Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairperson of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), Gomar Gultom, on Friday offered his wishes and support to Indonesian Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadhan amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"May the difficult times caused by the pandemic of the COVID-19 not diminish the spirit of the brothers in fasting until they arrive at the victory day at the end of the month of Ramadhan," Gomar Gultom said in a statement released here on Friday.
Ramadhan is a holy month full of blessings filled with noble worship in the form of fasting, a manifestation of total submission to God, he added.
"By fasting, the brothers try to deny the desires of the body and all thoughts, words, and deeds that God does not want, and, on the contrary, increase the practice of good deeds. Total obedience like this is not easy, especially in difficult times like the current COVID-19 pandemic," Gomar remarked.
He asked those who could not return to their hometowns due to the implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) to remain grateful and respect the sanctity of the month of Ramadhan.
"Let us prepare ourselves and our hearts to enter this month full of blessings and forgiveness. Hopefully, the sacred intentions of the brothers will be cleansed by the Almighty," he said.
He also invited non-Muslim citizens, especially church members, to respect Muslims as they observe the traditional period of fasting.
"Let us work together to get out of this COVID-19 outbreak, help each other in a spirit of harmony," Gomar stated.
Meanwhile, as per data received at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, April 24, 2020, the Wisma Atlet (Athlete's Village) Emergency Hospital in Jakarta, has treated 609 COVID-19 positive patients.
Commander of the Defense Regional Joint Command (Pangkogabwilhan) I, Vice Admiral Yudo Margono, noted in a written statement, received in Jakarta on Friday, that the Athlete's Village Emergency Hospital has treated a total of 693 in-patients in connection with the COVID-19 disease.
The patients include 12 people under surveillance (ODP) and 71 patients under monitoring (PDP).
Patients undergoing treatment at the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital comprise 394 men and 299 women.
The total patient count has dropped by one from 694 recorded a day earlier.
The number of COVID-19 positive patients undergoing treatment at the Athlete's Village has risen by four from the previous day, when the figure stood at 605.
The number of patients with PDP status has decreased by four from 75 to 71, while the number of ODP patients has also reduced from 14 to 13.
The Athlete's Village in Kemayoran, Jakarta was converted into a COVID-19 Emergency Hospital by the Joko Widodo Government, and the hospital became operational from March 23, 2020. The hospital is equipped to handle 12 thousand patients. (INE)
EDITED BY INE
