20 Health Workers Exposed, COVID-19 Patients Explode, Hospitals In West Papua Temporarily Closed

PAPUA - The Regional General Hospital of West Papua Province has temporarily closed for COVID-19 patients since Friday, July 9 this morning. This closure follows the number of patients who have exceeded the hospital's capacity.

"Currently there are 111 COVID-19 patients being treated, we are temporarily closing because there is no longer a place to treat patients", said Arnold Tiniap, Director of the West Papua Regional Hospital as reported by Antara, Friday, July 9.

The capacity for COVID-19 patients at the hospital is 120 people. It's just that some of the rooms do not meet the eligibility standards for use so that the maximum capacity is 110 people.

In addition to exceeding capacity, Tiniap also admitted that the 20 health workers at the hospital were positively exposed, so they needed time to self-isolate to heal themselves.

"Our health workers have been exposed to 20 people. This has an impact on our services when treating patients", said Arnold Tiniap.

Arnold Tiniap also said that currently, oxygen reserves for COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms at the West Papua Regional Hospital are running low.

"We are working with the Health Service so that oxygen refill providers in this area can increase production", he said.

He asked the public to be able to take care of themselves with strict health protocols.

"If people continue to ignore it, the efforts of the COVID-19 Task Force and all parties will be in vain to suppress the spread of the Coronavirus in this area", said Tiniap.

He also stated that the findings of positive cases of Coronavirus through tracking showed that West Papua this week was the highest in Indonesia.

"As of last Thursday, there were an additional 317 new cases, bringing the total (active) positive COVID-19 cases of West Papua to 2,912, of which 1,404 active cases came from Manokwari Regency", said Arnold Tiniap.