TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, predicted that hospitals will collapse as the number of Covid-19 patients continues to rise rapidly.

According to him, that will happen if the central government does not act immediately to deal with the pandemic which, he opined, was getting worse.

“The problem is that in the next few weeks, all hospitals in Java will collapse, including Jakarta,” said Pandu on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

He viewed that Jakarta is far more prepared than other regions in terms of the availability of isolation centers and medical equipment. However, the health facilities in the capital city will also likely be collapsed in the current condition.

“But regions outside Jakarta will get the worst hit,” said Pandu.

Jakarta’s number of coronavirus cases keeps increasing every day. Over 1,500 new infections were found in the city per day, while the nationwide new daily cases reached 6,000 on average.

Pandu assessed that the tightening of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) will not be enough to be applied in Jakarta only. All cities in Java Island must also pull the emergency brake to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“I beg [the government that] there should be a restriction applied in wider regions of Java, not only in Jakarta. Because this is not getting worse in Jakarta only,” said Pandu.

Read: Bogor City Prepares Covid-19 Field Hospital in Fear of Case Spike

LANI DIANA WIJAYA