[Featured Stock] SWY Faces Severe COVID-19 Bed Shortage...Urgent Expansion of Modular Negative Pressure Beds Needed

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] As the number of severe COVID-19 patients rapidly increases, the shortage of negative pressure wards has become a social issue. This appears to have also affected the stock price of Eswai, a leading company in the modular construction sector.

As of 2:51 PM on the 20th, Eswai's stock was trading at 4,330 KRW, up 17.34% (640 KRW) compared to the previous trading day.

Park Kyung-mi, spokesperson for the Blue House, conveyed President Moon's special directive in writing, which included instructions to secure hospital beds. President Moon urged, "National university hospitals should focus their medical capabilities on treating severe COVID-19 patients."

He added, "In preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 situation, please actively promote the expansion of modular severe patient beds similar to those currently operated by the National Medical Center."

Seoul National University Hospital plans to create 48 modular beds equipped with negative pressure facilities on a tennis court. The occupancy rates for severe COVID-19 beds are 91.8% in Incheon, 88.9% in Seoul, and 85.8% in Gyeonggi Province. The government announced that it will concentrate a significant portion of the treatment capabilities of national university hospitals nationwide on treating severe COVID-19 patients to secure beds for them.

Eswai, a comprehensive building materials company, collaborated with the specialized construction company Steel Life at the end of last year to develop a mobile modular negative pressure ward applying high-density urethane panels, air conditioning facilities, and negative pressure design. Negative pressure wards are special isolation facilities that block the external leakage of viruses. Last year, Eswai also submitted proposals to local and metropolitan governments for supplying mobile modular negative pressure wards for severe patients.

The mobile modular