March 2020, 23: COVID-19 Is Getting More And More Rampant In Jakarta, Jokowi Inaugurates The Kemayoran Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital

The Kemayoran Wisma Atlet, Central Jakarta which was transformed into a COVID-19 Emergency Hospital and inaugurated by President Jokowi on March 23, 2020. (ANTARA/Galih Pradipta)

JAKARTA - Today two years ago, on March 23, 2020, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated an Emergency Hospital (RS) for COVID-19 victims at the Kemayoran Athlete's Wisma, Central Jakarta. The inauguration is an effort by the Indonesian government in tackling the virus outbreak from Wuhan. The government's strategy is to use the Wisma Athlete Emergency Hospital for victims with mild symptoms. Moderate severe symptoms remain the responsibility of other referral hospitals. There are four towers that are used as Emergency Hospitals. Its capacity reaches 1,750 people.

The Indonesian government noted that the COVID-19 pandemic entered Indonesia in early March. The indication was revealed after the first, second, and third victims of COVID-19 were revealed to the public. The COVID-19 victim is widely known as case patients 01, 02, and 03. The three are residents of Depok, West Java. However, speculation regarding when the entry of COVID-19 is growing.

Experts, including epidemiologists, revealed that COVID-19 cases had entered Indonesia earlier. It is also detailed that COVID-19 has entered the country since January 2020. Therefore, the number of COVID-19 transmissions has increased sharply. Moreover, many of the residents of the capital city have high mobility in carrying out their daily activities.

President Jokowi inspects the ER installation after inaugurating the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital Wisma Atlet Kemayoran on March 23, 2020. (ANTARA)

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is huge. All sectors are affected. No exception. Many companies went out of business. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), moreover. All because efforts to break the COVID-19 chain have not been maximized.

Every day the death toll falls. Those who have died from COVID-19 are also many. The government immediately took a stand. All kinds of solutions were issued. Starting from limiting the time to go to work to promote the Work From Home (WFH) program, aka working from home. A series of programs are none other than to contain the pace of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"One of them is by imposing Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), regional quarantines, health protocol campaigns that do not stop. In fact, the imposition of sanctions on residents who violate or do not follow the health protocol rules that have been set by the political elites."

"Not to mention the invitation of well-known artists and Youtubers at the State Palace by Mr. Jokowi with the aim that they help the government as well as medical personnel and also volunteers in optimizing campaigns about the importance of maintaining distance and so on. This effort is made so that the spread of the Coronavirus does not expand or medical personnel often call it an effort to break the Coronavirus chain," said Dian Lestari in the book A Book About COVID-19 (2021).

Raffi Ahmad, Ari Lasso, and Andre Taulany when invited by President Jokowi to the State Palace on July 14, 2020, to help socialize the dangers of COVID-19. (ANTARA/Sigid Kurniawan)

The practice was actually not enough. The COVID-19 pandemic is hard to beat. The Indonesian government then thought for a long time. They then declared the presence of an Emergency Hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. The goal is to anticipate a surge in patients infected with the virus from Wuhan, China. The government also chose Wisma Athletes in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The hard work finally paid off. Launching the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, on March 23, 2020, the Wisma Athlete Emergency Hospital was inaugurated by President Jokowi. A total of four towers – from a total of 10 towers – were converted into Emergency Hospitals. In total there are 650 rooms with a capacity of 1,750 people.

The inauguration was deliberately rushed. Because, on the day of the inauguration of COVID-19 in Indonesia, there were 579 positive cases in Indonesia. Of that number, as many as 30 patients recovered and 49 people died. The President also hopes that COVID-19 can be immediately tackled with the Wisma Athlete Emergency Hospital.