Masanghyuk Ma, Chair of the Infection Control Committee, Gyeongnam Medical Association
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] Masanghyuk, Vice President of the Korean Vaccine Society (Chairman of the Infection Control Committee of the Gyeongnam Medical Association), criticized the government's quarantine policy, saying, "South Korea is currently in a state of COVID-19 anarchy."
On the 17th, Vice President Ma posted on his Facebook, "The government says it is managing COVID-19 at the level of the flu," adding, "Then it means they are doing nothing. What have the public officials done so far to manage flu patients?"
He continued, "A friend called me. At night, his mother was sick with COVID-19 and wanted to go to the hospital, but he complained that he couldn't get in touch with anyone and had nowhere to go. Why should COVID-19 patients be treated like this?" He said, "South Korea is currently in a state of COVID-19 anarchy, and citizens must fend for themselves. Rather than getting tested for COVID-19, let's choose treatment."
In another post, he pointed out, "I think adults in South Korea who have not contracted COVID-19 have problems with social relationships," "A true friend is someone who eats together, drinks a glass of alcohol, and catches COVID-19 together, isn't it?" and "Shouldn't people who have not been infected with COVID-19 now be regarded as natural monuments?"
Vice President Ma criticized, "A country with 1.6 million people receiving home treatment. This is a world record for South Korea. We do not call it home treatment but home neglect. It is called deprivation of treatment rights," adding, "During a radio interview, I said that at night South Korea becomes a COVID-19 medical desert, and the host asked, 'Is it okay to say this?' I said that those who need to hear the bitter truth from the people are politicians and public officials."
He diagnosed, "The use of antibiotics is unnecessary except in cases requiring hospitalization, and the main treatment is the use of antipyretic analgesics. Injectable drugs are far more effective than oral ones. In cases of severe sore throat, early short-term use of steroids is very helpful," adding, "Although the mortality rate is low, the intervention in treatment is too slow. Now is the time for rapid medical response."
He also emphasized, "The surge in patients can no longer be stopped by any means, except for curfews. A strategy to minimize casualties is necessary. Those with good prognosis should self-treat, high-risk groups should receive active response, and social distancing is not the issue now."
Meanwhile, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the 17th, there were 621,328 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. This is an increase of 220,587 from the previous day (400,741), surpassing 600,000 for the first time since the COVID-19 crisis began.
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