Increasing Number Of COVID-19 Patients, Sri Mulyani: The Government Will Add Isolation Areas

JAKARTA - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government continues to make various efforts to handle the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. One of them is by encouraging an increase in bed capacity in several hospitals both at the regional and central level.

As is known, cases of COVID-19 in the country continue to increase. As of Monday, January 18, the daily increase was recorded at 9,086 cases. So that the cumulative total of cases since the first case was found on March 2 reached 917,015 cases.

"We have seen several areas experience an increase and therefore the need for isolation rooms and treatment rooms has increased," he said, during a virtual working meeting (raker) with Committee IV of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), Tuesday, January 19.

Regarding the addition of places for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Sri Mulyani claimed to have coordinated with the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin to instruct all state-owned, private, and other regional hospitals to provide additional capacity for beds.

Furthermore, Sri Mulyani said that the government would also use a centralized isolation facility for patients with mild symptoms and no symptoms. So that, later the patient can be referred down to a centralized isolation facility.

For example, said Sri, the isolation facilities are the most isolated, such as in the Athlete House, Hajj Dormitory, training buildings, hotels and others.

The state treasurer said the government would also increase the number of health workers to help deal with COVID-19 in Indonesia. At least 8,572 health workers will be assisted in 148 health facilities spread across the country.

The details are 917 general practitioners, 448 specialist doctors, 5,295 nurses and 1,912 other health workers

Sri admitted that the health workforce was under tremendous pressure. In fact, the number of specialist nurse doctors who died also increased.

"Therefore, there is a need for full support to health workers and to face tremendous pressure," he said.