Sad News Coming From Mimika, Three COVID-19 Patients Treated At RSUD Died

Mimika Hospital Director Dr. Antonius Pasulu (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - Mimika Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Papua, reported that in the last two days three COVID-19 patients had died after undergoing treatment.

Mimika Hospital Director Dr. Antonius Pasulu in Timika, Mimika Regency, Friday, said last Wednesday (16/2) there was one COVID-19 patient who died, a 14-year-old teenager.

The other two patients died on Thursday (17/2), namely a 49-year-old woman and a 72-year-old woman.

"In the last two days, three patients we have treated have died due to exposure to COVID-19," Antonius explained, Friday, February 18, quoted from Antara.

As of Friday, he said, the number of COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at the Mimika Hospital continued to grow to 24 from the previous 14.

With the addition of the number of patients being treated, the bed occupancy rate in the COVID-19 isolation room at the Mimika Hospital has now reached 38 percent of the total beds provided, namely 64 beds.

Of the 24 people being treated, 17 patients were confirmed positive for COVID-19 and seven others were still probable (suspected of COVID-19) and were still waiting for the results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test.

According to Antonius, the 17 COVID-19 patients being treated by the Mimika Hospital are in critical condition, six patients are in severe condition, four patients are in moderate condition and six patients are in mild condition.

"There are six patients with mild conditions who are also being treated at the Mimika Hospital because co-incidence means that there are other diseases that must be treated but are also confirmed to have COVID-19. with other diseases," he explained.

Responding to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Mimika, the Mimika Regional Hospital continues to anticipate by adding medical oxygen reserves.

Currently, Mimika Hospital has medical oxygen reserves of 1.300 cylinders, with the ability to produce 70-75 tubes of medical gas per day.

Antonius hopes that all Mimika residents will adhere to health protocols, namely wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, avoiding crowds and reducing mobility properly and properly, and vaccinating.

"Hopefully we can get through and be able to control the third wave of COVID-19. For people who have symptoms of fever, cough, runny nose, and shortness of breath, they should immediately go to the nearest health facility," said Antonius.

Based on data from the Mimika Health Office, in just the last two months, the number of local residents exposed to COVID-19 has now reached 1.124 people.

Head of the Mimika Health Service, Reynold Ubra, said the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the region was most likely triggered by the Omicron variant, whose specimen samples are still awaiting clinical trials in Jakarta.

"Until now, the number of Mimika residents who have been exposed to COVID-19 is 1.124 people. There are 400 employees of PT Freeport Indonesia and a subcontractor company undergoing centralized isolation in Tembagapura and Mile 38, while in Timika around 500 people are undergoing self-isolation," explained Reynold.

Reynold said the Omicron variant has mild symptoms so residents are expected not to panic in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

"For residents who have received injections of the first and second doses of vaccine, it's actually not too bad if they are exposed to the Omicron variant. Symptoms of Omicron are similar to the common cold. We must continue to follow the procedure. We thank PT Freeport for being really serious about stopping this outbreak so that Now it's easier to control," he said.