Anies Baswedan: Since COVID-19 Is Still Considered Light, DKI Jakarta Is Prepared

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan. (Photo: DKI Jakarta Provincial Government Public Relations)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said his government officials had been prepared to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic from the start. He even said that these preparations had been made since the virus was still being taken lightly by some parties.

"Since COVID-19 is still being taken lightly, while some think this is a short matter that will be resolved quickly, we in DKI Jakarta are ready to face this problem as a long affair," Anies said as quoted from his Instagram account @aniesbaswedan, Sunday, 24 January.

He said that one of DKI Jakarta's readiness to face a pandemic was to establish Cengkareng Hospital as a special hospital for COVID-19 patients. According to him, Cengkareng Hospital has the largest capacity for up to 80 ICU rooms and 240 isolation wards.

According to him, this capacity building was carried out quickly because it learned from the experiences of other cities in the world that had previously handled the COVID-19 pandemic. So it takes a long stamina, including by increasing the capacity of the room to the number of health workers and others.

"This hospital continues to increase the capacity of the ICU and isolation beds. This also means increasing the number of medical personnel, medical equipment and medicines," said the former Minister of Education and Culture.

Furthermore, he also mentioned about health workers who treat COVID-19 patients. He said health workers were the last bastion against the pandemic, however, their numbers were not as many as infected people.

So he asked all parties without exception to help the work of health workers. You do this by always ensuring the implementation of health protocols such as using masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands.

"Don't let this fortress collapse because of the presence of a large influx of COVID-19 patients," he said.

"Let's help them so that there are no more residents who have to be cared for. Make sure that we, our families and people in our neighborhood strictly maintain health protocols. Don't get tired of wearing masks, don't neglect to keep your distance, and don't be lazy to wash your hands," he concluded.