Seoul Asan Hospital Treats Nosocomial COVID-19 Patients in General Wards Using Single Rooms

During Hospitalization Confirmed Asymptomatic and Mild Patients
Samsung Seoul Hospital Medical Staff Isolation Period Shortened from 7 Days to 5 Days

Seoul Asan Hospital exterior.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Seoul Asan Medical Center has decided to allow asymptomatic and mild patients who contracted COVID-19 during their hospital stay to be treated in general wards. They plan to utilize single rooms within the ward or rooms equipped with portable negative pressure devices.

On the 10th, Seoul Asan Medical Center announced that it has changed its guidelines to enable asymptomatic and mild patients diagnosed with COVID-19 among inpatients to continue receiving treatment within the inpatient ward.

Seoul Asan Medical Center generally moves patients who test positive in periodic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests conducted on inpatients to severe or semi-severe COVID-19 beds. However, since more than 90% of severe and semi-severe beds are currently occupied, patients either wait until a severe bed becomes available or receive safe treatment in single rooms or isolation rooms equipped with portable negative pressure devices within the ward where they are currently admitted, especially if they are close to discharge.

Among major hospitals in Seoul, Seoul National University Hospital began treating COVID-19 patients in general wards starting from the 21st of last month. This decision was made due to difficulties in assigning isolation wards amid numerous in-hospital infections and the need for continuous treatment of patients. However, other major tertiary hospitals in Seoul have not yet started treating COVID-19 confirmed patients in general wards.

Meanwhile, following Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center has also decided to shorten the isolation period for COVID-19 positive medical staff from 7 days to 5 days. This applies to asymptomatic confirmed cases who have completed vaccination, allowing them to resume work after 5 days of isolation from the specimen collection date.

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