DKI Asks Central Government To Provide Hotel Isolation For COVID-19

Illustration-Wisma Kemayoran athletes (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Regional Secretary of DKI Jakarta Province, Marullah Matali, asked the central government, especially BNPB, to again facilitate hotels as locations for the isolation of COVID-19 patients in the capital city.

"If possible, the hotel for OTG will be revived, outside the location prepared by the local government. This is our suggestion," Marullah said in the BNPB Pusdalops Youtube show, quoted on Monday, June 28.

Previously, BNPB financed the isolation location of COVID-19 patients with the category of asymptomatic people (OTG) in hotels. However, it is currently discontinued because it no longer has a budget.

"Some time ago we received assistance such as from BNPB. Hopefully, in the future period, there will be additional hotels for us to self-isolate for OTG," he said.

Marullah admitted that currently, the number of isolation beds for COVID-19 patients and ICU rooms in Jakarta is running low. Bed occupation ratio (BOR) for isolation reached 93 percent and ICU reached 87 percent.

Then, the isolation bed capacity at the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran COVID-19 Emergency Hospital is also running low. Meanwhile, the isolation areas at the Nagrak Flats and the Pasar Rumput Flats are still being prepared and gradually being used.

Therefore, Marullah also asked the central government to arrange for the two flats provided to be coordinated with the Wisma Atlet RSDC for the fulfillment of facilities and the management of isolated patients.

"Isolation facilities in the Nagrak Flats and Pasar Rumput can be immediately managed under one control with the Wisma Atlet RSDC. Hopefully, the isolation in the two flats can be managed well," he explained.

Previously reported, BNPB still has a debt of at least Rp140 billion to hotels that are isolation places for COVID-19 patients in DKI Jakarta.

This has caused the central government to stop 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.

"We still owe the hotel. (The isolation fee) specifically for Jakarta is Rp. 200,711,910,000 and we have just paid a bailout of Rp. 60 billion," said BNPB's Acting Officer (Plt) for Emergency Management Dody Ruswandi when confirmed.

"If it continues, it's a pity for the hotel because we haven't paid everything. So far, we have used the BNPB budget, only we ran out yesterday. So we met, we said try (financing) until June 15," he added.