VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A symbolic handover ceremony for East Jakarta’s Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory on Sunday (22/3/2020) to be used as isolation facility for COVID-19 patients in Jakarta Hajj Hospital. (ANTARA)

The hajj dormitory in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, will be turned into an isolation facility for those who have been infected by the coronavirus or COVID-19.

Minister of Religious Affairs, Fachrul Razi, had symbolically handed over one of the Hajj Dormitory buildings, Sunday, to be turned into isolation rooms of the Hajj Hospital Jakarta.

In a statement received here, Sunday, the dormitory building that will be turned into COVID-19 handling isolation facility was handed over to Chairman of the Jakarta Hajj Hospital, Syarief Hasan Lutfie.

In addition, the minister also handed over  more than Rp3 billion worth of aid and personal protective equipment in the form of masks and hazmat suits, which came from the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Task Force on COVID-19 Handling.

The task force consists of those from the Ministry, as well as the Hajj Fund Management Agency, National Alms Agency, and the Indonesian Waqf Board. The assistance given is said to be the initial stage, which will be evaluated as needed.

The Minister of Religious Affairs, in his remarks, expressed his appreciation towards the doctors and medical personnel in the Jakarta Hajj Hospital who had worked tirelessly to serve the community and handle the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Hopefully, this assistance can help  overcome COVID-19 and improve services to the community. Make the best use of this aid, especially in the health sector," he said.

Chief of the Jakarta Hajj Hospital COVID-19 Task Force, Mahesa explained the handling procedures of patients who had been diagnosed with positive coronavirus infection in his hospital.

"We had previously used the prayer room (mushalla) as the isolation room for patients suspected of COVID-19 at the Haji Hospital in Jakarta," Mahesa said. (ANTARA)