A quarantine official in protective gear is resting at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
DAEGU, Feb. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A story of young doctors wanting to go back on duty after being quarantined for being in contact with a coronavirus patient is moving the hearts of the public.
Thirteen of 48 interns at Kyungpook National University Hospital in country’s southeastern city of Daegu, where hundreds of COVID-19 infections have been reported over the weekend, were quarantined last Tuesday after being in contact with a coronavirus patient.
However, Kim Young-ho, the intern representative, sent a text message to a supervising professor requesting that the interns without any symptoms be allowed to return to work.
“There are too many tasks at hand, and only a handful of fellow interns are there to deal with them,” said Kim.
“We are aware that we have to stay away for two weeks, but since the symptoms normally come between three and seven days, those of us without any symptoms want to return to duty.”
In response, Prof. Lee Mi-jin, chief of emergency medicine at the hospital, thanked the young doctors for their enthusiasm.
“We are currently looking into whether it is okay for us to release them,” said Prof. Ryeom Hun-kyu, the supervising doctor for the hospital’s residence and internship program.
The Daegu Medical Association sent out a text message to all doctors in Daegu, asking for their assistance at the special medical outposts, Daegu Medical Center, and Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center.
“Medical authorities are striving to get a hold of more medical personnel. We ask all medical colleagues who are off work to come to the outposts and quarantine facilities,” they said.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
