Greater confirmation of old age, 5-fold increase in serious and critically ill patients … Ten deaths in three days

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The number of deaths is increasing rapidly as the number of elderly patients who are at high risk of infection with the new coronavirus (Corona 19) increases. Corona 19 severe and severe patients, mostly elderly, have also multiplied by five in the last two weeks, raising concerns from the quarantine authorities.

According to quarantine authorities, there were 16 Corona 19 deaths in the last 10 days, including 10 in 3 days from 28 to 30. This is a figure that corresponds to 5% of accumulated deaths (323) in Korea at 0 00:00 on the 30th. This increase in deaths is associated with an increase in the number of elderly patients. In the last two weeks (17-30 days), the proportion of people aged 60 years or older among all new confirmed cases was 33.3% (1,461), which is higher than 26.9% (257) of the previous two weeks. The second Corona 19 epidemic not only increased the number of confirmed cases, but also increased the proportion of total confirmed cases.

In particular, 49.2% of people aged 60 and over accounted for almost half of the people aged 60 who were confirmed to attend the Liberation Day rally held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 15th of this month. During the outbreak in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region that swept through the Jesus Shincheonji Church in February and March this year, the proportion of elderly patients aged 60 and over was approximately 14%. Of the 323 deaths, 301 (93.2%) are 60 years or older. The 18 deaths in the last two weeks are 60 or older.

The increase in confirmed elderly patients appears to have affected the recent successive cases of group infections in nursing homes and nursing homes. Infection in such facilities is of particular concern to quarantine authorities as it is highly likely to result in death.
In a regular briefing on the 30th, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jeong Eun-kyung, said: “Recently, cases of group infections are increasing in medical institutions such as nursing homes and hospitals in elderly used by elderly people who are at high risk. It has been confirmed that there are many cases where (viruses) enter the facilities and then spread. “Jung Headquarters urged:” To avoid the influx of (viral) facilities, workers in nursing facilities should refrain from visiting facilities of multiple uses such as cafes and restaurants, and canceling or postponing trips or meetings. “Looking at the infection route of corona deaths19, it was found that more than half of the 323 deaths, more than half, 169 (52, 3%) had been infected in facilities or hospitals. The rapid increase in the number of seriously ill patients with a high mortality rate is generating concern for quarantine authorities. The number of severe and severe patients with corona19 from 13 to 17 this month it has increased fivefold to 70 on the 30th. 50 of 70 were found to have an underlying disease. Quarantine authorities classify cases requiring oxygenation treatment as g patients. raves and cases in which artificial (forced) respiration is required through machinery such as critically ill patients. Kim Woo-joo, professor of infectious medicine at Daeguro Hospital in Korea, said: “As the number of elderly patients increases, the number of seriously ill patients increases, so the number of deaths may increase.” I need it.”

As the number of high-risk patients increases, such as the elderly, it is also an emergency to secure a treatment bed. As of 8 p.m. on the 29th, there are no beds in five areas, including Gwangju, Daejeon, Gangwon, Jeonbuk and Jeonnam, where seriously ill patients can be admitted immediately. Only 59 beds are available for seriously ill patients nationwide.

Kang Dong-woong [email protected]· Song Hye-mi reporter