Jakarta Preps Isolation Venue for Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - North Jakarta municipal administration prepared isolation venues for COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or not developing symptoms (OTG).

Mayor Sigit Wijatmoko said six sub-districts of North Jakarta suggested low-cost apartment or rusunawa, school and university building, until sports halls (GOR) to be repurposed into temporary isolation sites.

“Several quarantine sites proposed by six sub-districts are Rusunawa Nagrak, PT PLMI Pelindo 2 campus building, Wisma JIC (Jakarta Islamic Center), schools, SKKT (Sasana Krida Karang Taruna), sports halls, and others,” said Sigit in his written statement, Monday, April 27.

According to him, the isolation place will be established in each sub-district as an anticipatory measure of a possible surge in virus cases.

Sigit ensured that the buildings will be sterilized and meet the health protocol before they are opened. Moreover, the places must be under the permission of locals.

“The transmission rate of the new coronavirus is really high, and that’s a challenge for all of us to contain it through various efforts while complying with the health protocol,” Sigit explained. “We are pushing for the use of the existing potentials in mapping the quarantine sites.”

The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia continues to grow since the first case was announced in early March 2020. Most of the patients live in Jakarta. As of April 27, Jakarta Health Agency noted 3,832 positive patients in the capital, 338 recoveries, and 375 fatalities.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA