Gov’t Urges Regions to Provide Isolation Centers in Villages, Sub-Districts

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan

The Government has ordered regional governments to provide new isolation centers in villages and sub-districts.

“Isolation centers, be it in villages, sub-districts, regencies/cities or in the provincial level are essential especially for high-risk patients and for those who live with pregnant women, the elderly, and people with comorbidities,” Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in his press statement on the evaluation and implementation of public activity restriction (PPKM), Monday (02/08).

According to Luhut, isolation centers also function to lower the risk of death for COVID-19 patients with a worsening condition while self-isolating, especially since a number of self-isolated patients have had delayed intensive treatment as they were only referred to hospitals or centralized isolation facilities after having oxygen saturation below 90 percent.

“The Government is pushing for isolation centers and new isolation centers to be opened in the regions and also pushes for the Indonesian National Defense Forces, the Indonesian National Police, and regional governments to be actively involved in carrying out 3T (testing, tracing, and treatment) and also in picking up self-isolating patients so as to avoid negative outcomes,” he said.

Luhut also urged that Village Fund be optimally used for COVID-19 management, including for 3T measures and monitoring self-isolating patients.

“Eight percent of Village Fund utilization for purchasing items is required for early detection. We cannot let anyone die in their homes or while self-isolating again,” he said.

Luhut also stressed the directive of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo again so that Government policies on COVID-19 pandemic management are focused on three main pillars.

First, they must be focused on vaccination speed, especially in regions that are centers of mobility and economic activities.

The second focus is massive 3M health protocols (wearing a face mask, washing hands, maintaining a safe distance) observance in all public components, while the third focus is massive implementation of 3T measures (testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment), including maintaining bed availability, adding more centralized isolation facilities, and ensuring medicine and oxygen availability.

“First, 3M (health protocols). We all play a role in this. Everyone must observe it. Second, intensive 3T. This is cooperation between the Government and the people. Small communities among the people must be involved, especially in observing 3M. Also, high vaccination coverage. This is what we can do to control the pandemic,” Luhut remarked. (DND/UN) (DH/EP)