Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo led an opening ceremony by video conference on Thursday for Infectious and Emerging Diseases Isolation and Quarantine Facility in Lamongan regency, East Java.
Speaking during the virtual event, Doni expressed appreciation for the Public Works and Housing Ministry for its success in constructing the facility in just five weeks.
"I hope the Lamongan administration will manage the facility to the best of its ability," he said.
Doni also thanked local health workers for their contributions in mitigating the COVID-19 outbreak in the region.
"We are sure that the professionalism of the health workers has helped Lamongan's residents to get the best health service," he said.
At the same occasion, public works deputy minister John Wempi Wetipo said that the new facility would help the regency's health service provide faster treatment for COVID-19 patients.
"We hope that developing the isolation and observation facility will greatly benefit [efforts to curb] the spread of COVID-19 in Lamongan regency," said John.
The new infectious diseases facility, which covers 6,180 square meters, is to admit and treat COVID-19 patients from Lamongan regency as well as other regions in East Java, the new epicenter of the Indonesian outbreak.
The regent of Lamongan had specifically requested the development of the new facility, as the regency did not have a designated COVID-19 hospital despite its being the second-hardest hit region in East Java.
The newly inaugurated facility is located close to Dr. Soegiri Regional General Hospital. It is equipped with a screening ward, a quarantine ward that can accommodate 75 patients and an isolation ward accommodate 7 patients.