West Kotawaringin Hospital Overwhelmed, Patients Soared, 45 Health Workers Exposed To COVID-19

PANGKALAN BUN - The President Director of the Sultan Imanuddin Hospital, West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, Dr. Fahruddin admitted that he was starting to be overwhelmed with handling confirmed COVID-19 patients. The number of new cases continues to increase and boom, including 45 local health workers.

There are 45 health workers working at the Sultan Imanuddin Hospital who were exposed to COVID-19 and are undergoing quarantine.

"They (health workers) are exposed not because they are not disciplined in health protocols, but fatigue caused by COVID-19 patients continues to increase," said Fahruddin, quoted by Antara, Friday, July 9.

According to him, the transmission of COVID-19 in Kobar is very worrying. This is because until now the number of positive COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at the Sultan Imanuddin Pangkalan Bun Hospital has reached 147 people.

Fahruddin said due to the booming number of COVID-19 patients, the isolation rooms provided at the RSUD were no longer able to accommodate. As a result, the Emergency Room at the Sultan Imanuddin Hospital was forced to function to treat COVID-19 patients.

"We urge the local government to immediately open the expansion of the isolation room, and prepare and add health workers," he continued.

Fahruddin also reminded people in Kobar to be more disciplined in implementing health protocols. The death rate for COVID-19 patients in Kobar continues to increase.

"Until now, the death rate of COVID-19 patients in Kobar has reached 110 people or 2.3 percent. This figure is close to the death rate of world COVID-19 patients," said Fahruddin.

Previously, Deputy Regent of West Kotawaringin Ahmadi Riansyah said, if this condition is allowed and there is no awareness from all parties to discipline and carry out health protocols, it is not impossible that all health workers in the Sultan Imanuddin Hospital will actually be exposed to COVID-19.

"If all medical personnel fall, all are confirmed positive, who else can take care of our family when confirmed positive for COVID-19. In other words, we must be disciplined in carrying out health protocols," Ahmadi said.