We urge the public to collaborate in making prevention efforts, such as cooperatively conducting testing and tracing as well as following health protocols (in a disciplined manner) to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry has encouraged the public to get tested immediately in the event of having come in close contact with a COVID-19 patient.
The appeal was made by spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination at the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, in a press statement received here on Friday.
The ministry also reminded the public to not be afraid to undergo quarantine or self-isolation, as they had provided telemedicine services and consultations with health workers at public health centers to monitor developments pertaining to the patients' health.
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People undergoing isolation, independently or at facilities, were eligible for free health consultation services, either through the telemedicine platform or from health workers at the public health centers.
The ministry also provided free drug and multivitamin packages for the patients undergoing isolation to support their swift recovery.
"We urge the public to collaborate in making prevention efforts, such as cooperatively conducting testing and tracing as well as following health protocols (in a disciplined manner) to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19," she affirmed.
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Tarmizi also urged the public to get the complete doses of vaccination plus the booster dose once they were eligible for it.
She deemed it important to conduct testing and tracing of close contacts for stemming the spread of COVID-19.
Massive testing, tracing, and treatment were some of the preventive measures taken by the government to control COVID-19. As per Thursday, February 17, some 572,855 specimens were tested on a national scale.
The measures were taken as a means to keep the national bed occupancy rate below 60 percent. The government has also been striving to maintain the availability of COVID-19 health services.
They continue to impose a policy under which only patients with moderate to critical symptoms may be treated in hospitals.
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Meanwhile, people, who were either asymptomatic or with mild symptoms, were advised to isolate in their respective homes or facilities provided by the government, with the objective of reducing the workload at hospitals.
Tarmizi confirmed that extensive health workforce had been readied to face a worst-case scenario.
In terms of internal management, the hospital can arrange alternating schedules for health workers assigned to the COVID-19 care section and can also transfer health workers from other units to assist with COVID-19 treatment.
"We also provide shuttle transportation and accommodation for staff, reduce or delay non-emergency services, and increase telemedicine services," Tarmizi added.
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Health workers and doctors undergoing self-isolation due to being asymptomatic patients would be assisted in offering telemedicine consultations for self-isolating COVID-19 patients.
Furthermore, the hospital's external strategy encompasses utilizing co-assistants and people undergoing the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS), also coordinating with professional organizations in providing backup staff to help.
Hospitals can also transfer health workers to areas, with high number of cases of COVID-19, and employ final year students in health education institutions to assist in administrative tasks.
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Translator: Martha H S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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