DRD Designs 3 Isolation Chamber Models to Treat COVID-19 Patients

Jakarta Regional Research Council (DRD) has designed three models of isolation chambers and treatment for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients.

This isolation chamber complies with medical sanitary health standards and the rules of public health sciences

This isolation chamber design is called Community-based COVID-19 Isolation Room (BICM) as one of DRD efforts to overcome COVID-19 pandemic globally, especially in Jakarta.

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Jakarta DRD Head, Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan mentioned, the reason BICM is needed because of high number of COVID-19-positive patients, as well as people under surveillance (ODP) and patients under observations (PDP).

According to him, the biggest challenge is in the case of ODP and PDP who occupy a densely populated settlements but need to work because of their economic conditions and live in the cramped house.

"Considering the limited hospital's capacity and vulnerability of transmission in dense settlements, we try to design BICM with scientific studies that have been carried out in the past month," he stated, Wednesday (4/29).

His side designed this isolation booth to be placed around the exposed communities. It will be used to isolate people who are exposed to the infectious viruses but there is no vaccine.

"This isolation chamber complies with medical sanitary health standards and the rules of public health sciences, with an extra care," he said.

He explained, it has been designed according to the the hygienic standards of treatment rooms, referring to the Health Minister Regulation No. 24/2016 concerning the Technical Requirements of Hospital Buildings and Infrastructure, Technical Guidelines for the Isolation Room from Directorate of Medical Support Services and Health Facilities in 2015, Guidelines for COVID-19 Rapid Medical and Public Health Management in Indonesia.

"It is designed for people who are infected with COVID-19. We plan to submit it to the Jakarta Government in the near future," he asserted.

He expected BICM could ease family's burden in taking care COVID-19-positive people without contracting the disease, as well as suppressing the rate of transmission due to interactions in the community.

In the other hand, COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force Head, Erick Yusuf stated, Jakarta DRD made BICM in 3 models.

The first model has capacity of 5-10 beds. Its layout can be adapted to the limited space available, and for its design he takes the example of badminton court.

"The first model can be applied in existing closed building or open fields. It includes guidelines on bed layout, air circulation, partition material options, tent types, other equipment needed, and budget plan," he mentioned.

For the second model, he continued, has capacity of 20-30 beds. This chamber is wider with a size of basketball court or more, equipped with adequate supporting facilities that can serve large number of patients.

"For the third model, we design it with capacity of 80-100 beds. It has a size of football field with complete support of facilities and able to handle large number of patients," he said.

According to him, BICM designs can be applied from RT/RW level to sub-district and city level. As an option, Youth Sports Center (GOR) has a potential to be converted into a temporary BICM.

"Almost all regions in Jakarta have GOR. For its implementation, government can collaborate with bureaucracy, philanthropic institutions and local residents or humanitarian volunteers," he conveyed.

He assessed, community participation and awareness are important to help dealing with and resolve this pandemic.

"The main principle that should be upheld is that being COVID-19 patient is not a disgrace and it is not an incurable disease. Patients shouldn't be excluded or abandoned," he stated.