One of the steps (is) to send a letter to the president to urge him to consider if we would still hold National Sports Week XX in that kind of situationTimika, Papua (ANTARA) - The Mimika district government of Papua Province will appeal to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to consider the hosting of National Sports Week (PON) XX amid the COVID-19 pandemic wherein the case count had spiked lately.
Mimika District Head Eltinus Omaleng noted in Timika on Wednesday that the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mimika was alarming. A high spike in deaths had occurred in two weeks.
The growth in the number of new cases was significant, the bed occupancy at isolation rooms were almost full, and the oxygen supplies were running out, he said.
"Lately, oxygen supplies in hospitals are running out, and (patient) beds are full. Hence, we have to take serious measures to combat this disease. One of the steps (is) to send a letter to the president to urge him to consider if we would still hold National Sports Week XX in that kind of situation," Omaleng elaborated.
He noted that the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, caused by the Delta variant, occurred across Papua, including at places that would host the National Sports Week (PON) XX, such as Jayapura City, Jayapura District, Mimika District, and Merauke District.
PON XX had been pushed back a year from 2020, with the plan to host it on October 2-15, 2021.
Nine sports and 13 disciplinary events are scheduled to be held in Timika, Mimika DIstrict.
In the wake of the current circumstances, the Papua governor will also send a letter to President Jokowi to mull over the same matter.
From August 7 to September 7, the Mimika regional government will prolong the enforcement of PPKM to suppress the spread of COVID-19.
"From August 7 to September 7, Mimika will apply total lockdown. We urge the people to start preparing their basic needs and others, as we will enforce it for a month straight," Omaleng stressed.
During the total lockdown, all flights will cease to operate, including those from Jakarta, Makassar, Denpasar, and Jayapura, as well as flights to secluded regions and Pelni ship cruises.
"Only those carrying cargo, medical equipment, and other emergency needs are allowed to fly and sail. Other than that, especially those carrying passengers are not allowed to operate," Omaleng elaborated.
According to the Mimika Public Health Office, the count of COVID-19 cases in Mimika had reached 7,836 cases, with the addition of seven cases as per July 20 2021.
Currently, there are 787 isolated patients and inpatients. Some 67 receive treatment in hospitals, while 664 people are self-isolating and undergoing centralized isolation.
A total of 6,959 people in Mimika recovered, with 23 were declared healthy as of Tuesday, July 20.
On the same day, two people succumbed to COVID-19, thereby taking Mimika’s COVID-19 death toll to 90.
Nine people in Mimika passed away from COVID-19 on Monday, July 19, making it the day with maximum number of deaths caused by COVID-19.
Currently, the bed occupancy rates for COVID-19 patients reaches 80 percent for the Mimika General Regional Hospital (RSUD Mimika), 62.07 percent for the Mitra Masyarakat Hospital, 50 percent for the Kuala Kencana Clinic, and 12.50 percent for the Tembagapura Hospital.
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Translator: Evarianus S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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