Seoul Infectious Disease Dedicated Hospitals Operating Rate Nears 80%
107 Additional General Beds Secured
Expansion of Autonomous District Life Treatment Centers
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to install 150 temporary beds using containers to secure treatment beds for COVID-19.
Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, stated at an emergency briefing on the 4th, "If the current trend of cases continues, a shortage of beds is inevitable," and added, "We will do our utmost to maintain the public healthcare system."
According to the city, as of 8 p.m. the previous day, the bed occupancy rate at infectious disease-dedicated hospitals in the metropolitan area was 71.2%, with Seoul reaching 79.8%. Of the 61 beds dedicated to severe patients in Seoul, 53 are in use, and of the 1,473 beds at residential treatment centers for mild patients, 1,098 are occupied.
The city plans to first secure an additional 107 general beds by, among other measures, operating the Seoul Municipal Eastern Hospital as an additional COVID-19 infectious disease-dedicated hospital starting next week. In particular, temporary beds using containers will be installed in unused spaces at municipal hospitals. Beginning with 48 beds at Seoul Medical Center on the 10th, a total of 150 temporary beds will be operated across three locations, including the Seoul Medical Center branch and Seobuk Hospital.
Furthermore, the city intends to expand residential treatment centers in each autonomous district, opening one center in each of the 25 districts. Accordingly, asymptomatic patients under 49 years old will be treated at the district residential treatment centers, while asymptomatic patients aged 50 and over or mild patients will receive treatment at residential treatment centers operated by the city.
Acting Mayor Seo said, "We will make every effort with the determination to prevent a situation where home quarantine treatment fails."
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