DKI Deputy Governor Asked Residents To Keep Wearing Masks At Home

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI, Ahmad Riza Patria, asked Jakarta residents to keep wearing masks even though they are inside the house. Because, said Riza, currently the COVID-19 cluster in the family environment continues to increase.

"At home, we ask to continue to carry out the program, including wearing masks. We ask for support from all people, because the family cluster continues to increase," said Riza at the City Hall of DKI, Central Jakarta, Monday, December 28.

Riza said that his party opened the opportunity to pull the emergency brake by tightening large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) when positive cases of COVID-19 increased after the Christmas and New Year 2021 holidays.

However, decisions related to the emergency brake policy will only be made after the end of the year holiday period is over and see data on the increase in COVID-19 cases.

"If later it has exceeded the standards related to R0, an active case, the emergency brake could be withdrawn. On the other hand, if it is sufficient, the standard is good, it remains as it is now, and if it gets better, there could be some relaxation," said Riza.

He said there were three factors that caused Jakarta to always be the province with the most positive cases. First, because Jakarta is increasing the number of tracing and examinations using either the rapid test or PCR methods. Thus, the number detected is increasing.

"DKI Jakarta always improves PCR tests, yes. The numbers are 8 even 9 times a week in the standards recommended by WHO," said Riza.

Second, continued Riza, several hospitals that were late in sending PCR examination results. Thus, data accumulation occurs and this affects the daily amount of data on COVID-19 cases.

"The increase was also due to the accumulation of the sum of PCR data a few days earlier from several hospitals that had not been included or were late," he said.

Finally, the high number of positive cases in Jakarta is also influenced by the people who are still stubborn by traveling on holidays. In fact, the Provincial Government (Pemprov) has repeatedly appealed to the public to stay at home.

"Indeed, there are additions due to holidays and so on. For that we continue to ask the public on this long holiday to stay at home, okay? No need to leave the house let alone outside the area," he said.