[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The National Medical Center announced on the 13th that it has newly constructed a negative pressure isolation ward to treat severely ill patients with infection risks and began trial operation from the 12th.
The facility has a total floor area of 2,120㎡ and consists of three above-ground floors, equipped with 30 negative pressure treatment beds. The first and second floors are designated for negative pressure isolation rooms and support facilities, while the third floor is used as office space. Negative pressure isolation beds maintain a pressure difference between the area with the beds and the outside to prevent internal air from escaping, thereby reducing the risk of infection. All 30 beds are equipped with high-flow oxygen supply, ventilators, and ECMO. The facility also includes a Biosafety Level 3 (BL3) laboratory for researching high-risk infectious disease viruses.
The medical center prepared the ward in a short period through consultations with the government since June, in anticipation of the prolonged response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the occurrence of a large number of patients. The modular construction method was used to shorten the construction period. To enable immediate operation after completion, 78 experienced nursing staff have been urgently recruited. The medical center stated, "We have admitted many severe COVID-19 patients so far, and by newly constructing this permanent negative pressure isolation ward, we will establish the physical facilities and personnel of an independent infectious disease specialized ward and expand the practical role of the central infectious disease hospital."
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