Assemblyman Son Geum-ju: "Doing Our Best to Secure Negative Pressure Wards and Respond to COVID-19"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] According to data submitted and analyzed by Son Geum-ju, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Jeonnam Naju·Hwasun, National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee, Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee) on the 26th from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, it was confirmed that there are only 40 negative pressure isolation rooms capable of treating infectious diseases such as COVID-19 in medical institutions in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions.

In Gwangju Metropolitan City, a total of 16 rooms are operated, including 7 at Chonnam National University Hospital and 5 at Chosun University Hospital. In Jeonnam Province, a total of 24 negative pressure rooms are in operation, including 5 at Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital, and 4 each at Suncheon Medical Center and Gangjin Medical Center.

Representative Son Geum-ju stated, “Whenever highly contagious new viruses such as MERS and COVID-19 emerge, the need for negative pressure rooms has been raised, but securing these rooms has been delayed due to the enormous budget required. Even now, securing a budget for the additional installation of negative pressure rooms in each region is necessary.” She emphasized, “The National Assembly will actively cooperate with the government to provide masks to vulnerable groups, secure negative pressure rooms, and do our best to quickly calm and resolve the COVID-19 situation.”