S. Korea running out of beds for critical patients as it approaches 20,000 total cases of COVID-19
- 4 years ago
코로나19 누적 확진자 2만명 육박...중환자 병상 확보 시급
Our starting point tonight - another day of triple-digit rise in Covid-19 infections in this country today... as restrictions on dining at restaurants, pubs and bakeries in the densely populated Seoul Metro Area took effect.
With the number of total cases fast approaching 20-thousand and particularly due to sporadic cluster infections in the greater Seoul area, hospital beds are quickly filling up.
Choi Won-jong leads our coverage tonight.
South Korea is getting much closer to reaching 20-thousand COVID-19 cases.
As of Monday, the nation reported 248 new cases, bringing the total to 19-thousand 9-hundred 47.
The total number of reported infections in the capital region now stands at more than 7,800 and last Friday overtook the total number from Daegu, which was the epicenter of the first wave of infections in South Korea several months ago.
The health authorities have imposed "level 2.5" social distancing measures on the capital region.
"The cases from unclear transmission paths and cluster infections should be reduced first. We will determine whether to ease or maintain stricter measures when we have better control of the virus prevention system.
In addition, the head of KCDC said on Monday that the number of critically ill patients has doubled to 79 from last week.
Due to recent surges in number of serious cases, hospitals are starting to run out of beds for critically ill patients.
Out of the capital region's 317 beds for critically ill patients, only 23 are currently available.
Among them, only 10 beds are fully equipped to treat these serious cases immediately.
Outside the capital area, there are currently no beds available in Gwangju, Daejeon and Gangwon-do and Jeolla-do provinces.
Health authorities are expecting more than 130 severely ill patients in early September, adding that additional beds will be in place... hopefully by the 14th of September.
Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.
Our starting point tonight - another day of triple-digit rise in Covid-19 infections in this country today... as restrictions on dining at restaurants, pubs and bakeries in the densely populated Seoul Metro Area took effect.
With the number of total cases fast approaching 20-thousand and particularly due to sporadic cluster infections in the greater Seoul area, hospital beds are quickly filling up.
Choi Won-jong leads our coverage tonight.
South Korea is getting much closer to reaching 20-thousand COVID-19 cases.
As of Monday, the nation reported 248 new cases, bringing the total to 19-thousand 9-hundred 47.
The total number of reported infections in the capital region now stands at more than 7,800 and last Friday overtook the total number from Daegu, which was the epicenter of the first wave of infections in South Korea several months ago.
The health authorities have imposed "level 2.5" social distancing measures on the capital region.
"The cases from unclear transmission paths and cluster infections should be reduced first. We will determine whether to ease or maintain stricter measures when we have better control of the virus prevention system.
In addition, the head of KCDC said on Monday that the number of critically ill patients has doubled to 79 from last week.
Due to recent surges in number of serious cases, hospitals are starting to run out of beds for critically ill patients.
Out of the capital region's 317 beds for critically ill patients, only 23 are currently available.
Among them, only 10 beds are fully equipped to treat these serious cases immediately.
Outside the capital area, there are currently no beds available in Gwangju, Daejeon and Gangwon-do and Jeolla-do provinces.
Health authorities are expecting more than 130 severely ill patients in early September, adding that additional beds will be in place... hopefully by the 14th of September.
Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.