[On-site Video] "Thank You So Much" Medical Staff Fighting Dual Hardships of COVID-19 and Heatwave

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, PD Yoon Jin-geun] “Just standing here makes it hard to breathe.”, “We are truly grateful to the medical staff.”

As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to surge daily, citizens are flocking to screening clinics every day to get tested.

From the medical staff’s perspective, the grueling work combined with the heatwave means they are enduring a ‘double hardship’ with their whole bodies. There are growing concerns that the burden on medical personnel could increase further once the full-scale heatwave begins.

On the 16th, when the press visited the Seoul Station screening clinic, the apparent temperature exceeded 33 degrees Celsius. Medical staff were conducting COVID-19 related tests on the influx of citizens.

The thick protective suits were even exhausting to look at. The medical staff relied on the shade of tents and were fully committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Citizens expressed their sympathy. Kim, a company employee in his 30s, said, “The weather is so hot, and seeing the medical staff working so hard makes me feel very sorry,” adding, “I hope COVID disappears as soon as possible.”

Another office worker in his 30s, Choi, said, “I hope the government provides more support related to the heatwave,” and added, “I wish they would increase manpower so shifts could be changed more frequently.”

Meanwhile, there was also an incident where a district office employee working at a temporary screening clinic in Seoul collapsed from exhaustion. According to Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, at around 2:20 p.m., a female public official in her 40s, Ms. A, collapsed and lost consciousness at the Sillim Sports Center temporary screening clinic.

Ms. A had been dispatched to support the screening clinic from 10 a.m. that day.

Colleagues and on-site medical staff who found Ms. A performed emergency treatment, and before the ambulance arrived, she regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Ms. A returned home with no major health issues.

Experts have suggested the need for measures to reduce the burden on medical staff. Lim Chang-mok, an epidemiologist from Gyeongsangnam-do, emphasized, “Medical staff are suffering greatly due to extreme work stress combined with the heatwave.” He added, “It is also important to actively install walk-through screening clinics where air conditioning is easier to implement to increase testing speed and improve conditions for medical personnel.”