TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi announced that the Covid-19 Emergency Hospital on Galang Island, Batam will begin operating next Monday. The hospital was initially scheduled to be ready by the end of March.

"By Monday at the latest, it can start operating," he said via video conference from Galang Island, Wednesday, February 1.

Jokowi admitted that the hospital's opening is slightly off schedule. According to the president, the delay was caused by late distribution of construction materials due to unfavorable weathers.

"There was a delay in the delivery of building materials by three or four days because transportation was hampered by the weather," he said.

This hospital has a capacity of 1,000 beds. The entire facility is divided into three zones. Zone A will house 158 rooms for medical workers and facilities including a pharmacy, the laundry building, and a power house, among others.

Zone B is the main building that has isolation wards with 20 beds, as well as an observatory with 340 beds. Zone B will also house the satellite laboratory, pharmaceutical laboratories, mortuary, and an exercise court.

Zone C will be used for non-ICU rooms with 30 beds, ICU rooms, and observation rooms.

Dewi Nurita