![]() In order to maximise infection control and ED capacity, we have implemented use of a negative pressure isolation stretcher (NPIS) and additional NPIRs. However, potential breaches of infection control could occur due to nosocomial spread through intra-hospital patient transfers, especially from asymptomatic patients who need to be transferred to radiology suites for computed tomography (CT) scans. Suspected COVID-19 patients should be screened and treated in negative pressure isolation rooms (NPIRs). Therefore, stricter and advanced infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings, especially in EDs, should be considered. Moreover, once mistriage is identified, hospital facilities may be closed for hours for disinfection, causing disruptions in services, and further impairing the already overwhelmed ED capacity. Asymptomatic cases or individuals with mistriage may visit the normal ED area posing the risk of transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to other patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. However, a number of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 have been reported, ,, ]. National and international COVID-19 guidelines stipulate that for infection prevention, control, and preparedness, healthcare facilities should create a separate area in the ED for the assessment and management of suspected patients presenting with respiratory symptoms, , ]. Many EDs lack proper isolation facilities, risking spread of the virus to other patients and medical staff, and further limiting ED capacity. Consequently, there are growing concerns about the lack of capacity and preparedness in the already overwhelmed EDs. Furthermore, infection prevention is also a major challenge because of the dynamic and high-volume setting of the EDs. Moreover, besides COVID-19, the ED still needs to provide treatment for patients both infected and critically ill from other diseases. ![]() While the entire health system is challenged with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency department (ED) is a major gateway at the forefront in response to this global emergency. Hence, South Korea has implemented extensive national response strategies including extensive tracing, testing and isolation, and enhanced infection control measures in hospitals to mitigate the transmission of the virus. The number of confirmed cases surged within a few weeks, leading to the second largest COVID-19 outbreak, after China, in February. On Januthe first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case was reported in South Korea. ![]()
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