Anies: New Record Of Burials In DKI During The COVID-19 Pandemic, 180 Bodies Buried Today

Anies Baswedan inspects the readiness of the COVID-19 special public cemetery (TPU) in Rorotan (Instagram aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta is now in the COVID-19 red zone. The number of new cases has increased dramatically.

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the funeral of the COVID-19 corpse in the capital city today, June 23, set a new record.

"Today, funeral records during the COVID-19 outbreak in DKI: 180 bodies were buried with the COVID-19 procedure," said Anies Baswedan via the aniesbaswedan Instagram account, Wednesday, June 23.

Anies Baswedan today reviewed the readiness of a special COVID-19 public cemetery (TPU) 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. There are limits for those who have to take relatives to the cemetery and they cannot enter again," Anies said at the location, Wednesday, June 23.

Anies hopes that all parties can participate in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic as best as possible. Anies does not want the number of bodies buried in the COVID-19 special TPU to increase.

"This is a time where we take responsibility for discipline. Therefore, let's protect ourselves, family, neighbors, and protect colleagues. DKI is preparing a place, but we don't want more to be brought here," said Anies.

Ambulance Overwhelmed, DKI Uses Truck to Transport Coffins

Meanwhile, the Head of the DKI Regional Financial Management Agency (BPKD), Edi Sumantri, admitted that the DKI Provincial Government has started using trucks to transport COVID-19 bodies in the capital. 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.