Korean Medical Association: "Healthcare Institutions Facing Collapse... Relaxation of Quarantine Measures Must Be Halted Until the Outbreak Subsides"

"Challenges in Managing Home Treatment... Underestimation of Mortality Rate"
Expansion of Health Insurance Coverage for Rapid Antigen and PCR Tests
Recommendations to Ensure Sufficient Supply of Oral Antiviral Drugs

On the 18th, when the COVID-19 variant outbreak entered its peak phase, citizens lined up for testing at the temporary screening clinic in Seoul Plaza. On that day, 407,017 new confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total to 8,657,609. There were also 301 deaths in a single day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Korean Medical Association has expressed concerns about the government's easing of quarantine measures and urged that the easing be suspended until the epidemic phase subsides.

The KMA COVID-19 Countermeasures Committee stated on the 18th, "The government is easing quarantine measures solely because the vaccination rate is high and the fatality rate of Omicron is low," adding, "Given the current situation of rapid patient increase, we strongly urge a temporary suspension of easing quarantine measures until the situation calms down."

They also said, "Social functions are paralyzed, and it is difficult for public health centers and medical institutions to manage home treatment," criticizing, "In the midst of a sharp increase in confirmed cases and deaths, premature easing of quarantine measures is a notion that puts the public at risk."

The KMA emphasized the need to consider the potential fatality rate. They pointed out, "Even with the current number of deaths, the rate per population is the highest in the world, but this does not include those who died after being released from the shortened isolation period," and added, "Deaths due to worsening underlying conditions after Omicron infection are also increasing, so the currently reported number of COVID-19 deaths may actually be underestimated."

The KMA particularly expressed concern that medical institutions are facing collapse. They reported, "Nearly 200 nursing hospitals and hospitals in Seoul alone have more than 10 confirmed cases," adding, "In COVID-19 dedicated medical institutions, staff members have been infected one after another, making it difficult to continue operations under the Business Continuity Plan (BCP)."

The KMA proposed expanding health insurance coverage for rapid antigen tests and PCR tests to prevent transmission within medical institutions, and securing sufficient supplies of oral antiviral treatments (Paxlovid) so that medical staff can prescribe them immediately at the onset of symptoms. They also demanded the implementation of a fast-track treatment system for high-risk patients.

The KMA emphasized, "Facing the reality of medical institution collapse due to the surge in infections as described above, we repeatedly urge the suspension of easing quarantine measures until the peak of COVID-19 infections is reached, considering the capacity of medical institutions."

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