Gov't urged to improve COVID-19 home treatment system after patient's death

An ambulance transfers a COVID-19 patient to a hospital in Eunpyeong District of Seoul in this photo taken in December 2020. Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

The government is being urged to improve the way it handles COVID-19 patients after an infected man died when his condition deteriorated quickly while he was waiting at home for an ambulance. This latest fatality is raising concerns as more patients displaying mild or no symptoms are expected to be told to stay home in line with the government's envisioned shift to a "living with COVID-19" policy from November.

According to the Central Disaster Management Headquarters, the man, in his 60s, who was placed under isolation at his home in the Seodaemun District of Seoul, died Thursday morning, after his condition deteriorated abruptly while waitinf to be transferred to a hospital.

This death is the first reported among some 13,000 cumulative cases of people who have undergone home treatment since the system was adopted in January of this year.

According to the public health authorities, the paramedics arrived at the patient's house at 7:05 a.m., but they could not immediately transfer him to a hospital because the ambulance was not equipped with the proper air filtering system needed to transport COVID-19 patients.

The patient then had to wait 25 minutes for an ambulance with the filtering system, during which he fell into cardiac arrest. He arrived at the hospital at around 8:05 a.m., but was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m.

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disasters Headquarters explained that the delay was due to a miscommunication between the quarantine authorities and the paramedics.

"The paramedics thought that he was a person in self-quarantine, as they were not informed by the public health authorities that he was a coronavirus patient," said Seo Soon-tak, a senior official at the headquarters, during a briefing on Friday.

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The public health authorities noted that the deceased was an unvaccinated, asymptomatic patient with no underlying diseases, meeting their conditions for being placed under home treatment.

People stand in line to receive a coronavirus test at a testing center near Seoul Station, Sunday. Yonhap

"Although medical workers had initially recommended him to enter a treatment facility considering his old age, the patient had chosen to isolate himself at home," the authorities said.

The home treatment policy was introduced in January and was limited only to children aged 12 and under who do not require hospitalization. From Oct. 8, the government expanded the policy to those under the age of 70 showing mild symptoms or asymptomatic patients, with no underlying diseases.

Patients are given equipment to measure their oxygen saturation levels and temperature at home and should consult with a doctor through phone calls more than once a day.

As of Oct. 22, a total of 2,280 patients have been placed under home care, among whom 2,176 are living in Seoul and its surrounding areas.

Medical experts advise that the government should improve the home care system, including communication with rescue workers and adopt stricter age limits.

"Patients aged over 60 are categorized as a high-risk group. In other countries where home treatment is being implemented, it is allowed only to patients aged under 50 and to breakthrough infection cases," said Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital.

Chon Eun-mi, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University shared the view, saying, "Patients over 60 should be hospitalized as they have higher risks of developing pneumonia in a short period of time."

The government, for its part, said it will strengthen cooperation with 119 authorities and local governments to prevent a recurrence, while maintaining its stance of expanding home treatment.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will hold a discussion session with experts, Monday, where it will unveil detailed plans on how to gradually phase out quarantine restrictions from November.

The health ministry plans to gradually ease social distancing measures, as any premature loosening of restrictions may lead to a resurgence of infections, as seen by situations in other countries such as the United Kingdom.

The U.K. has recorded an average of 47,000 new cases a day in the past week, up 18 percent from the week before, according to data released on Friday. Medical experts there are urging the government to re-introduce restrictions, such as mandatory mask-wearing indoors and social distancing, which were lifted three months ago.

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