Luhut Asks Bogor Regency To Maximize Centralized Isolation Facilities

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked the Bogor Regency Government, West Java, to maximize the use of centralized isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

"Based on data until yesterday, there are still 1,378 active cases in Bogor Regency, and this needs good handling," Luhut said, quoted by Antara, Saturday, August 14.

Luhut said that the large number of COVID-19 patients undergoing self-isolation at home as a weakness in efforts to contain the current coronavirus infection.

"Our weakness is because we have too much isoman (self-isolation) at home. If you get hit, it's best if you go to an isoter (centralized isolation facility), because there all of them are in the isoter. The doctor is there, the food is good, the medicine is sufficient, the other examinations are good," he said.

COVID-19 patients undergoing self-isolation at home in Bogor Regency accounted for 51 percent of all patients.

Therefore, the Bogor Regency Government is asked to maximize the use of the centralized isolation facilities that have been prepared to ensure that COVID-19 patients undergoing quarantine are properly monitored and handled.

Luhut said the recovery rate of patients undergoing quarantine in centralized isolation facilities could reach 99 percent, even up to 100 percent in areas such as Buleleng, Bali.

In addition, he emphasized the importance of accelerating the increase in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in an effort to suppress the transmission of the coronavirus.

"We have agreed, Mrs. Ade (Bogor Regent) should be able to inject 100,000 (vaccines) per day. It is hoped that starting next week it will be possible to do so," he said.

Luhut also advised the Bogor Regency Government to pay special attention to the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women.

Luhut was accompanied by Minister of Health Budi Gunawan Sadikin and Head of the National Disaster Management Agency Ganip Warsito when visiting Bogor Regency on Saturday.

While in Bogor Regency, Luhut and a group of government officials visited the vaccination service center at Pakansari Stadium and the isolation center at the Ministry of Home Affairs' Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) complex in Kemang District.

The isolation center at the BPSDM complex handles a total of 1,057 COVID-19 patients and most of them have recovered. There are only four COVID-19 patients who are still undergoing quarantine at the facility.

Luhut had time to make video calls with patients who were undergoing quarantine at the facility.