52 East Kotawaringin Health Workers Are Positive For COVID-19, Health Office: Alhamdulillah, All Symptoms Are Mild

Acting Head of the Health Service Umar Kaderi (right) accompanies Halikinnor Regent while monitoring mass vaccinations at the Mentaya Sampit Shopping Center/ Antara

JAKARTA - A total of 52 health workers (nakes) in East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan have tested positive for COVID-19. This is based on data from the local health department.

"That's the risk of work. For Murjani Hospital there are 19 people and at the Health Office as many as 33 people. Alhamdulillah, all symptoms are mild. No one is being treated. They are at risk of infection because they come into direct contact with patients. Even a little careless can get infected," said the Acting Chief. Kotawaringin Timur Health Office Umar Kaderi in Sampit, Tuesday.

Umar said that in the third and fourth weeks of June, there was indeed an increase in COVID-19 cases. Based on weekly data, there was an increase of about 35 percent.

Although most patients are self-isolating, the number of symptomatic patients being treated in hospital isolation rooms is also increasing. Even now the BOR (Bed Occupancy Ratio) or the bed occupancy rate has reached 60 percent.

To anticipate the surge in COVID-19 patients who must be treated, the dr Murjani Hospital added beds from 96 beds to 128 beds. In addition, the Islamic Center Clinic (KIC) will also reopen to anticipate the continued increase in symptomatic COVID-19 patients who must be treated.

"Today KIC is starting to be cleaned, next week it can be operational. Pratama Samuda Hospital and Pratama Parenggean Hospital will also be prepared. This is an anticipation," said Umar.

The addition of beds in hospitals and the opening of the Islamic Center Clinic have the consequence of adding health workers. To meet the need for these personnel, the Health Service has worked around this by assisting personnel from the Puskesmas.

The current condition is recognized to make health workers have to work hard. In addition to serving COVID-19 sufferers and other patients, currently activities are also focused on optimizing the COVID-19 mass vaccination and monitoring COVID-19 sufferers who are in self-isolation.

Health workers who are exposed to COVID-19 must undergo self-isolation. This condition automatically reduces the number of health workers who provide services for the time being.

"Alhamdulillah, health workers have been vaccinated twice, thank God the symptoms are mild. This is a job risk. We face it. We cannot lose because people must be saved and services must not be disrupted," Umar said.

Umar assessed that the current surge in COVID-19 cases could not be separated from the increase in community activities. Unfortunately, some residents ignore health protocols so that the transmission of COVID-19 easily occurs.

"We urge the public to increase the implementation of health protocols, avoid crowds and non-essential activities. The public is expected to care and help break the chain of spread of COVID-19," said Umar.

Meanwhile, as of Tuesday afternoon, there were 33 new cases of COVID-19, 12 people recovered and one person died. In general, the number of COVID-19 cases in this area has reached 3,124 cases, 2,750 cases have recovered and 89 people have died.