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Medical worker guides people to receive COVID-19 tests at a screening center in Seoul Station, Friday. Yonhap |
By Bahk Eun-ji
The government's lack of measures to deal with the fallout from its eased antivirus restrictions under the "Living with COVID-19" plan has prompted confusion in the medical field.
In particular, critics point out that indicators for evaluating the risk of COVID-19 do not properly reflect how bad the coronavirus situation is.
According to data from local governments, the rapid increase in infections is leading to a shortage of hospital beds, especially in intensive care units (ICUs).
In the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, 81.5 percent of ICU beds were occupied as of Saturday.
The rate in Seoul alone was 82.9 percent, showing a more serious bed shortage problem. Of the total 345 ICU beds in Seoul, 286 are in use, leaving 59 available.
Experts point out that the government's lack of preparation before easing the antivirus restrictions has led to the deficiency of ICU beds in the metropolitan area.
"Compared to the current increase in daily infections, preparation for ICUs and medical personnel was insufficient," said Choi Jae-wook, a professor of preventive medicine at Korea University School of Medicine.
"The KDCA's new five-tier system to assess the COVID-19 risk level on a weekly basis to decide whether to continue with the eased virus restrictions, announced Wednesday, appears to be far from this reality."
The risk level, assessed by the health authorities through comprehensive indicators, is "moderate" for the metropolitan area and "low" for the country as a whole among the five levels.
The KDCA said it will immediately review whether to carry out contingency plans if hospital bed occupancy for severe cases surpasses the 75 percent threshold, but pointed out that occupancy of ICU beds in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon should be counted separately.
Eom Joong-sik, a professor of infectious disease at Gachon University Gil Hospital, pointed out: "Critically ill patients are concentrated in the metropolitan area, but it seems the government says that it's okay because we have more beds in an area three to four hours away from the capital."
"Even if the government secures more ICU beds, I wonder how it will secure the medical personnel to work there," Eom said.
In response, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum called for efficient ICU management during a meeting with chiefs of 22 tertiary hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area. Friday.
"The government's priority will be swiftly adding hospital beds and supporting medical resources as quickly as possible.
"There are concerns that our journey to return to normalcy may stop for a while if we cannot overcome this crisis," Kim said during the meeting.
Under the measures, critically ill patients in the capital area can be sent to available intensive care beds in non-capital areas. Kim ordered the authorities to strengthen the country's patient transport system with air ambulances to support their transfer.