for about ten emergency rooms capable of treatment, eventually transferring the infant to a university hospital in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, but the infant passed away.

Given these circumstances, criticism is mounting that the home treatment management system is inadequate. Just two weeks after the government implemented a new home treatment system focusing on high-risk groups, deaths have occurred, raising voices of criticism toward the quarantine system.

Previously, since the 10th, the government has been conducting health monitoring only for the 'intensive management group' at high risk of severe illness, including those aged 60 and over, patients in their 50s with underlying conditions, and immunocompromised individuals. The 'general management group,' consisting of young people with mild or asymptomatic cases, must monitor their health themselves.

However, the number of home treatment patients is rapidly increasing, making management difficult. The number of home treatment patients is doubling in a short period and is expected to exceed 500,000 soon. As of the 22nd, the number of home treatment patients stands at 490,322.

Citizens are testing themselves using self-diagnostic kits at the rapid antigen testing site set up at the screening clinic of Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Some confirmed patients have pointed out, "It is difficult to connect to medical institutions to request help when symptoms worsen, and there are difficulties in getting prescriptions," adding, "Isn't this practically neglect?"

Kim, a 25-year-old job seeker who recently tested positive, said, "My family tested positive, so I got tested just in case and was confirmed positive. At first, I had no symptoms, but over time, my sore throat and headache worsened, and I tried to contact the public health center, but it was hard to get through."

Kim added, "It's frustrating. Now that more people will be under home treatment, I don't know how they plan to manage it. It feels closer to 'neglect' than 'treatment.'"

Meanwhile, single-person households, who find it difficult to get help in emergencies, are also expressing their helplessness. A 20-something netizen living alone in Seoul said, "After testing positive, I wanted to ask for help because I had no over-the-counter medicine, but there was nowhere to turn. I tried calling the public health center, but maybe because they were busy, no one answered." They added, "I'm still young, so I'm okay, but what about elderly people living alone, like solitary seniors?"

On the other hand, Ryu Geun-hyeok, the 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, who also underwent home treatment after testing positive for COVID-19, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 16th and said, "I also called medical institutions several times, but couldn't get through," adding, "Most citizens receiving home treatment for the first time would be quite confused and bewildered without information."

Meanwhile, as deaths among home treatment patients continue, the government announced plans to secure more emergency hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. On the 21st, Choi Jong-gyun, head of the Home Treatment Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at a COVID-19 briefing, "Considering the number of 119 dispatches and patient transfers, we will consult with the Fire Department to make the transfer system more efficient."

He added, "For children, the elderly, and others who need care but whose caregivers cannot stay with them, admission to residential treatment centers is the target. These individuals should be transferred to residential treatment centers for care, not treated at home."

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