KHMU Newsletter No. 5 March 5, 2020
First
and foremost, a sufficient safety measure should be taken for health and
medical workers.
We shall get over the crisis in unity beyond fear, hatred and exclusion, and discrimination.
@Photo by Kang Yeon Bae, KHMU
As of today, on March 5th, there are now 5,766 confirmed coronavirus cases in Korea, with 89.9% of those in Daegu city and Gyungsangbuk-do. Out of those confirmed patients, 88 were cured and released from isolation.
The mortality rate of COVID-19 is below 0.6% although the virus is being transmitted between humans with a close contact at a very high speed even from the early latent period of the infection. Up to today, there have been 17 deaths and their average age is 61. It was reported that most of them had underlying health conditions.
Up to now, a total of 149,775 was tested and recently over 10,000 are being tested every day. As the transmission linked to a religious sect is increasing, more confirmed patients are expected for the time being.
From the perspective of the KHMU, the current administration has been responding to the outbreak and relevant situations quite well. However, we are concerned about the possibility that those patients who need emergent treatment may not get the medical services in a timely manner as the number of beds in hospitals are increasingly short due to the virus. In addition, with this situation is prolonged, the accumulated fatigue of medical staff and physicians is emerging as a serious issue at the moment.
Under the circumstances, the KHMU urge the government to take more active measures and actions. We also demand the followings to the National Assembly and appeal to Korean citizens.
The central government and municipalities should take measures to deal with the current challenges in a faster manner.
Masks and safety gadgets should be distributed preferentially to medical organizations and health and medical workers. At the moment, as issues of masks that are running out very fast are not resolved, the government should take special measures. The government should have local suppliers produce protective masks, which have been imported from overseas countries so far.
Education and trainings for health and medical workers should increase and become more intensive. In preparation for accommodation of a large number of confirmed patients, workers also need to be ready. In particular, an adequate level of trainings should also be given to indirectly employed workers such as those working in sanitation and maintenance sectors. To this end, the government should not spare budget for support.
A particular measure should be taken to protect socially marginalized group of people. Care services should be given to those with mental illness, older citizens and disabled people, and infant and pre-school age children, and the government should ensure that no one of them is neglected due to the lack of care services. In addition, paid leave for family care should be also available. An active measure is needed particularly for pregnant hospital workers.
The government should provide financial support to medical institutions and workers. The public hospitals account for only 10% of the total hospitals in Korea, hence, the government should also take into account private medical institutions in planning the financial and other types of support.
The national assembly should process and make a decision on concerned laws and additional budget as soon as possible.
Citizens should not hate, exclude and/or discriminate people in a particular condition.
Citizens should actively participate in blood sharing. The KHMU is also joining in the campaign.
We ask you all to cheer and give support to health and medical workers who are fighting against COVID-19 in the field.
@Photo by Kang Yeon Bae, KHMU
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