High Mortality Rate, Luhut: Bali until Yogyakarta Require Special Attention

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Java-Bali Emergency PPKM Coordinator, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, stated that the government needs to pay attention to the spread of Covid-19 in four regions namely Bali, Malang, Yogyakarta, and Solo.

Luhut said the area showed a high number of  Covid-19 cases and mortality rate. "Several regencies/cities have finally returned to Level 4, not because of an increase in cases, but rather an increase in mortality cases," said Luhut in a virtual press conference, Monday night, August 2, 2021.

According to Luhut, the high mortality rate occurred because many Covid-19 patients were late in receiving treatments at the hospital. Patients who are self-isolating are generally taken to hospital when their oxygen saturation is low or below 90.

Luhut explained that the government had carried out various interventions to reduce the mortality rate. Regional governments as well as the national army and police (TNI and Polri), are encouraged to open centralized isolation places and increase the number of testing, tracking, and handling (3T) of Covid-19 patients.

Regional officers, he said, need to pick up people who are self-isolating to separate them from their families. In addition to anticipating bad conditions that may occur, the evacuation of Covid-19 patients to isolation centers is carried out to prevent the spread of family clusters.

Luhut has asked for 8 percent of village funds to be allocated for handling Covid-19. "The use of this 8 percent village fund is for the purchase of necessary items. Don't let anyone die again at home or in self-isolation," said Luhut.

Centralized isolation at the village, sub-district, district/city, or provincial levels, said Luhut, is very important. Isolation is required for patients who are at high risk or whose homes are pregnant women, the elderly, and comorbidities

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | MAUDEY K. SETYAKUSUMA