PAPUA - The government of Puncak Regency, Papua has temporarily suspended the operation of flights carrying passengers to the area. This policy follows the findings of several residents who were exposed to COVID-19.
Puncak Regent Willem Wandik said flights carrying passengers to Puncak Regency, namely Ilaga Airport, Sinak Airport, and Beoga Airport had been stopped since 7 July.
The local government only allows flight operations to transport logistics or basic necessities, building materials and passenger flights in emergency conditions.
"Since July 7, we have closed passenger flights to Puncak Regency. We will see future developments. If COVID-19 cases have decreased, then passenger flights will be reopened," said Willem Wandik in Timika as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, July 21.
Currently, he said, nine cases of COVID-19 were found in Ilaga, the capital of Puncak Regency. One patient has died.
In connection with the lack of facilities for treating COVID-19 patients in Ilaga, the Puncak Regency Government is exploring renting a hotel in Timika for the isolation of COVID-19 patients from Puncak Regency.
"We have met with several hotels in Timika, they agreed to be a place to isolate COVID-19 patients, because in Puncak it is difficult for us to handle due to limited facilities so we send COVID-19 patients to Timika for treatment," explained Willem Wandik.
The Puncak Regency Government, he said, had collaborated with the Mimika Regency Government for handling follow-up care or referrals for patients who could not be handled in Puncak Regency.
Flight activities to three airports in the Puncak Regency area, namely Ilaga, Sinak and Beoga, so far are mostly served from Timika, both for shipping cargo of goods and passengers.
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