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Severe patients among corona confirmed patients may have to be transferred to another hospital for treatment. Above all, it is important to transport patients as quickly as possible. As a result of the coverage, there are only two ambulances in the country that can transport critically ill patients equipped with artificial heart and lung systems, and even that is possible only in Seoul.



Reporter Park Jae-hyeon covered the story.



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A couple in their 60s living in Seoul was diagnosed with Corona on the 10th and 11th of last month.



After spending two days at home because there was no hospital bed, my wife got sick and called an ambulance.



I couldn't find a bed, so I had to give oxygen in the car overnight.



[Daughter - Call at the time of the 119 paramedics: We are waiting while continuing to supply oxygen. Oxygen is almost running out, so another ambulance will come and wait with my mother.]



The husband and wife, who started treatment in the intensive care unit with difficulty, died after 10 days of hospitalization.



My wife had to wear an artificial heart and lung system, Ekmo, and even a lung transplant had to be considered.



[Corona critically ill couple's daughter: Mom, I'll find a way. I can't, but I'll find a way. Let's be patient and wait a little bit.]



A hospital in Gyeonggi-do has expressed its intention to treat.



But transport was impossible.



There are only two special ambulances nationwide that can transport critically ill patients with Ekmo.



The Seoul National University Hospital is consigned and operated by the Seoul National University Hospital, because requests for transfer of critically ill patients have skyrocketed since the Corona crisis, and patients are being transferred only within Seoul.



[Intensive care transfer facility officials: (Seoul) We do not transfer at all.

You can't even go to the nearest hospital.

I know that there is no intensive care center in Gyeonggi-do.]



The Seoul Metropolitan Government also sent an official letter to the hospital requesting that it be operated only within Seoul.



Experts have argued for the urgency of the critical care system.



[Seo Ji-young/Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at Samsung Seoul Hospital: The system that can safely transport Corona patients on ventilators is still very insufficient.

In the local community, it is almost impossible to transport patients.]



The quarantine authorities said that the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to introduce two additional special ambulances, and Gyeonggi Province said that they are discussing the introduction.



In preparation for the explosion of Omicron mutation, it is necessary to overhaul the national critical care transport system.



(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok·Hyung Yoon, Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)