The National Disaster Management Agency Highlights Increasing COVID-19 Death Cases In East Kalimantan

Head of BNPB and Head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Lt. Gen. Ganip Warsito/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said East Kalimantan (Kaltim) was one of the areas outside Java and Bali that experienced an increase in cases and deaths due to COVID-19.

The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 noted that as of Thursday, August 5, East Kalimantan was in the top ten nationally active cases with a cumulative number of 126.033 cases and a death toll of 3.716 people.

"I see what the governor and regents have done, as well as the mayor. But why are cases still increasing? Of course, there are things that we need to look at in the field, therefore we go down directly to see what things need to be done. We will strengthen it", said the Head of the BNPB and Head of the Task Force for Handling COVID-19, Lieutenant General Ganip Warsito, quoted by Antara, Thursday, August 5.

According to him, the location of improvement must start from upstream to downstream.

"The upstream is the treatment of patients who have been confirmed positive", said Ganip at the Coordination Meeting on the Handling of COVID-19 with the East Kalimantan Provincial Government and elements of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) which was held in the Hall of the Mayor's office in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Wednesday, August 4.

Based on the results of the positive case, he conveyed, it can be classified for patients who are without symptoms (OTG), with mild, moderate to severe symptoms.

From these classifications, he continued, actions can be taken according to each treatment.

He explained that the allotment for self-isolation is intended for patients belonging to the people without symptoms (OTG) group and with mild symptoms, under 45 years of age, home conditions, and a supportive environment for self-isolation at home under supervision from the public health center (puskesmas).

Meanwhile, patients with mild symptoms, who are above 45 years of age and have comorbidities, can isolate them centrally by getting monitoring from health workers.

Finally, Ganip continued, patients with moderate and severe symptoms can be referred to the hospital to support further treatment.

"This is what we have to agree on, which ones can do self-isolation (isoman), which ones can be isolated centrally, and which ones are referred to the hospital, this is the improvement", he said.

Experience handling in Java and Bali, Ganip said, cases of death often occur due to deterioration. The patient was taken to the hospital when he was critical.

"Why? Maybe during self-isolation, there was no monitoring", continued Ganip.

From the results of a direct inspection of several PPKM Posts at the neighborhood unit level, Ganip appreciated South Balikpapan for implementing the health protocols.

He hoped that the implementation of the health protocols would not be temporary but continuous, especially in disciplining the use of masks, maintaining distance, washing hands, and reducing mobility.

"This is part of the handling, in the end, we will control COVID-19 through three ways, namely enforcing obedient 3M discipline, high 3T, and high vaccination", said Ganip.