Samsung offers facilities for COVID-19 treatment
Seen is Samsung C&T's International Business Management Research Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Samsung Group on Wednesday offered its facilities for use as treatment centers for COVID-19 patients. / Courtesy of Samsung
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung is offering its training institute and a research facility for use as treatment centers for COVID-19 patients in an effort to provide a cushion for possible hospital bed shortages amid increasing virus cases in the country, the top conglomerate said Wednesday.
“Samsung decided to provide Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance's Global Campus facility in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, and Samsung C&T's International Business Management Research Center in Yongin in Gyeonggi Province to be used as virus treatment centers for COVID-19 patients,” the group said.
Samsung said the decision is to minimize a possible hospital bed shortage while the number of virus patients has recently soared in the greater Seoul area.
“Samsung Group has made a quick decision to offer its facilities on the basis that this decision will help minimize the societal damage caused by the COVID-19 outbreak,” a group official said.
The Goyang facility will have 180 beds and will be used for treating and monitoring patients with mild symptoms. The facility will begin operation on Aug. 31. The Yongin facility located south of Seoul will also open next week. The facility will have 110 beds and will be used for residents of the greater Seoul area who have mild symptoms.
In addition to offering its facilities, Samsung Group will also deploy doctors and nurses working at the group's hospital units ― Samsung Medical Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Samsung Changwon Hospital.
“Doctors and nurses from three of Samsung Group's hospitals will form groups comprised of one doctor and two nurses to work at these facilities on a rotational basis,” the official added.
Korea has been struggling with a rising number of COVID-19 cases. On Aug. 19, the government announced Level 2 social distancing measures for the greater Seoul area would be adopted due to the rising number of infections. The measure was extended nationwide on Aug. 23. However, the health authorities have warned that Korea may have to implement the highest level of social distancing ― Level 3 ― if the rate of transmission does not slow down.
On Wednesday, the country reported 320 new cases, including 307 local infections. The total caseload was raised to 18,265, according to the health authority.
Seen is Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance's Global Campus facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, which will be used as a treatment center for COVID-19 patients. / Courtesy of Samsung
This is not the first time Samsung Group has rolled up its sleeves for a good cause.
In March, when the number of COVID-19 cases was increasing rapidly nationwide, the group offered its training institutes in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, and Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. A total of 423 patients were hospitalized at these centers and Samsung hospitals' medical staff were also deployed there.
The group also provided financial support for disaster relief. It provided an emergency assistance package totaling 30 billion won ($25.3 million) to the National Disaster Relief Association early this year. The special package includes medical supplies and daily necessities.