National Police Chief Encourages Isoter Optimization Of COVID-19 Patients In West Kalimantan

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit encourages the optimization of the use of centralized isolation facilities (isoters) for COVID-19 patients with certain symptoms.

The National Police Chief asked the West Kalimantan Forkopimda to apply a local customary approach to invite people exposed to COVID-19 to undergo isolation in isoter facilities.

"A good explanation, adjusting to local customs, can give the community peace of mind when they invite them to isoter," said Sigit, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, September 8.

According to the National Police Chief, the use of isoters in West Kalimantan needs to be optimized considering the low utilization of facilities provided by the government in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sigit emphasized that people undergoing quarantine in isoter facilities have a faster chance of recovering than self-isolation at home.

"Because isoters are equipped with more adequate facilities and are directly supervised by health workers," he said.

During the meeting, the National Police Chief together with the TNI Commander Marshal TNI Hadi Tjahjanto gave directions regarding the handling of COVID-19 in West Kalimantan.

Sigit emphasized that the COVID-19 control strategy in West Kalimantan must be strengthened through disciplining health protocols and strengthening the implementation of 3T (tracing, testing, and treatment).

"Including the acceleration of the mass vaccination program," he explained.

Sigit explained that the strengthening of the COVID-19 control strategy would be accompanied by an easing of community activities during the implementation of community activity restrictions (PPKM) in accordance with an assessment issued by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

This easing, according to Sigit, will revive the wheels of the community's economy, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, said Sigit, the Indonesian economy has started to grow by 7.07 percent. Meanwhile, the West Kalimantan economy began to grow 10.81 percent.

For this reason, he continued, the easing of community activities must be accompanied by a strategy to control COVID-19 and become the shared responsibility of all elements of society.

"When the COVID-19 case can be controlled, then the area will automatically receive easing and the community's economic activities can return to running better. Of course this is the joint responsibility of the government, both central and regional and the whole community," said Sigit.

Sigit also socialized about the PeduliLindung application which has been implemented in a number of locations where community activities are involved.

The use of technology in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is a necessity that must be balanced by the community to adapt to the new normal order and live side by side with COVID-19.

"These various features play an important role in supporting the government's efforts to carry out health surveillance (observation) and facilitate a new life order," said Sigit.