To Reduce Covid-19 Death Rate, Government Urges Infected Individuals and Close Contacts to Be More Proactive

Kapanlagi.com - Various comprehensive efforts continue to be carried out by the government to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, improve patient recovery, and reduce the death rate.

Referring to data on the causes of the increase in the death rate of Covid-19, it is known that the highest cause of death is due to patients being admitted to the hospital late. Regarding this fact, the government has implemented a number of anticipatory measures from upstream to downstream.

This was directly conveyed by the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Johnny G.Plate, when asked for his opinion on this situation.

"The government has obtained data that delays in handling are the trigger for the high death rate of Covid-19 in Indonesia. The causes can be many things, both from the awareness of individual patients, lack of understanding, readiness of health facilities, and so on," he said.

Furthermore, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology added that the government is striving for every patient to receive the best treatment. "But that alone is not enough. We need cooperation from the community in optimizing preventive measures," he said.

No Need to Hesitate to Report If Positive for Covid-19

Minister Johnny also revealed that the public should not hesitate to report to officials if they or their families are confirmed positive for Covid-19. Direct reports from positive individuals will expedite officials in taking action.

"We also hope that if there are our family members, neighbors, or relatives who are confirmed positive for Covid-19, they should not be isolated or humiliated, but we should help and provide support," he said.

By reporting to local officials, Community Health Centers (Puskesmas), or Village Midwives, patients who are undergoing self-isolation will receive guidance on what to do, and most importantly, their health will be monitored. Patients will also receive the necessary medication and vitamins to support their recovery.

The Government Provides 2 Million Free Isolation Packages

In addition, the government is also distributing 2 million free isolation medication packages to the community gradually, as well as providing telemedicine services for patients without symptoms or with mild symptoms who are undergoing self-isolation.

As for how to obtain these facilities, patients can undergo PCR tests at laboratories affiliated with the Ministry of Health. When a patient is detected positive, the officer will provide information on how to obtain medication and a link for online health consultation.

"We expect our community to be proactive in using the various available services in order to receive optimal treatment. Rest assured, the government is always striving for the best for everyone," emphasized Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate.

Community Encouraged to be More Proactive

On an individual level, the government expects assistance from individuals infected with Covid-19 to be more proactive and cautious. All patients, even those without symptoms or with mild symptoms, if the oxygen saturation measurement with an oximeter is below 94%, should be immediately referred to the nearest hospital or centralized isolation for treatment.

In reality, some positive cases patients refuse to be referred to isolation centers or choose not to report to officers due to the stigma from society that still considers Covid-19 as a shame, causing them to feel embarrassed. Meanwhile, the speed and accuracy of healthcare personnel in providing treatment are crucial in reducing the risk of death.

Currently, around 15% of Covid-19 patients receive treatment in hospitals, while the rest undergo self-isolation. Therefore, strengthening supervision and monitoring of isolated patients is crucial, not only to prevent transmission but also to reduce the mortality rate.

Continued Efforts for the Best Healthcare Facilities for Patients

The government is also striving to improve healthcare facilities to ensure the best treatment for patients. This includes optimizing the supply of medication, oxygen, healthcare worker readiness, and ensuring an adequate number of beds for Covid-19 patients, despite the potential for a surge in cases.

Regarding the availability of beds, the current capacity of hospitals throughout Indonesia is around 430 thousand units. Out of that number, last week approximately 92 thousand were occupied by Covid-19 patients, while this week the number of occupied beds is 82 thousand units. This means that there has been a decrease in the number of patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

However, if there is a sudden increase in cases, local governments in each region still have the opportunity to increase the conversion of beds for Covid-19 patients in hospitals.

(kly/tmi)