Luhut: COVID-19 Patients Entering Hospitals In Jakarta And Other Areas Increase Sharply

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Coordinator for the Implementation of Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan admitted that the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals had increased sharply. This increase, he said, occurred in DKI Jakarta and other areas on the island of Java.

"(Patients, red) COVID-19 entering hospitals in DKI Jakarta and several areas on the island of Java has increased sharply," Luhut said as quoted from the Indonesian Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment YouTube, Monday, July 5.

Furthermore, he also said this increase had made the hospital reach its limit. Thus, a number of steps were taken by the government through the Ministry of Health such as converting beds for COVID-19 patients.

"We have been preparing for the marathon since Saturday, for example, an additional hospital at the Hajj hospital. So all provinces now in Java, including Bali, have the same pattern according to the existing threats," said the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment.

In addition, he said that COVID-19 patients who were being treated in hospitals were currently being regulated. Intensive care, he said, is only for patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

"This means that the level of the disease, if the saturation is above 95 with no signs or OTG, maybe we can self-isolate," he said.

In the process of self-isolation, Luhut said the public could take advantage of 11 telemedicine platforms that had collaborated with the Ministry of Health to conduct virtual health consultations. In fact, later on, COVID-19 patients will be able to receive packages of vitamins and medicines for free.

"I want to give an example of my son and daughter-in-law who are also self-isolating. They are positive for COVID-19 but they are self-isolating because their saturation is okay, it doesn't look too bad, which the doctor said is okay, so we rented an apartment for them to live there," he said

"So we'll see, we can do self-isolation if we really mean it," added Luhut.

In line with Luhut, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that there was pressure on hospital capacity due to the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. But, he asked the public not to worry because the addition of health facilities has been carried out by his party.

"There is indeed pressure but don't worry. Our hospitals will continue to grow. The Ministry of Health has converted the Friendship Hospital, Fatmawati Hospital, and Sulianti Saroso Hospital to 100 percent for COVID-19," said Budi.

In addition, the Ministry of Health is also trying to add 900 beds gradually which has been implemented since last Wednesday, June 30. "So don't worry, we will continue to add (bed availability, ed)," he said.

He admitted that the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus was indeed more quickly transmitted. So, Budi reminded the public to comply with health protocols by wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands.

"If there is no need to stay at home," he concluded.