Centralized Isolation Believed To Be Effective In Suppressing COVID-19 Deaths

JAKARTA - Centralized isolation is believed to be an effective way to reduce deaths from COVID-19 because patients will receive treatment from health workers.

A spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jodi Mahardi, said the government hopes that COVID-19 sufferers who are currently undergoing independent isolation at their homes can move to centralized isolation facilities in their respective regions.

"One of the keys to reducing the death rate is how to mobilize people to enter into centralized isolation", said Jodi, quoted by Antara, Thursday, August 12.

He explained that many COVID-19 sufferers died while undergoing self-isolation because their condition did not receive late treatment.

"Some of the causes of death include late handling of patients because they were just taken to the hospital when they got worse, for example, their oxygen saturation level dropped drastically", explained Jodi.

However, Jodi said the government was continuing to try to add centralized isolation facilities in the regions. Not only that, but the government has also equipped centralized isolation facilities by increasing the number of health workers, as well as the necessary medical equipment and tools.

In addition, Jodi appreciated the support of the TNI and Police who helped the government prepare centralized isolation facilities.

"The TNI and Police have an important role in urging patients who are undergoing self-isolation to move to centralized isolation. For example, in Yogyakarta and Solo, members of Kopassus (TNI AD Special Forces Command) were deployed to mobilize patients in self-isolation so that (they) could move (to centralized isolation) and their condition could be monitored (by health workers) if there was a deterioration", explained Jodi.

Currently, regional heads in several regions have established centralized isolation facilities to treat COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

Not only using physical buildings, but PT Pelni's ships are also used as a centralized isolation area in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, and Jayapura City, Papua.