About Wisma Athlete Becomes A COVID-19 Emergency Hospital

Kemayoran athlete guesthouse (Photo: Ministry of PUPR document)

JAKARTA - The athlete's house has been inaugurated as an emergency hospital for the handling of the Corona virus or COVID-19. However, many do not know that changing the function of a temporary residence to a location for treating infected patients requires a fairly complicated process.

By cooperating with several subsidiaries of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), the process of changing functions was carried out quickly. It took about four days to complete everything.

Special Staff of the Minister of BUMN for Communication, Arya Sinulingga, said that preparations for a change in function began to empty all belongings, then place thousands of beds for COVID-19 patients according to international standards. Then, the next stage is to prepare medical equipment and emergency rooms, such as ICUs and negative pressure rooms to prevent the virus from entering.

"Likewise with the medical equipment, we have prepared everything from the lab equipment, lab tests, PCR, and so on, lung tests, blood tests, everything is well equipped. Up to the ICU, oxygen and others, so it deserves to be a hospital. , "said Arya at Graha BNPB which was broadcast via Twitter @BNPB_Indonesia, Tuesday, March 24.

https://t.co/tZSMJvcqS0

- BNPB Indonesia (@BNPB_Indonesia) March 24, 2020

So far, Wisma Atlet has been able to accommodate around 1,500 patients for medical treatment. This number will continue to grow because there will be thousands of other wards that will be built in several Wisma Atlet towers.

"For the next stage, we will also add additional towers to the next tower. In the next tower there are a total of 3,000 additional rooms that we have prepared for Corna patients," said Arya.

Three zones of Wisma Athlete

Even though it has a lot of rooms and a large area of land, it does not mean that the Wisma Atlet area can be entered by just anyone. To prevent the spread of the corona virus from becoming more massive, this area will be divided into three zones, namely, green, yellow and red.

The green zone is intended for media who cover the development of COVID-19 patients and the public transporting patients. Meanwhile, the yellow zone is designated for medical and non-medical personnel to rest or live temporarily.

"We have prepared several towers for medical personnel. In order for medical personnel to have a place to live there and also non-medical support staff, because we must know that a hospital must have amenities, it also means that there are services for changing mattresses, changing blankets, etc. and other things. other little things, "said Arya.

Then, the red zone can only be entered by patients and medical personnel using personal protective equipment (PPE). The general public is prohibited from entering the red zone to avoid exposure or contracting COVID-19.

"This red zone is specifically for patients. Only those who use PPE are allowed to enter," said Arya.

Not all patients can go to Wisma Atlet

Even though Wisma Atlet has started operating as an emergency hospital, not all patients can undergo COVID-19 treatment there. Because, only infected people with moderate conditions will be treated there.

Meanwhile, people or patients who are in severe condition will be placed in a referral hospital. The reason is so that handling is faster and well monitored.

"So there are stages so that we cannot be rushed to the Athlete House. We share it with the patient's condition," said Arya

One of the referral places for handling COVID-19 is Pertamina Jaya Hospital, Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta. Later, the hospital will focus on accepting patients who are in severe condition and need more treatment. So, the treatment method will be different from the patients at Wisma Athlete.

"We have also prepared Pertamina Jaya Hospital which is on Jalan Ahmad Yani, we have built it there," said Arya.

Build an emergency hospital in another area

The next plan, the government will build emergency hospitals in several areas. BUMN Minister Erick Thohir has instructed to find a location or place that will be used as the Covid-19 Emergency Hospital. "So what is being done in Jakarta will be duplicated in several areas," said Arya.

Several areas have become the radar for the construction of emergency hospitals, such as Semarang, Bandung, Surabaya. Later, the Ministry of BUMN will cooperate with the Ministry of Religion for the preparation of this emergency hospital.

The use of Hajj dormitories in each province to be used as an emergency hospital is one way in the plan. The reason is that the Hajj dormitory is considered to meet the criteria because it can accommodate large numbers of people.

"If possible, then, we will pursue them so that later these locations can be used as emergency corona hospitals in several provinces," said Arya.