Of the 38 healthcare workers, 26 worked at hospitals and 12 at community health centers (Puskesmas), Henri Sembiring, head of the Manokwari Task Force for COVID-19 Response, stated here on Wednesday.
The Manokwari authorities closed three Puskesmas -- Pasir Putih, Sanggeng, and Maripi -- as well as the surgery room of Manokwari Regional Hospital after COVID-19 infections arose among healthcare workers there.
Sembiring also urged all health workers in the area to always use personal protective equipment (PPE) while offering health services to the public.
"COVID-19 volunteers, practicing doctors, and medical staff at pharmacies should all use PPEs, at least level two PPEs, specifically masks and gloves. Never underestimate the importance of PPEs," Sembiring emphasized.
"Regardless of whether the patient is honest, the use of PPE for healthcare workers is mandatory in a bid to protect them from being infected," he stated.
The tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Manokwari currently reaches 267. A total of 126 COVID-19 patients have recovered until now, while the death toll reaches five.
In addition to hospitals and Puskesmas, other clusters of COVID-19 transmission included 106 offices, four Gowa clusters, 111 family clusters, one clinic cluster, and seven shopping area clusters.
In the meantime, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force in Jakarta noted that hospitals had emerged as the largest contributors of confirmed coronavirus cases. "During the period from June 4 to September 12, 2020, clusters arose mostly from hospitals, communities, and offices, with the maximum number of COVID-19 cases. There are 24 thousand patients at hospitals," Wiku Adisasmito, spokesperson for the COVID-19 task force, noted at a virtual press conference held from the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Tuesday (Sept 22).
Adisasmito revealed that 15,133 cases emerged from community clusters, with the office cluster accounting for 3,194 confirmed cases, ship crew members or Indonesian migrant workers’ cluster adding 1,641 cases, market clusters accounting for 622 cases, and the Community Health Centers’ clusters contributing 220 cases.
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Translator: Toyiban, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
