The utilization rate of severe hospital beds in the metropolitan area exceeds 75%… "Nationwide leisure"

As the number of severe cases of COVID-19 increases, the burden on medical response in the metropolitan area is increasing, but the quarantine authorities judged that it is not at the level to trigger an 'emergency plan' based on the whole country.

Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Remediation Headquarters, said in an interview with TBS Radio Kim Eo-jun's News Factory on the 15th, "The operation rate of intensive care units in metropolitan areas such as Seoul and Incheon is increasing, but nationwide there is room."

In an interview with YTN Radio Hwang Bo-seon on the morning of departure, Park Hyang, head of the quarantine department at the Joong-su-bon, also said, "So far, a lot of severely ill beds in the metropolitan area are exhausted and there is plenty of room in non-metropolitan areas. said.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the utilization rate of hospital beds for severely ill patients in the metropolitan area was 76.4%, exceeding the 'ICU utilization rate of 75%', which the government suggested as an example of the criteria for triggering an 'emergency plan' that halts the gradual recovery of daily life. We are about to announce detailed guidelines such as the criteria for triggering the emergency plan.

Director Sohn said, "The total number of confirmed cases is in the mid-to-late 2,000 range, but considering the situation when preparing for 5,000 to 7,000 people, the overall epidemic is an important criterion," Son said. The increase is not steep.”

However, he added that the number of patients with severe cases is increasing as the number of breakthrough infections among the elderly who started vaccination early is increasing, and in particular, there are many cluster infections in nursing homes and facilities where vaccination was first started, he added.

Director Park said, "The increase in the number of patients with severe cases is due to the increase in the total number of confirmed cases, and the cumulative fatality rate and severe neutralization rate did not increase significantly compared to the past. There seems to be a lot,” he explained.

Regarding the plan to shorten the period of booster vaccination for the elderly from 6 months to 5 months after completion of vaccination, Park said, "The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is discussing it, but it has not been confirmed. Discussion is still ongoing."