[Q&A] "Infectious Disease Dedicated Hospital Beds Reduced to 1,500-2,300" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the domestic novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation stabilizes, the government has decided to gradually reduce the number of dedicated infectious disease hospitals.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the same day, "Among the 7,500 beds in 67 dedicated infectious disease hospitals, some will be reduced and adjusted to maintain a minimum number of beds at the city and provincial levels, and converted into general hospital beds."

Yoon added, "The bed reduction will be prioritized at institutions with low occupancy rates, and after establishing bed management and reactivation plans by region, further reductions will be pursued."

The first phase of reduction will be carried out today targeting 12 hospitals with no current confirmed patients and 682 beds. The second phase will be conducted within this month targeting hospitals unsuitable for continuous infectious disease response, such as nursing hospitals, and 11 hospitals with an occupancy rate below 5%.

The third phase will be implemented in early next month targeting 12 cities and provinces excluding Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and the metropolitan area, after establishing regional bed management and reactivation plans. The five cities and provinces in Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and the metropolitan area will review the trend of confirmed patients before considering additional reductions.

Yoon explained, "If the four phases of reduction are completed, under the trend of maintaining daily confirmed patients below 50, the number of infectious disease beds nationwide will be adjusted to around 1,500 to 2,300."

◇Below is a Q&A with Yoon, head of the quarantine team, regarding the reduction of dedicated infectious disease hospitals

- Today, Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo mentioned the plan to gradually reduce dedicated infectious disease hospitals. What is the background for this initiative?

▲ Dedicated infectious disease hospitals must remain empty regardless of whether patients come or not. Especially, public hospitals play a pivotal role in providing medical services in their regions. As a result, many general patients receive treatment at other hospitals. Some dedicated infectious disease hospitals are the only hospitals in their regions. Considering this situation, we saw the need to operate beds flexibly.

- What are the criteria for lifting or redesignating dedicated infectious disease hospitals by region?

▲ Currently, there are hospitals with no confirmed patients admitted. We plan to lift their designation first. Also, in regions with few confirmed cases, we will gradually lift designations while monitoring the trend of admitted confirmed patients. However, since large-scale infections may occur in certain regions, we will fully consider such possibilities and proceed with lifting designations in consultation with the respective cities and provinces.

- What measures are in place if a 'second wave' occurs or cluster infections arise in certain regions after partially lifting dedicated infectious disease hospitals?

▲ Dedicated infectious disease hospitals focus on severe patients. About 80% of all patients are mild cases that do not require special hospital treatment, so we introduced the concept of residential treatment centers as an alternative. We are not responding solely based on bed numbers but are considering residential treatment centers, dedicated infectious disease hospitals for moderate patients, and hospitals equipped with negative pressure rooms for severe patients while assessing the current situation. We are conducting multifaceted reviews on how these can be utilized step-by-step and are preparing plans to supplement any shortcomings identified so far.