COVID-19 treatment, President Jokowi suggests to utilize SOEs-owned hotels

Last updated on May 13th, 2021 at 05:47 am

As a further step to take action on patients afflicted with coronavirus or COVID-19 as when the need arises, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has suggested that Wisma Atlet in Kemayoran and hotels owned by state-owned companies (SOEs) be utilized to treat them.

Jokowi put forth the suggestion as part of the contingency plan that he had ordered to be prepared during a video conference of the COVID-19 Task Force Report at the Merdeka Palace, on Thursday.

“Prepare a contingency plan for health services, referral hospitals or other mobilized hospitals, such as those owned by SOEs, military or police, private or even emergency hospitals if needed. (We can also) use Wisma Atlet in Kemayoran and hotels owned by the SOEs,” Jokowi noted.

Wisma Atlet, located in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, comprising 10 apartment buildings for athletes, has a capacity for some 15 thousand people.

This building was earlier used by athletes, who competed in sports events in Indonesia, including the 2018 Asian Games.

Not only in Jakarta, according to him, a contingency plan must also be prepared in handling COVID-19 in the regions. One of them, expediting the hospital construction work in Galang Island, Riau Islands.

However, Jokowi stressed the main priority was currently to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to intensify the importance of disseminating information. Hence, he highlighted the importance of reducing the mobility of people through social distancing.