Ministry Of Health: COVID-19 Cases Are Expected To Increase In The Next Days

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said it was estimated that it was still possible for all regions in Indonesia to experience an increase in COVID-19 cases in the next few days.

"It is possible that additional cases could occur. Currently, the peak of cases in Java and Bali is increasing. In the next three to four weeks there will be an increase outside Java and Bali. This is the pattern we learned from the Delta wave (July-August 2021)," said Siti Nadia Tarmizi in a virtual press conference quoted by Antara, Wednesday, February 16.

He said Omicron cases nationwide were reported to account for 98 percent of the total 57,049 COVID-19 cases based on the daily recapitulation results on Tuesday, February 15. As many as 2 percent of them are non-Omicron variants.

The characteristics of Omicron which spread rapidly, he said, made all provinces experience an increase in the incidence of cases. "Jakarta, Bali and Banten are included in PPKM level 4, meaning more than 150 cases per 100,000 population per week," he said.

Nadia, who is also the Secretary of the Director General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said the number of new ASUS in Indonesia has now exceeded the Delta period.

"The possibility is still open for all regions to experience an increase in cases in the next few days and this depends on our efforts to reduce the transmission rate by continuing to implement health protocols, carry out isolation, increase contact tracing and vaccination," he said.

Even though later cases in Java and Bali fell, said Nadia, people outside these areas must continue to maintain health protocols and carry out testing.

"Efforts to limit transmission are early detection of rapid testing, even if only the common cold. Then close contact testing. We urge the public to be tested," said Siti Nadia.