Background We examined and compared the actual impact of COVID-19 on local medical care in northern Saitama Japan, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), before (2019) and during (2020) the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on emergency care responses was compared with acceptances and refusals in 2019 and 2020. We also examined the number of surgeries performed by ICU surgical departments. The impact on intensive care was examined regarding the numbers of incident reports and the severity percentage calculated from the integrated team medical care and safety system. We also compared the overtime work of physicians working. Results In 2019, there were 2,136 emergency patient requests, and 1,811 patients were received. In contrast, in 2020, there were 2,371 emergency patient requests, and 1,822 patients were accepted, representing a decrease of 76% (p = 0‧931). There were significantly more refusals in 2020, 303 (14‧1%) in 2019 and 506 (21‧3%) in 2020 (p = 0‧0004). In 2020, the number of surgeries increased in neurosurgery, cardiac surgeries, and vascular surgeries and over time increased in all surgical units. There were 396 incidents reported in ICUs in 2019; this increased significantly to 510 in 2020 (p = 0‧001). Conclusion Even though intensive care management was restricted, the number of patients and doctors’ overtime work increased compared to before the spread of COVID-19, and the surrounding environment led to an increase in the number of incidents. The environments in ICUs must be actively improved to prepare for an even more severe situation in the future.

BackgroundWe examined and compared the actual impact of COVID-19 on local medical care in northern Saitama Japan, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), before (2019) and during (2020) the pandemic. MethodsThe impact of COVID-19 on emergency care responses was compared with acceptances and refusals in 2019 and 2020. We also examined the number of surgeries performed by ICU surgical departments. The impact on intensive care was examined regarding the numbers of incident reports and the severity percentage calculated from the integrated team medical care and safety system. We also compared the overtime work of physicians working. ResultsIn 2019, there were 2,136 emergency patient requests, and 1,811 patients were received. In contrast, in 2020, there were 2,371 emergency patient requests, and 1,822 patients were accepted, representing a decrease of 76% (p = 0 931). There were signi cantly more refusals in 2020, 303 (14 1%) in 2019 and 506 (21 3%) in 2020 (p = 0 0004). In 2020, the number of surgeries increased in neurosurgery, cardiac surgeries, and vascular surgeries and over time increased in all surgical units. There were 396 incidents reported in ICUs in 2019; this increased signi cantly to 510 in 2020 (p = 0 001). ConclusionEven though intensive care management was restricted, the number of patients and doctors' overtime work increased compared to before the spread of COVID-19, and the surrounding environment led to an increase in the number of incidents. The environments in ICUs must be actively improved to prepare for an even more severe situation in the future.