"I call on all village governments to set up centralized isolation facilities, so that residents confirmed positive for COVID-19 can isolate themselves at those facilities," Bangka Belitung Governor Erzaldi Rosman Djohan remarked here on Saturday.
Djohan noted that the policy to build centralized isolation facilities in every village is a follow up of the coordinating economic affairs minister’s directive to optimize the enforcement of Level 3 and 4 public activity restrictions (PPKM).
"At the moment, the provincial government has set up the hajj dorm and industry work training center (BLKI) as a centralized isolation location, so we no longer prioritize self-isolation, but push for the implementation of centralized isolation," Djohan elaborated.
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He opined that by optimizing centralized isolation facilities, the provincial government can promptly distribute antigen test devices for the entire village.
Djohan stated that the rapid antigen test devices will be operated by military officials, who had received training from health workers at the public health center.
Military officer Jaya M. Jangkung stated that villages can convert school buildings into centralized isolation locations in the event of non-availability of suitable places.
Jangkung noted that thereafter, military officers would take turns to oversee residents undergoing isolation at that location.
Jangkung explained that isolation through this method is being conducted to annul the need for self-isolation and lower the number of deaths.
The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was announced on March 2, 2020.
In order to stem the spread of COVID-19, the government decided to implement PPKM that was initially enforced from July 3, 2021. The policy has since then been extended to last until August 9, 2021.
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Translator: Aprionis, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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