Oxygen therapy working for coronavirus patient, Seoul says
by Elizabeth ShimFeb. 14 (UPI) -- Oxygen therapy has been effective in the treatment of a critically ill patient infected with the new strain of coronavirus in South Korea, local health authorities said Friday.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said one of the remaining 21 COVID-19 patients in the country was still in critical condition this week. The patient's symptoms have been improving after oxygen was administered using a face mask, local news service Newsis reported.
Jeong said the therapy raises the degree of oxygen saturation in the patient through the delivery of high concentrations of oxygen. The therapy does not require the use of a respirator, the South Korean official said.
Local health authorities have said there are no other "critically ill" patients.
Concerns may have been growing in Korea about high-risk patients, following the death of an elderly woman in neighboring Japan due to the coronavirus on Thursday.
The Japanese woman, identified as a resident of Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo, died after her health significantly declined. She had tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 1. Japan is reporting the highest number of cases outside China. Kyodo News said Friday more than 250 people have been found to be infected.
South Korea has reported no new coronavirus patients for four consecutive days. Seven patients have "fully recovered" and been released, according to Seoul this week.
On Saturday and Sunday, the country is expected to end the quarantine of about 700 South Korean nationals who were evacuated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started.
South Korean news network Channel A reported Friday the quarantined South Koreans expressed gratitude to the residents of Asan, a nearby city, for their support during a difficult period of isolation.
Park Jong-cheon, a South Korean basketball coach for a youth team in China's Hubei Province, said in a message he would "never forget the love" he received, and that all the residents of Asan are welcome to visit him in Wuhan, according to the report.
(0) Leave a comment
upi.com/6985126
Latest Headlines
World News // 3 hours ago
Pompeo sets off for 1st Africa trip, visits security summit in Germany
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa Friday, where he will aid efforts to compete with the growing influence of China and fight threats of terrorism.
World News // 1 hour ago
Samsung heirs under probe for propofol abuse
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Two heirs of South Korean conglomerate Samsung Group are under investigation.
World News // 1 hour ago
Iran says U.S. behind large-scale infrastructure cyberattack
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A large-scale cyberattack last weekend that targeted Iranian infrastructure appeared to come from the United States, a senior civil defense leader in Tehran said.
World News // 2 hours ago
Paris mayoral candidate quits race amid sex video scandal
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Benjamin Griveaux, a candidate for mayor of Paris who'd been endorsed by French President Emmanuel Macron, withdrew from the race Friday amid a scandal involving an extramarital affair.
World News // 3 hours ago
British bank RBS changes name in evolution to 'purpose-led' operation
Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The Royal Bank of Scotland announced Friday it will change its name to the NatWest Group later this year as part of efforts to distance itself from a substantial corporate bailout it received more than a decade ago.
World News // 8 hours ago
U.N. urges North Korea to release abductees in 50-year-old hijacking case
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A panel of human rights experts from the United Nations is calling on North Korea to repatriate 11 South Koreans who were abducted on a hijacked plane 50 years ago.
World News // 1 day ago
Coronavirus: Death toll hits 1,486 as Japan records first victim
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- China's Hubei Province on Friday announced an additional 4,823 new cases of COVID-19 over the previous 24-hours.
World News // 14 hours ago
Mark Esper: U.S., Taliban have negotiated seven-day reduction of violence
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Thursday that the United States has negotiated an agreement with the Taliban for seven days of reduced violence in Afghanistan.
World News // 21 hours ago
Controversial South Korea pundit receives suspended prison sentence
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A conservative South Korean commentator charged with creating falsified documents that framed pro-democracy activists as North Korean spies has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence.
World News // 21 hours ago
Olympics officials: Coronavirus outbreak won't cancel Tokyo Games
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The outbreak has already led to the cancellation or postponement of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Shanghai and the Formula E race and World Athletics Indoor Championships in China.