The government is moving to secure more sickbeds from general hospitals and university hospitals amid concerns of a shortage as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to rise.  

According to local governments and medical industry sources on Saturday, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters issued an administrative order to secure more sickbeds for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

In the administrative order, the government stated that gaining access to enough beds to treat critically ill patients was crucial as the number of infected patients is on the rise. 

The order calls for large-size general hospitals and state-run university hospitals to set aside at least one percent of their beds for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

A health official said that they expect to secure around 300 hospital beds as a result of this measure, adding that they are considering incentivizing the hospitals in the future.