Severe COVID-19 cases surge to 1,196... Hospital beds in emergency again

Health Authorities Predict Record High of 2,150 Cases by Month-End
Medical Staff Shortage Crisis Imminent
ICU Bed Occupancy at 65.1%
Gangwon and Gyeongnam Already Facing Bed Saturation

On the 14th, medical staff at Seoul Medical Center are transferring COVID-19 confirmed patients to hospital rooms.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the Omicron variant continues to spread, the number of critically ill patients and deaths has surpassed record highs daily, raising concerns that a shortage of hospital beds and medical personnel is imminent. In some regions such as Gangwon and Gyeongnam, beds for treating severe patients have already reached full capacity.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 15th, the occupancy rate of intensive care unit (ICU) beds used by critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 65.1%. Among these, the metropolitan area recorded 62.0%, while non-metropolitan areas showed 72.4%. Additionally, the occupancy rate for semi-critical patient beds nationwide rose to 70.0%, with non-metropolitan areas (72.5%) again exceeding the metropolitan area (68.2%).

In particular, the ICU bed occupancy rate in non-metropolitan areas surged rapidly from 34.0% in the third week of February to 50.1% in the fourth week, then 62.6% in the first week of March, and 71.9% in the second week. The ratio of confirmed cases relative to medical capacity in non-metropolitan areas was 139.5%, exceeding the response threshold for the second consecutive week (132.2%). The proportion of the 'high-risk infection group' aged 60 and above among confirmed cases also increased from 15.0% in the first week of March to 16.2% last week, and 17.8% on the 14th.

Based on predictions from seven domestic research teams announced the previous day, the health authorities forecast that the COVID-19 outbreak will peak between the 16th and 22nd, with an average daily number of confirmed cases ranging from 316,000 to 372,000, and that the outbreak will begin to decline around the 23rd. The number of critically ill patients is expected to average between 1,650 and 2,150 per day from the 25th of this month to the 1st of next month.

Jung Eun-kyeong, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "We are currently entering the peak phase of the Omicron outbreak, and considering that the number of critically ill patients tends to rise 2 to 3 weeks after the peak, it is necessary to strengthen the medical response system."

Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital said, "It is unclear when the peak of the Omicron outbreak will occur, but ICU usage is approaching a critical level of 70%. Even if we are at the peak now, the number of severe patients will continue to increase for 2 to 3 weeks, making it difficult to predict the peak and estimate its scale."

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