"There is a possibility of having a discourse on building a large hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. We will gradually reduce visits from patients or residents who seek general treatment," Indra Setiawan, head of the East Jakarta Health Office, said here on Tuesday.
He made the statement in response to an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in East Jakarta, in particular, and Jakarta, in general, over the last few days.
The plan would materialize soon if confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to increase, Setiawan informed.
The demand for beds for COVID-19 patients in the East Jakarta area has also shot up in the last few days, he said.
"Indeed, recently the need for beds has surged because we have seen an increasing number of cases. From the data, symptomatic cases that do require hospital treatment are also increasing," he observed.
As an anticipatory measure, several hospitals designated as referral hospitals for COVID-19 patients in East Jakarta have prepared additional beds.
"Some hospitals have prepared additional beds," Setiawan said.
Expressing concern over the rise in infections, he said daily cases in East Jakarta have jumped drastically from 200 to reach one thousand now.
"In East Jakarta previously there were 150 to 200 new cases per day, but in the last five days we have added over a thousand new cases," he said on the sidelines of the inauguration of a COVID-19 Vaccination Center at the Jakarta International Equestrian Park, Jakarta.
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Translator: Yogi Rachman, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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