The COVID-19 Hospital Will Be Full, Minister Of Health Budi: If You Don't Have Fever And Shortness Of Breath, You Can Isolate Independently

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin / Special

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has asked people who are exposed to COVID-19, but have no symptoms (OTG) to carry out independent isolation at home or in other places other than in hospitals.

"Please ladies and gentlemen, if for example you do not have a fever and are not short of breath, you can still do independent isolation," Budi Gunadi said at the Jakarta Presidential Office, reported by Antara, Monday, January 11.

Budi Gunadi conveyed this after attending a closed meeting with President Joko Widodo.

Previously, the Coordinator of the Expert Team and the Government Spokesperson for Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito stated that the explosion of the COVID-19 case had made the ICU room capacity filled above 70 percent.

Until January 10, 2021, the number of active cases or patients requiring treatment in health facilities or independent isolation is 122,873 people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the hospital will be full because the active cases have increased by 30 percent. What I want to say is that we are still paying attention, still listening, still seeing the condition of our health workers, they are already under pressure," said Budi Gunadi.

If people who are exposed to COVID-19 have their own house or room, then independent isolation can be done in that house or room.

"If you don't have a house or your house is too crowded, we will urge all regional governors to make isolation places such as the Athletes House, Hajj House, dormitories and so on or maybe the hotels are good as well as they can be used and the food is also available. there are facilities, "said Budi Gunadi.

He also admitted that he would create a mechanism so that independent isolation patients would still be monitored by doctors either by direct telephone or telemedicine.

"But that is to reduce the burden on the hospital, let our friends, our heavy siblings, be handled there," said Budi Gunadi.

Furthermore, the Minister of Health also appealed to the public to help prevent additional patients exposed to COVID-19 from the upstream side by always wearing masks, maintaining distance and washing hands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if we see a lot of videos hanging around, it shows that people have forgotten these three important things. Who will be affected? Those who are affected are our friends and relatives, especially the health workers, who so far have died. "Please, ladies and gentlemen, once again I ask for help, obey health protocols," said Budi Gunadi.

He also asked the public to respect the work of health workers. "Let us respect fellow health workers who have preceded us so that their sacrifices are not in vain. They are fighting this pandemic and hopefully we can together overcome this pandemic," said Budi.

It was recorded that 828,026 people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 until January 10, 2021 with a number of cures for 681,024 and a death toll of 24,129 people.