The number of hospitals is still not sufficient. We have tried to offer to use all hajj dormitories across Indonesia  anytime, if the need arises. We also have offered regional governments and the COVID-19 task force to reserve hajj dormitories as on
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi has extended assistance in terms of enlisting all hajj dormitories throughout Indonesia to function as emergency makeshift hospitals for the treatment of people ailing from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"The number of hospitals is still not sufficient. We have attempted to offer to utilize all hajj dormitories across Indonesia at any time, if the need were to arise. We have also offered hajj dormitories to the regional governments and COVID-19 task force to reserve as one of the alternative options to the COVID-19 hospitals," he noted in a press statement released on Saturday.

The Religious Affairs Ministry has earlier offered to utilize the Pondok Gede hajj dormitory in East Jakarta to treat patients under surveillance (PDP).

The patients were accommodated at the hajj dormitory comprising 70 rooms while awaiting results of the COVID-19 tests. If they were to test positive for coronavirus, they would soon be sent to a referral hospital, he explained.

The minister spoke of having handed funds reaching Rp3 billion from the ministry's rapid task force team, representatives from the Hajj Fund Management Board (BPKH), National Alms Board (Baznas), and Indonesian Waqaf Board (BWI) to help address the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Furthermore, the ministry has reallocated Rp300 billion in funding, which was earlier designated for official overseas and domestic travel, to help handle cases of COVID-19 caused by coronavirus.
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