S. Korea's total COVID-19 caseload tops 20,000 on Tuesday
- 4 years ago
코로나19 누적 환자 2만 명…위중•중증 환자도 급증
20-thousand and upward.
South Korea has surpassed 20-thousand in total Covid-19 cases, a little over seven months after it reported its first coronavirus case.
What's alarming is that for the first time, there are over one-hundred patients who are seriously or critically ill from the virus - an eightfold increase from two weeks ago.
Extra strain on the healthcare system, Kim Dami leads our coverage.
South Korea has passed an unsought milestone in its COVID-19 outbreak, its total caseload rising above 20-thousand cases.
The country reported 235 new cases on Tuesday.
On top of that, there's now a shortage of hospital beds for a growing number of patients who are critically ill.
"A total of 104 patients are in critical condition. This is the first time that number has surpassed a hundred."
That's also more than ten times the number two weeks ago.
Health experts note that a lack of beds for the critically ill was foreseeable.
"Many of the elderly were infected recently at church gatherings. These people are more likely to end up in critical condition and then lose their lives."
With the number of severely ill patients expected to go up in the coming weeks, the health authorities have pledged to do all they can to treat them.
"The government is doing its best to secure as many as beds and rooms as possible by working with university hospitals, especially in the Seoul area. We have secured 44 more beds since last week."
In the meantime, Seoul on Tuesday reported at least 17 new infection clusters.
To stop the virus, the capital region has already banned eating and drinking in restaurants after 9 PM -- now it'll apply that rule to convenience stores too, until this coming Sunday.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.
20-thousand and upward.
South Korea has surpassed 20-thousand in total Covid-19 cases, a little over seven months after it reported its first coronavirus case.
What's alarming is that for the first time, there are over one-hundred patients who are seriously or critically ill from the virus - an eightfold increase from two weeks ago.
Extra strain on the healthcare system, Kim Dami leads our coverage.
South Korea has passed an unsought milestone in its COVID-19 outbreak, its total caseload rising above 20-thousand cases.
The country reported 235 new cases on Tuesday.
On top of that, there's now a shortage of hospital beds for a growing number of patients who are critically ill.
"A total of 104 patients are in critical condition. This is the first time that number has surpassed a hundred."
That's also more than ten times the number two weeks ago.
Health experts note that a lack of beds for the critically ill was foreseeable.
"Many of the elderly were infected recently at church gatherings. These people are more likely to end up in critical condition and then lose their lives."
With the number of severely ill patients expected to go up in the coming weeks, the health authorities have pledged to do all they can to treat them.
"The government is doing its best to secure as many as beds and rooms as possible by working with university hospitals, especially in the Seoul area. We have secured 44 more beds since last week."
In the meantime, Seoul on Tuesday reported at least 17 new infection clusters.
To stop the virus, the capital region has already banned eating and drinking in restaurants after 9 PM -- now it'll apply that rule to convenience stores too, until this coming Sunday.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.