Yogyakarta Ensures Shelter Readiness To Anticipate Increase In COVID-19 Cases

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

YOGYAKARTA - The Yogyakarta City COVID-19 Task Force has ensured that the shelter for the isolation needs of patients confirmed positive for COVID-19 remains in a ready condition and can be used at any time.

"The shelter is still in a ready condition, even though it is currently empty because there are no patients who use it," said Heroe Poerwadi, Head of the Yogyakarta COVID-19 Handling Task Force, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 26.

The city of Yogyakarta has two shelters for isolation, namely the Bener Tegalrejo Flat and the Gemawang Flat.

Heroe explained that the shelter in the Gemawang Flats is being closed because COVID-19 cases in the city of Yogyakarta continue to decline, so there are no patients who need a shelter for isolation.

Meanwhile, the shelter that utilizes the Bener Tegalrejo Flats remains open, although no patients are isolated.

Based on daily data on positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city of Yogyakarta in the past week, Heroe said it showed an upward trend and still had the potential to increase.

"As is known, the activity and mobility of the people in the city of Yogyakarta is very high, so there could be a potential for an increase in cases," he said.

On Wednesday, January 26, there were eight additional new cases, bringing the total active cases in Yogyakarta City to 39. When compared to last week, active cases in the city remained below 10 cases.

“This additional active case comes from screening patients during treatment at the hospital. There is also a screening of face-to-face learning, but the number is not significant," he said.

Despite the daily increase in cases, Heroe said there was no widespread transmission from any close contacts of confirmed positive patients.

"Hopefully this condition shows that the Omicron variant is not found in Yogyakarta. We have not received the results of the samples sent for the WGS test," he said.

In addition to ensuring the shelter's readiness, Heroe has also asked the hospital to provide 30 percent of the bed capacity for handling COVID-19 patients in the event of an increase in cases.

"We have coordinated with all hospitals since two weeks ago to provide beds if there is an increase in cases and patients need hospitalization," he said.

In addition, the task force is also coordinating with Kodim 0734 Yogyakarta to fulfill the need for beds if there is a spike in positive confirmed cases of COVID-19.