Budget Runs Out, BNPB Stops Financing For Isolation Of COVID-19 Hotels In DKI Starting June 15

ILLUSTRA TION / VOI

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has prepared a number of new COVID-19 patient isolation locations because the central government will stop financing hotel isolation in Jakarta.

This was confirmed by Acting Officer (Plt) for Emergency Management of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Dody Ruswandi. Dody said the financing was stopped because it ran out of budget.

"So far, we have used the BNPB budget, only we ran out yesterday. So we had a meeting, we said we'll try until June 15, we'll wait, after that, maybe the local government will pay for it," said Dody when contacted, Tuesday, June 8.

However, Dody said that the suspension of financing for the isolation of COVID-19 hotels in the capital was only temporary. Currently, the Ministry of Finance is only temporary. Currently, BNPB is still waiting for the budgeting process again.

"We are still proposing to the Ministry of Finance, later when it comes down from the Ministry of Finance, later if it is needed, it can be proposed again," said Dody.

For information, the central government has stopped financing COVID-19 patient isolation facilities at hotels, inns, and guesthouses in Jakarta. Not only that, the cost of lodging for health workers who handle COVID-19 is also similar.

Previously, the cost of lodging and the needs of isolated patients, as well as lodging for health workers was borne by the central government.

Therefore, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has set a number of new isolation locations. This is stated in the Governor's Decree (Kepgub) Number 675 of 2021.

The Governor's Decree, which was signed on May 31, 2021, revoked the Governor's Decree No. 979 of 2020 regarding controlled isolation locations for previous COVID-19 patients.

"With the policy of the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force regarding the termination of financing for hotels, lodging, and guesthouses for confirmed COVID-19 people, both asymptomatic and with mild symptoms, and lodging costs for health workers handling COVID-19 and guaranteeing legal certainty in fulfilling the need for controlled isolation facilities and lodging for health workers, the Governor's Decree Number 979 of 2020 needs to be changed," Anies said to the governor.

Currently, there are thousands of isolation beds and lodging for health workers provided by Anies. These locations are in hotels, guesthouses, flats, sports halls, mosques, and schools.