COVID-19 Task Force Ensures Preparation to Tackle Spike in COVID-19 Cases in E. Java
Head of COVID-19 Handling Task Force Ganip Warsito inspects Lapangan Indrapura Hospital, in Surabaya, East Java, Friday (11/6). (Photo by: National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Communication Team/ Danung Arifin)
Head of COVID-19 Handling Task Force Ganip Warsito on Friday (11/6) visited Lapangan Indrapura Hospital, in Surabaya, East Java, to monitor the preparation of medical team, infrastructures, and facilities in anticipating spikes in COVID-19 cases in Bangkalan regency and Madura Island in East Java province, and from repatriation of Indonesian Migrant Workers in the province.
“We want to ensure the preparedness of this hospital to tackle spikes in COVID-19 cases in East Java, particularly in Surabaya which was affected by a significant increase in positive cases in Bangkalan regency,” Ganip said.
In addition, he said, several anticipative measures have also been taking including through the enforcement of roadblock by joint team from the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri), and dissemination participated by religious and public figures to change community’s behavior to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.
The Head of Task Force underscored that COVID-19 handling is not only about the issue of health sector but also affects various aspects such as social, economic, political, legal, and security aspects. For that reasons, it required joint effort and cooperation from different layers of society to tackle this issue.
Based on the Task Force’s data as of 11/6, Lapangan Indrapura Hospital which started operating since 26 May 2020 has so far admitted 7,723 patients in which 7,157 of them have been recovered, one patient passed away, while 266 patients are still in the hospital. For the record, the hospital can accommodate 400 inpatients.
Regarding repatriation of Indonesian Migrant Workers in East Java province, 13,167 workers from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Hongkong, Taiwan, the United States, Turkey, and some Middle-eastern countries were recorded to return to Surabaya, in which 175 of them were tested positive for COVID-19 and taken to Lapangan Indrapura Hospital. About 95 patients were declared recovered from COVID-19, while the remaining patients are still receiving treatment at the hospital.
In addition to patients from repatriation, Lapangan Indrapura Hospital also received 110 inpatients out of 114 people who were confirmed positive during examination at roadblock checkpoints in Madura, while the other four people were referred to other health facility. The hospital also confirmed that there is no new variant of COVID-19 found among those cases. (National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Communication Team/ UN) (RAS/LW)
