Bekasi Regent Dies of Covid-19 in a Neighboring City Hospital

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com - Bekasi Regent Eka Supria Atmaja passed away on Sunday, July 11 after undergoing 10-day treatment for Covid-19.

The treatment was carried out in Siloam Hospital, Tangerang near the Indonesian capital after the Regent did not get a room in the intensive care unit in the territory under his jurisdiction in Bekasi as hospitals are running out of beds for patients. 

Eka’s last activity published by the Bekasi Administration was held on June 26. At that time, he officiated the Covid-19 Body Handling Training, which was organized virtually.

In his speech, he called on the volunteers and the public to help the government in dealing with Covid-19. No other activities by him were then reported after that. 

Also read: Indonesia Seeks More Oxygen for Covid-19 Patients amid Surge in Delta Variant Cases

At first, his health declined and it was confirmed that his platelets had dropped. Doctors at a Bekasi hospital suspected that Eka had dengue fever. However, after an antigen swab was performed and undergoing a PCR examination, Eka was confirmed positive for Covid-19 on July 1.

Head of the Bekasi District Health Office, dr. Sri Enny Mainarti told Kompas.com that Eka has the comorbidity of hypertension. As the level of oxygen saturation dropped, he had to be treated in the intensive care unit.

"His heart condition and blood pressure were normal, but because he had comorbidities, he had to be treated in the ICU," Enny explained.

Also read: Emergency Covid-19 Measures Put Balis Tourism Revival on Hold

A spokesperson for the Covid-19 Bekasi Regency, Alamsyah, told Kompas.com, Eka was transferred to a Tangerang hospital because he did not get an ICU at a hospital around Bekasi regency on Friday, July 9.

The Bekasi Regent died at 9.30 pm local time while he was receiving treatment at the neighboring city. 

A spokesperson at the Bekasi Administration Ramdhan Nurul Ikhsan confirmed the death of the Bekasi Regent. "Yes, it confirmed that [he passed away] around 9.30 pm," Ramadhan told Kompas.com, Sunday, July 11.

(Writer: Djati Waluyo | Editor : Sabrina Asril, Irfan Maullana)

Sources: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2021/07/12/05060001/kronologi-meninggalnya-bupati-bekasi-karena-covid-19-sempat-tak-kebagian

https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2021/07/09/12082941/tidak-dapat-icu-di-wilayahnya-bupati-bekasi-dirawat-di-tangerang