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In many provinces, hospitals do not have enough active rehabilitation beds to treat the growing number of Covid-19 patients.
As of December 21, the government confirmed that there were only 42 beds left in the country.
In Seoul, home to half the country’s population and most of the recent infections, the hospital has six beds.
The latest Covid-19 outbreak has put Korea in dire straits, completely different from the pre-epidemic era. If new cases get out of control and the hospital situation continues to deteriorate, the government may need to impose a Level 3 restriction, the highest level of social segregation, without a national lockdown.
Dull fear in the country has been seen as a role model against the epidemic for months. The streets of Seoul are increasingly deserted. Supermarkets have reported an increase in sales of instant noodles and processed foods. Restaurant owners worry that they will have to close the door or that only take out food will be served.
Now the virus is even more difficult to stop than at the beginning of the epidemic.
“Viruses seem to break out everywhere and nowhere is safe,” said Myeong Hae-kyung, chief nurse at Yeungnam University Medical Center. I used to work in Daegu translation center during the first translation.
“In the last few days, my life has revolved around the hospital and home.”
Medical personnel disinfect a subway train in Seoul city on December 10. Image: AP
In the second wave of Covid-19, the hospital was a Korean staple. The country aims to have a bed for the patient within one day of diagnosis of nCoV infection.
But as of December 20, 368 patients in the Seoul metropolitan area were still waiting for beds. Last week, two people died at home in the process.
The number of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) tripled this month to 274 on December 21. Over the weekend, for five consecutive days, Korea recorded more than 1,000 new infections.
“We have to make sure that the patient’s bed is as heavy as in war. Every day is important,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said.
The increase in the number of infections creates bottlenecks when health officials can only distribute the limited number of beds. The government has ordered public and private general hospitals to convert at least 1% of beds to treat people with severe Covid-19.
Health authorities expect overcrowding to improve over the next week as more empty beds become available. This will help the government decide whether to raise the cap to level 3, closing more than 2 million businesses.
“You see, nobody comes here,” said Lee Jeong-ae, the owner of a restaurant in Seoul, pointing to the rows of empty tables and saying. “The people most affected by social disparity are small business owners like us.”
Lee sells clam chowder, roast pork, and other Korean dishes. Recently, it started ordering large quantities of plastic packaging, as it would only be allowed to sell take-out products in the near future.
NCoV Mobile Test Sites at Jamsil Stadium, Seoul, December 2020. Image: Shutterstock
The city of Seoul remains in the limit order of 2.5. Schools, gyms, karaoke bars, bars, and high-risk venues are closed. Restaurants, cinemas, hair salons and many other businesses are still open, but must stop before 9:00 pm.
As of December 23, South Korea had more than 52,000 cases and at least 739 deaths. The strategy of proactive testing, monitoring of transmission routes, and appropriate treatment has worked, keeping mortality relatively low. But epidemiologists urged the government to impose a level 3 restriction before it is too late.
Unlike the previous outbreak, when the virus spread in large groups and authorities were able to trace contact, the second wave of Covid-19 appeared many small epidemic groups in nursing homes, churches, prisons and bathrooms. Steam and small dens. This makes control even more difficult.
Dr. Eom Joong-sik, who specializes in treating Covid-19 patients at Gil Hospital of Gachon University in Incheon, said the current situation reflects the government’s failure in planning, despite being a the vanguard. in the fight against the epidemic.
“Experts have warned that if another wave of infections hits the capital Seoul, home to half the country’s population, we will face a shortage of hospital beds and the government must plan for that,” Dr. Eom said.
President Moon Jae-in has delayed the imposition of a level 3 restriction, instead of increasing testing and isolating the patient, and introducing gradual rules of social segregation.
Residents are tested for Covid-19 at a subway station in Seoul, December 2020. Image: Reuters
Last week, South Korea tested 67,000 people every day, 10 times more than in October. In Seoul and neighboring cities, the government added 134 mobile test stations, encouraging people to take tests. free even without symptoms.
Parties and meetings of more than 5 people will be canceled. This is part of an effort to stop the spread of disease during Christmas and New Years. The annual Christmas tree celebration at Seoul City Hall was canceled. The churches are still decorated in a traditional way, but they seem more deserted.
Son Young-rae, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said: “We will be well prepared to impose a level 3 restriction if necessary. But we hope the government and the people will do so.” working together to control the wave of infection without him. “
Thuc Linh (According to the The Times of New York City)
