Emergency Room Visits at 80% of Usual... "Emergency Medical System Maintaining a Certain Level"

Ministry of Health and Welfare, "Continuously Monitoring Emergency Medical Situations Closely"

The government stated that the emergency medical situation after the Chuseok holiday is "generally similar to the emergency medical situation before the holiday" and that "the emergency medical system is being maintained at a certain level."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 23rd, out of 411 emergency rooms nationwide, 406 are operating 24 hours a day, except for five locations: Kangwon National University Hospital, Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, and Yongin Myeongju Hospital.

As of the 20th, the total number of patients visiting emergency rooms was 14,294. This is about 80% of the usual number (17,892). Among all patients, mild and non-emergency patients numbered 5,851, approximately 71% of the usual number (8,285).

The follow-up treatment (background treatment) continuing from the emergency rooms has also maintained a similar level since the beginning of this month. As of noon on the 20th, out of a total of 180 regional and local emergency medical centers at the general hospital level or higher, 102 were capable of treating 27 types of severe emergency diseases. This is the same as the weekday average in the second week of September (102 centers) and seven fewer than the usual average (109 centers).

Jung Yoon-soon, Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "The government is carefully monitoring the emergency medical situation with vigilance," and urged, "Citizens are asked to follow emergency room usage guidelines, such as first visiting local clinics if symptoms are mild, and calling 119 if they believe it is a serious illness."