The government plans to secure more hospital beds for patients with urgent needs amid signs of a resurgence of the pandemic in the nation.

Interior and safety minister Lee Sang-min, who doubles as a deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, announced the plan while presiding over a headquarters meeting on Wednesday.

He said the government will elastically respond to an increase in demand for hospital beds so patients hospitalized for conditions other than COVID-19 such as childbirth, dialysis and pediatric illnesses will receive treatments properly even if another wave of the pandemic begins.

The minister said guidelines will be made clear to help arrange swift hospitalization for patients requiring special care.

Rules for emergency rooms at hospitals will also be revised to provide around-the-clock services for COVID-19 patients, he said.

Lee also said workplaces susceptible to a cluster outbreak, such as those with many foreign workers and construction sites, will be subject to strict on-site quarantine inspections this month to prevent a surge in cases.