Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Head of South Kalimantan Health Agency M Muslim confirmed face-masks stock for the patient's health management is still sufficient, so there is no need to worry.
Muslim here on Tuesday (March 3, 2020) said, face mask need for patient handling is sufficient, the stock still reached a thousand more.
"The stock of face-mask for handling health program is still sufficient, there is no need to worry," he affirmed.
Responding to the scarcity and high price of face-mask on the public market today, according to Muslim, it happens because people who are not sick are also wearing face-masks.
Supposedly, he said, people who are not in public places and are not sick, no need to use face-masks, because face masks basically are only used by the sick and who deal with sufferers.
However, he added, his side would still coordinate with the Trade Agency and other related offices related to the scarcity and high prices of face-masks.
Meanwhile, at least in the last one month, the supply of face-masks in pharmacies and drugstores is empty, If there is any, buyers must pivot with prices reaching hundreds of thousands of rupiah from usually only around Rp20 thousand to Rp30 thousand per box.
President Joko Widodo has ordered Chief of the National Police General Idham Aziz to take stern measures against those stockpiling face-masks after the government announced the country's first two confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The President asked speculators to be wary of the government's strict rules. He urged the speculators to stop profit-taking action under these current circumstances.
The government is ready to do as much as possible to protect the public against coronavirus, he said.
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At present, according to Muslim, his agency intensively promoting the Healthy Behavior Movement (Germas) by maintaining personal and environmental hygiene, nutritious food, thus body endurance increases.
The agency also gives serious attention to people with flu to anticipate things undesirable.
Regarding preparations for the management of COVID-19, Muslim said, the Ulin General Hospital has prepared isolation room, and all health facilities in South Kalimantan are also prepared to support the handling and prevention of the coronavirus.
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