The isolation building will handle people mildly symptomatic with COVID-19, for instance, those with no fever or respiratory ailmentSurabaya (ANTARA) - The Surabaya local government has provided a building for the isolation of people under surveillance (ODP) exhibiting mild symptoms of COVID-19 in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The local government has readied a building, with 30 beds, in South Surabaya for isolating ODP, Febria Rachmanita, Surabaya's Task Force Coordinator for Health Protocol Implementation for accelerated handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, stated.
"The isolation building will handle people mildly symptomatic with COVID-19, for instance, those with no fever or respiratory ailment," Rachmanita expounded here on Monday.
"If people with mild symptoms are experiencing severe symptoms, we will send them to be isolated at the hospital," she revealed.
Related news: 140 portable sinks installed in Surabaya to tackle COVID-19 outbreak
Related news: Govt to offer incentive to medical workers handling COVID-19 outbreak
Rachmanita explained that a team of doctors for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases will be assigned to examine ODP for COVID-19 and determine whether an individual needs to be isolated.
"The doctors will determine the time for a person to conduct self-isolation or to be isolated in the isolation building. We have prepared 30 beds," she stated.
Rachmanita highlighted that medical officers will conduct close monitoring of patients in need of treatment in the isolation buildings.
ODP comprising Indonesians or foreigners, who came to Indonesia from countries with reported COVID-19 outbreak can undergo self-quarantine in their respective homes for 14 days in accordance with the health protocol issued by Ministry of Health.
Rachmanita further noted that ODP undergoing self-quarantine will also be monitored by staff of the local community health centers (Puskesmas). In the meantime, hospital isolation is only being performed on patients experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, such as shortness of breath.
A total of 15 hospitals -- with isolation rooms -- in Surabaya were designated to handle COVID-19 cases, including Dr. Soetomo Surabaya Hospital, Bhakti Dharma Husada (BDH) Surabaya Hospital, and Soewandhie Hospital.
Related news: East Jakarta's Hajj Dormitory to be used as isolation facility
Related news: Int'l events in Surabaya stand cancelled to avert coronavirus spread
Translator: Abdul Hakim, Yuni Arisandy Sin
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
