The isolation points have been prepared in 20,844 villages nationwide and are equipped with 45,710 bedsJakarta (ANTARA) - Self-isolation sites prepared across villages nationwide can accommodate up to 45,710 COVID-19 patients, Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, Abdul Halim Iskandar, has said.
"The isolation points have been prepared in 20,844 villages nationwide and are equipped with 45,710 beds," he said here on Friday.
As of July 19, 2021, as many as 396,289 village residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19, with 24,768 villagers admitted at village isolation points, he added.
"Earlier, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we consolidated villages nationwide to prepare isolation points for each village. The isolation points were prepared to allow villagers infected with COVID-19 to self-isolate at the provided location, if they could not self-isolate at their homes," the minister said.
Villages have utilized several locations to set up makeshift isolation points such as village halls, village-owned enterprise buildings, school buildings emptied due to the current implementation of the distance learning system, and vacated homes, he elaborated.
He also said the daily operation of each isolation point will be supervised by local healthcare centers (Puskesmas) and volunteers groups, which have been formed in each village.
"Village volunteer groups have been authorized to manage isolation points at their respective villages. As of today, the total number of volunteers is 1,117,066," Iskandar said.
Each village volunteers group is headed by the village head and deputized by the Village Consultative Body (BPD) chairperson, he informed.
The main duty of the village volunteer groups is dealing with COVID-19 cases in the villages, including operating village isolation points, he added.
The volunteer groups are also collaborating with village leaders as well as religious and traditional leaders for performing their activities, the minister said.
Village volunteer groups' daily activities are also being supported by the village-affiliated police and military officers, and local ministry's representatives, he added.
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Translator: Zubi M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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