TEMPO.CO, Depok - Depok Regional Hospital (RSUD) decided to temporarily halt its operations for the next 14 days after 27 medical workers were found infected with the new coronavirus or COVID-19 through swab tests.

Hospital director Devi Maryori said the the hospital was closed from May 22 until June 8, 2020. “Two weeks ago, as many as 12 healthcare officers tested positive, we then conducted isolation and swab tests for other officers who made contacts with them,” said Devi on Friday, May 22.

The tests came out on Thursday afternoon, May 21, revealing that 15 other workers carried the virus. “So in order to anticipate transmission to our patients, we report it to the mayor and task force, asking for a permit to close the polyclinics for 14 days,” she added.

Since the hospital was tapped as the coronavirus disease special hospital on May 4, non-virus disease cases are treated in the polyclinics. As many workers positive for the virus are stationed in the polyclinics, the services are now suspended.

“In fact, none of them treat COVID-19 patients. They work in the laboratory, the roentgen unit, the polyclinics, and the operation room,” the hospital director explained.

At present, medical workers diagnosed with the novel coronavirus infection are being isolated in Depok Hospital. “We have set up several rooms. I order all positive workers to be treated in the hospital. The task force also instructed the same in a bid to prevent virus transmission to their families,” Devi said.

ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA