Govt to Increase Hospital Bed Capacity as COVID-19 Cases Surge

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The COVID-19 Mitigation and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN) chairman, Airlangga Hartarto, reported that the trend of positive cases had continued to increase, particularly since the end of December 2020. The government recorded that the active cases reached 110,679 as of January 3, 2021.

Thus, the government planned to increase the bed capacity both in regional and private hospitals by up to 30 percent for patients diagnosed with the coronavirus disease.

“The allocation [of hospital beds] for COVID-19 handling has been increased to 30 percent, and Health Minister Budi Gunadi will prepare that,” said Airlangga in a press conference after an internal meeting on the pandemic mitigation at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday, January 4, 2020.

Other than increasing the bed capacity, Airlangga said the government would also tighten the implementation of the predetermined health protocols or 3M by conducting a disciplinary operation dubbed the Yustisi Operation. “And consistently carry out 3M and 3T (tracing, testing, and treatment) accurately,” he added.

The Health Ministry, Airlangga informed, would also deploy more health workers. “The target is 10,000 medical workers, especially the number of nurses up to 7,900 at 1,141 health facilities,” he said.

According to Airlangga, who is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the government planned to evaluate the policy in the next two weeks following the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Read: Indonesia to Kick Off COVID-19 Vaccination Program Next Week

DEWI NURITA