Authorities: 56 Severe COVID-19 Patients in Korea... 82 Cases of Severe or Higher Condition (Update)

Medical staff at the Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, China, are treating a critically ill patient infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device.<이미지:Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Among domestic patients infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 56 are currently in critical condition as of the 26th.

At a briefing on the same day, Kwak Jin, head of the Patient Management Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated, "Among confirmed COVID-19 cases, 56 are in critical condition, 26 are in severe stages, making a total of 82 patients in severe or higher stages."

The number of severe patients increased by one compared to the previous day, while the number of critical patients decreased by three. Among the critical patients, one is in their 20s and one is in their 40s. Two of the patients in their 40s are in severe stages. Kwak mentioned that one patient in their 40s who was critical the previous day has improved to a severe condition.

The health authorities classify patients who are on mechanical ventilation or using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device as critical. Patients who can breathe on their own but have decreased oxygen saturation requiring oxygen therapy or have a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius or higher are considered severe.