Central Government Stops COVID-19 Patient Isolation Fees At Hotel Jakarta, Deputy Governor: We Respect

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria (DOC VOI/Diah Ayu)

JAKARTA - 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 the same.

Previously, the cost of lodging and the needs of isolated patients, as well as lodging for health workers was borne by the central government. Responding to this, the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, admitted that he understood the central government's decision.

"You respect the central government's policy regarding the termination of hotel facilities for controlled isolation, which last year became the authority," said Riza at DKI City Hall, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, June 8.

Therefore, the DKI Provincial Government is looking for a number of new locations for the isolation of COVID-19 patients and accommodation for health workers. The isolation beds and accommodation were prepared in hotels, guesthouses, and a number of locations around settlements such as flats, sports halls, mosques, and schools.

"We have also looked for alternative places that belong to the provincial government so that they can then be used as controlled isolation places for the community," said Riza.

For information, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has set a number of new isolation locations. This is stated in the Governor's Decree (Kepgub) No. 675 of 2021. The governor decree signed on May 31, 2021, revoked Kepgub No. 979 of 2020 regarding controlled isolation locations for previous COVID-19 patients.

Acting (Plt) for Emergency Management of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Dody Ruswandi said that the funding halt was carried out due to running out of budget.

"So far, we have used the BNPB budget, only we ran out yesterday. So we had a meeting, we said to try until June 15, we wait, after that, maybe the regional government will pay for it," said Dody.

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," he said.