"Upstream management must be conducted well, so that stakeholders in the downstream sector will not be pressured. For instance, start with self-isolation, centralized isolation, and then treatment at hospitals only for patients with moderate to severe symptoms," Warsito noted in an official statement received here on Saturday.
During his visit to survey the construction of the ICU at the Regional Public Hospital (RSUD) Dr. Pirngadi, Medan, North Sumatra, he expressed concern and hope that the ICU rooms would be operated whilst laying emphasis that this effort was a form of collaboration between the upstream and downstream stakeholders in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In addition to providing treatment rooms for COVID-19 patients, the Dr. Pirngadi Hospital offered facilities for rapid antigen testing and RT-PCR swab tests.
He also paid a visit to the quarantine and centralized isolation building where the Medan City Government operated a former hotel as a location for handling COVID-19 patients with mild to no symptoms.
There are 247 rooms with various medical facilities, such oxygen supply, medicines, and vitamins to cater to the patients’ needs. The hotel has been operating as an isolation building since early August of 2021.
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The Medan government also cooperates with the hospital management to assign its medical team to treat patients undergoing isolation.
Warsito lauded the local government’s efforts, especially in the downstream sector, in handling the number of COVID-19 cases.
According to covid19.go.id, until August 6, some 39,532 new daily cases were reported in Indonesia, while 48,832 recovered, and 1,881 people succumbed to the disease.
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Translator: Prisca V, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
