COVID-19 Pandemic and Next Pandemic Preparedness of Long-term Care Hospitals and Facilities

COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has imposed a substantial global disease burden due to its high basic reproductive number and initially elevated case fatality rate.Over time, the fatality rate has declined to a level comparable to that of seasonal influenza, driven by non-pharmaceutical public health measures, advances in medical care, and the development of vaccines and therapeutics.However, the disease burden remains high among vulnerable populations, such as older adults, highlighting the importance of strengthening response capacity in long-term care hospitals and facilities in many countries, including Korea.Extensive efforts from the medical community and public health authorities have generated valuable studies and guidelines.Nevertheless, disease-specific strategies alone cannot adequately protect vulnerable populations from future infectious disease outbreaks, including pandemics.Addressing this gap requires comprehensive system-wide improvements aligned with global health security principles, with particular emphasis on expanding the infection prevention and control workforce.Collaborative research between medical and public health sectors is urgently needed to drive these improvements.