Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – The government decided not to tighten activities on the implementation of level 3 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) because the number of COVID-19 cases in several regions was considered to be starting to sag.
“We haven’t seen any further tightening, no, instead we are easing what we are doing but with strict monitoring,” said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan at a press conference in Jakarta, Monday.
Luhut, who is also the Coordinator of the Java-Bali PPKM, explained that the COVID-19 case in DKI Jakarta had seen a gradual decline in the last four days.
In addition, the occupancy of hospitals which are indicators of the government, such as the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran Hospital, Sulianti Saroso Hospital, Friendship Hospital and Pertamina Hospital, did not show a significant increase.
Therefore, the government emphasizes that there is no need for excessive worry because of the wide vaccination coverage, the provision of booster or “booster” vaccines, as well as discipline towards strict health protocols by the public.
“In fact, we encourage strict health protocols, just go where to enter the mall, use PeduliLindung, then PCR or antigen to check yourself if you have symptoms,” said Luhut.
On the other hand, the Government is also aware that the number of deaths per day due to COVID-19 reached 111 on Sunday (13/2). This number is the highest increase since the end of September 2021.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin explained that the peak in deaths occurred two weeks later from the peak of 56,000 cases per day.
When compared with the Delta variant, the daily COVID-19 cases at that time reached 56,000 with 2,069 deaths per day.
“Learning from the usual, the death interval is two weeks but I don’t think it will be from 111, even up to 500 (cases) or up to 1,000 (cases) it’s impossible,” said Budi.
The Ministry of Health noted that 60 percent of these deaths occurred in patients who had not been vaccinated, had incomplete vaccines, had comorbidities and were elderly. (mhn/bbs)
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