Floating isolation spaces are one of the aids which can be allocated through the Transportation MinistryPadang, West Sumatera (ANTARA) - The national COVID-19 Handling Task Force has offered floating isolation spaces to Padang City for asymptomatic patients and those exhibiting mild symptoms.
"Floating isolation spaces are one of the aids which can be allocated through the Transportation Ministry. This can help the region's capacity in terms of providing self-isolation spaces," Rustian, Director of Emergency Resource Support of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) who concurrently a member of the task force said during a visit to West Sumatra on Thursday (August 5, 2021).
He asked the West Sumatra and Padang City COVID-19 task forces to gauge regional capacity for providing isolation spaces to asymptomatic patients and patients with mild symptoms.
The floating isolation spaces are supported by clinics, where patients can get treatment if their condition worsens, he informed.
The BNPB and the COVID-19 task force will ramp up preventive measures, such as the enforcement of health protocols, by giving away free masks and hand sanitizers, he said.
"We will also enhance regional COVID-19 task forces' ability in terms of testing, tracing, and treatment," he added.
Everyone must work together to anticipate spikes in COVID-19 cases. Each region has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the COVID-19 task forces will try their best to assist where needed, he added.
West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi said his administration will coordinate with the Padang City government with regards to assistance for the floating isolation places provided by BNPB.
He said that West Sumatra has run the Nagari Tageh Program, under which self-isolation places are being provided at the village level. However, with the increase in positive cases due to the increasingly massive tracing and testing efforts, additional isolation sites would be urgently needed.
He also asked the West Sumatra COVID-19 task force to prepare data for the BNPB and National COVID-19 Task Force to allow the regions to handle the pandemic better.
"Additional hospital rooms, supporting equipment, and a shortage of healthcare workers must also be reported so that the BNPB or the central COVID-19 task force can assist (with) our needs in West Sumatra," he added.
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Translator: Miko Elfisha, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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