DKI Provincial Government Starts Transporting COVID-19 Bodies Using Trucks, Because Ambulances Are Overwhelmed

ILLUSTRATION/VOI (DIAH AYU)

JAKARTA - Head of the DKI Regional Financial Management Agency (BPKD) Edi Sumantri admitted that the DKI Provincial Government has started using trucks to transport the bodies of COVID-19 in the capital city. This is due to the surge in new cases and current COVID-19 deaths.

"The Cemetery Service is unable to bury them, they are tired. It's only 6 o'clock and the remaining 146 bodies are still being placed. Today it will be removed because ambulances are no longer possible, with trucks with a capacity of eight coffins," said Edi in a meeting with Commission C of the DKI DPRD Wednesday, June 23.

The large number of COVID-19 bodies in Jakarta, admitted Edi, has made the budget for handling COVID-19 of the DKI Parks and Forests Office swell. The Office's unexpected expenditure budget absorption (BTT) reached Rp13.02 billion.

The budget is used for the procurement of coffins, personal protective equipment or APBD worth Rp. 4.63 billion, distribution of incentives from January to March 2021 to reach Rp. 5.22 billion and procurement of coffins, masks and rubber gloves worth Rp. 3.16 billion.

"So this will increase again for the cost of crates and others," he said.

Today, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan inspected the readiness of a public cemetery (TPU) specifically for COVID-19 in Rorotan, North Jakarta. During the review, Anies had time to meet with the family left behind by relatives and being buried at the Rorotan TPU. Anies saw that the sadness of the families was unstoppable.

Moreover, they are forbidden to approach the tomb during the burial process. They are only allowed to see the cemetery from a distance.

"So, my friends, look at the residents of Jakarta, look at this, the conditions are tough for the family. Those who have to take their relatives to this cemetery have a limit and they cannot enter again," said Anies.