Gov’t to Conduct Nationwide Covid-19 Rapid Tests

President Jokowi delivers his press statement at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday (3/20). (Photo by: Public Relations / Rahmat)

In a bid to accelerate Covid-19 detection, the Government has announced a plan to perform rapid tests across the country and to provide supporting facilities, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

President Jokowi delivered his press statement on the current information of Covid-19 mitigation and preventive measures at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday (20/3).

According to the President, the Government’s measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19, are as follows:

First, the Government will start to conduct rapid tests across the country for early detection of Covid-19 infection.

Second, the Government will also prioritize Covid-19 prone areas as indicated by Covid-19 map.

Third, the Government will carry out decentralized tests which means it gives authority to laboratories that have been appointed by Ministry of Health.

Fourth, the Government has also prepared medicine resulted from medical research and experiences of a number of countries, to be used to treat Covid-19 patients in accordance with doctor’s prescription.

According to the President, the medicine will be provided to patients who need it through doctors visiting patients from house to house, through hospitals, and Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in the infected areas. “I have ordered state-owned pharmaceutical companies producing the medicine to increase their production,” the President said.

Fifth, the Government is preparing several supporting infrastructures. “Wisma Atlet (athlete village) in Kemayoran is ready to be utilized as an emergency hospital for Covid-19 patients and will be used as isolating houses as of Saturday night, 21 March 2020,” President Jokowi said.

The capacity of referral hospitals will be increased, be it the number of rooms, equipment, medicine, and human resources.

“Hospitals owned by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and state-owned enterprises have been prepared as hospitals for Covid-19. Private hospitals are also asked to participate and their capacities will be increased,” the President stated.

Sixth, President Jokowi will put in a great deal of effort of the Government, state, and nation to overcome this problem, be it the issue of health or the issue of social economy.

The President further said that the people should remind one another to follow health protocol in limiting the spread of Covid-19. He also said that the people should not hesitate to reprimand those who are not disciplined in keeping the distance, washing their hands, and maintaining their health.

On that occasion, the President said that those who are tested positive for the Covid-19 or suspected to be infected, must carry out self-isolation immediately and maintain their health.

“I asked regions and areas having no case of Covid-19 infection to apply a strict health protocol to reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmission, while regions having already Covid-19 cases in their areas, do help our brothers and sisters to carry out self-isolation and provide sufficient support,” President Jokowi said. (TGH / EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana