Spread of the Trend 'Slows'... Severe and Critical Patients Begin to Increase Significantly

9 out of 10 Severe Care Beds in Jeonnam Are 'In Use'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Although the resurgence of COVID-19 is slowing down, the number of critically ill patients is showing a clear upward trend. As the bed occupancy rate also rises, the government has announced plans to respond through bed efficiency and expansion.

As of midnight on the 4th, the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients was counted at 310. This surpassed 300 for the first time in 78 days since May 18 (313 patients). Over the past four days, the number of critically ill patients fluctuated between 284 → 287 → 282 → 284, but compared to the previous week, it increased by 1.60 to 1.99 times, rising more sharply than new confirmed cases.

As the number of critically ill patients increases, the bed occupancy rate is also trending upward. The nationwide occupancy rate for critical care beds reached the 30% range for the first time since April 27 this year, rising to 32.7% on this day. For semi-critical care beds, the nationwide occupancy rate is 48.8%, with about half of the beds in use.

Although a nationwide shortage of beds has not yet occurred, there is a severe imbalance in bed occupancy rates by region. In Jeonnam, 9 out of 10 critical care beds (90%) are in use. In Busan, 27 out of 46 critical care beds are occupied, showing an occupancy rate of about 58.7%. For semi-critical care beds, Daejeon is operating at 73.3%, and Gyeongnam at 55.2% occupancy.

The quarantine authorities are aware of this situation and have taken measures. Park Hyang, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ quarantine team, said, "There are some hospitals or regions where bed occupancy rates are high," adding, "In such places, adjustments are made through bed allocation such as reallocating critical and semi-critical care beds."

Additional bed procurement is also underway in preparation for an increase in confirmed cases. The first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare) explained at a briefing yesterday, "Currently, there are 6,210 beds available, which can accommodate 150,000 confirmed cases," and added, "We are securing additional beds in preparation for 300,000 cases."

Experts expect the peak number of critically ill patients to be around 500. Professor Baek Soon-young, emeritus professor at the Catholic University School of Medicine, said, "An increase in critically ill patients is the most dangerous figure, but if the overall infection trend decreases, the number of critically ill patients will not exceed 500 and will decline."

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