Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory 99 Percent Ready To Become An Emergency Hospital, Jokowi: Saturday Morning Can Be Used

President Joko Widodo at Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory/ Screenshot

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory was ready to function as an emergency hospital to serve COVID-19 patients.

This was conveyed when he reviewed the Hajj hostel with the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

"I see that everything is 99 percent ready. So that tomorrow morning, this hospital can be operational," said Jokowi during his visit which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Friday, July 9.

During the visit, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta checked various equipment in the emergency hospital. Including the construction of an elevator for treated patients. He said everything was ready.

Furthermore, Jokowi also appreciated the steps to prepare for an emergency hospital carried out by the Minister of Health and the Minister of PUPR.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Minister of Health and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing and all staff who have worked hard within five days to prepare the Hajj guesthouse which was converted into a hospital," he said.

As previously reported, this emergency hospital will provide 900 beds, 50 ICU beds, and 40 HCU beds for COVID-19 patients.

In addition, to deal with the surge in cases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has also provided centralized isolation places such as the Nagrag Cilincing Flats with 2,273 beds and Pasar Rumput Flats with 3,986 beds.

Not only that, the government has also added 1,200 beds at the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital Wisma Atlet Kemayoran Jakarta.