There Is A Threat Of A New Variant Of COVID-19, Luhut: Malaysia To America Queue To Buy Oxygen Equipment

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Doc. Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, requested that the procurement of oxygen equipment for COVID-19 patients be accelerated. Moreover, said Luhut, the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted a new variant which is predicted to be more virulent than the delta variant and has a faster transmission rate.

Furthermore, Luhut said that the countries in the world have now started to meet their oxygen needs. These include Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, the European Union, and the United States.

"Oxygen concentrators, generators, and mobile oxygen are expected to be accelerated soon. European Union countries and the US have started queuing up to buy these devices because (COVID-19 cases) are starting to increase with the delta variant", he said at a virtual press conference, Monday, July 19.

In addition to the need for oxygen, Luhut also said the government was adding a central isolation location for a modular hospital, as well as an oxygen house to accommodate COVID-19 patients who did not receive treatment rooms.

Currently, said Luhut, the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) are accelerating the construction of the Tanjung Duren Modular Hospital and a guesthouse for health workers.

"Yesterday I reviewed the oxygen house and we can add this model outside DKI Jakarta so that people who are in disadvantaged places can immediately be identified as positive and then treated properly", he said.

As is known, the government has just inaugurated the Pertamina Jaya Extension Hospital Arafah Hajj Embarkation Dormitory in Jakarta which has 150 beds in isolation rooms. The hospital with 124 ICUs and HCUs will serve COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms.

In addition, Luhut reminded all to be aware of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which is likely to occur shortly. Given that WHO has also announced the possibility of a new variant that will emerge with a faster transmission rate and stronger infection.

"We still have to face the threats ahead. We can't spend our time debating here and there, but the important thing is that we work to face the worst possibilities ahead", he said.