We also prepare quarantine places in Surabaya City.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has increased the number of quarantine facilities as a precautionary measure against an increase in the number of migrant workers returning to the country amid the year-end holidays.

The step aims to curb the transmission of the new COVID-19 variant of Omicron, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin noted during a virtual press conference here on Monday.

According to the COVID-19 Task Force, the government has readied several quarantine facilities in Jakarta, comprising the Wisma Atlet (Athlete’s Village) Kemayoran COVID-19 Emergency Hospital, with 4,916 beds; Wisma Atlet Pademangan, with 5,796 beds; and several hotels, with a total of 16,588 beds.

In addition, 11,892 beds at Pasar Rumput Flats, 2,352 beds at Nagrak Cilincing Flats, 1,500 beds at Daan Mogot Flats, and 480 beds at the Jakarta Provincial Education Quality Assessor’s building are designated as additional isolation sites.

The minister noted that the ministry also reactivates several buildings that were earlier also used as quarantine places.

"We will also use the (Jakarta’s Pondok Gede) Hajj Dormitory. Furthermore, we prepare quarantine places in Surabaya City, East Java Province," he stated.

Related news: Jokowi asks people to stay calm after first Omicron case detected

The government will also ready quarantine facilities at other regions that serve as Indonesia’s entry points from sea and land, such as Batam City, Riau Islands Province, since Indonesian migrant workers coming from Malaysia often used those points, he revealed.

Earlier, the government's decision to change the isolation period, from seven days to 10 days, resulted in long queues of travelers awaiting quarantine.

However, Sadikin has ensured that it will not occur henceforth.

The currently available quarantine facilities can accommodate all international travelers since the government has increased the number of facilities, he emphasized.

As of December 26, 2021, some 46 Omicron cases were detected in Indonesia, most of which were imported.

Related news: Health protocols, 3T, and vaccinations protect against Omicron
Related news: Omicron variant can infect vaccinated people: Health Ministry



Translator: Andi Firdaus, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021