Gyeonggi-do Expands 'One-Stop Medical Institutions and Temporary Screening Clinics' Amid COVID-19 Resurgence

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (right) visited Seongnam City Medical Center on the 1st to discuss measures against the resurgence of COVID-19 with medical personnel and others.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is significantly expanding the number of one-stop medical institutions to 2,372 in preparation for the COVID-19 resurgence. In addition, the temporary screening clinics, currently numbering 2, will be increased more than tenfold to 25 by early this month.

On the 1st, Gyeonggi Province announced that in response to the COVID-19 resurgence, it will secure additional 'one-stop medical institutions' where residents can receive testing, diagnosis, and prescription of treatment drugs all at one nearby neighborhood clinic or hospital.

According to the province, the weekly number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province dropped to 12,470 in the 25th week (June 12?18) but surged to 154,205 in the 31st week (July 24?30).

However, the doubling phenomenon (where the number of confirmed cases doubles weekly), which continued from the 27th week (June 26?July 2, 16,631 cases) to the 30th week (July 17?23, 123,726 cases), has slowed down since last week.

Nevertheless, among age groups, the proportion of confirmed cases aged 60 and above, who are at higher risk of severe illness, increased by 1% weekly from 11% in the 28th week (July 3?9) to 15% last week.

Accordingly, the province plans to expand the number of one-stop medical institutions from 1,319 on the 13th of last month to 1,680 on the 28th, and further to 2,372 by the 10th of this month.

Furthermore, in response to increased demand for diagnosis and testing, the province will conduct PCR tests on weekends at 112 screening clinics and 673 respiratory patient care centers that currently operate on weekdays. The number of temporary screening clinics will also be expanded from 2 to 25 by the 10th.

To respond to severe cases, 1,892 dedicated COVID-19 treatment beds (421 moderate, 861 semi-severe, 610 severe) are currently in operation, and an additional 21 severe beds will be secured at six medical institutions of general hospital level or higher.

Additionally, special beds for dialysis (108 beds), childbirth (2 beds), and pediatrics (142 beds) have been secured to prepare for nighttime emergencies. A special patient transfer and admission linkage system has also been established and is operating to ensure patients are immediately transferred to hospitals where they can be admitted.

On the same day, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the infectious disease-dedicated beds at Seongnam City Medical Center and the screening clinic at Sujeong-gu Public Health Center to inspect the sites and encourage medical staff and employees in response to the COVID-19 resurgence.

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