"To Secure COVID-19 Beds in Gwangju, Military Hospitals and Closed Hospitals Must Be Utilized"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] As confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) surge in Gwangju, there are calls to utilize military hospitals or closed hospitals as isolation beds if there is a shortage of isolation beds.

Health and medical officials in the Gwangju area held a meeting on the 8th at the Gwangju City Council to find ways to secure beds and proposed such alternatives.

They suggested transferring patients from the military hospital in Hampyeong, Jeonnam, near Gwangju, to the Military Capital Hospital and other facilities, and using the Hampyeong hospital as a treatment bed for confirmed cases. They also proposed renting closed and put-up-for-sale hospitals to use as beds.

There was also an opinion to use first-class hotels with decreased users due to COVID-19 or religious facilities such as convents with low occupancy.

Currently, Gwangju City and Jeonnam and Jeonbuk provinces are establishing a system to jointly operate COVID-19 isolation beds. A total of 146 isolation beds are being operated at Honam region university hospitals and medical centers, with 95 beds in use as of this day.

Quarantine authorities plan to additionally secure residential treatment centers for mild patients and utilize Korea Electric Power KPS and the Civil Service Training Institute as isolation beds.