195 Additional Pediatric COVID-19 Beds by March... Expansion of Maternity and Dialysis Beds Also Planned

Securing 10 Dedicated COVID-19 Emergency Medical Centers by the End of This Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] As infant deaths confirmed with COVID-19 continue to occur, the government has decided to increase pediatric beds and emergency medical centers.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 25th that the current 864 pediatric beds (73 medical institutions) will be increased to 1,059 beds (96 institutions) by the end of March. Pediatric beds in the metropolitan area will be expanded from 476 beds (32 institutions) to 577 beds (43 institutions).

Special patient beds for pregnant women and dialysis patients will also be expanded. The current 95 delivery beds (26 institutions) will be increased to 252 beds (43 institutions) by April 4. In regions with particularly few delivery beds such as Gangwon, Honam, Jeju, and Chungcheong, plans are underway to secure beds at national university hospitals. According to authorities, as of the previous day, 70% of all delivery beds are in use.

Dialysis beds currently number 347 (66 institutions), and the plan is to expand to 597 beds (84 institutions) by May 7. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters also plans to increase 'outpatient dialysis institutions for stable patients' utilizing clinic-level medical institutions to ensure patients can receive regular dialysis without difficulty.

Furthermore, in preparation for a further increase in confirmed cases, plans will be made for mobilization and designation of beds by local governments so that delivery, dialysis, and emergency surgery can be performed in general beds, not just negative pressure beds. Additionally, a hotline for the transport and hospitalization of special emergency patients such as children and pregnant women will be immediately established between 119 ambulance teams, inpatient wards, local governments, and central authorities.

Regarding criticism that newborns showing suspected symptoms but not confirmed with COVID-19 have no hospitals to accept them, leaving them in a medical blind spot, it was emphasized that if reported through 119, they will be connected to medical institutions capable of treatment and beds will be assigned immediately.

Lee Gi-il, the first controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "If there are only suspected symptoms before confirmation, treatment can be received at respiratory clinics or other respiratory medical institutions," adding, "It is best to receive non-face-to-face treatment, telephone consultation, or prescriptions at the pediatric clinic you usually visit." He continued, "If a newborn is confirmed, they can receive non-face-to-face treatment at hospitals or clinics according to health center guidance," and "If the condition worsens, reporting through 119 will connect them to medical institutions capable of treatment and beds will be assigned immediately."

On this day, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that starting with operating four dedicated emergency medical centers at regional general hospital-level base hospitals, they will secure 10 such centers by the end of this month. They also plan to guide and provide incentives so that emergency medical institutions equipped with isolation beds can treat as many COVID-19 emergency patients as possible. Currently, 1,129 isolation beds are prepared at 304 emergency medical institutions nationwide.

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