VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Task Force for COVID-19 Response has appointed Jakarta's Military Commander (Pangdam Jaya) Major General Eko Margiyono as head of the newly set-up emergency hospital for treating coronavirus infections in the city.

The hospital is housed in the same building in Kemayoran, Jakarta that was used to accommodate thousands of athletes during the 2018 Asian Games.

"I have been assigned to lead the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital," Maj. Gen. Eko Margiyono announced in a press statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hospital.

The hospital, which was officially inaugurated on March 23, 2020, is currently treating 208 persons who tested positive for the coronavirus.

If the number of positive patients continues to increase, two additional towers in the building complex will be converted into treatment rooms, said Maj. Gen. Eko Margiyono.

"If the situation gets worse, we can apply the next scenario, namely (using) towers four and five," he remarked.

The government has converted two towers — number six and seven — in the Wisma Atlet complex into a maintenance area. Another tower is being used to provide accommodation to health workers, volunteers, and nurses, and one tower is serving as the center of the task force's operations.

Eko said the Wisma Atlet Emergency Hospital is continuing to improve facilities and resources in anticipation of an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients.

The Jakarta Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) has estimated that the number of patients could jump to 6,000-8,000.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, the Ministry of State Enterprises (BUMN), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian Police (Polri), and volunteers, among others, have assisted in the operation of the hospital and in the provision of infrastructure and facilities. (ANTARA)