Update On COVID-19 As Of May 7: Community Leaders Must Model Prevention

JAKARTA - Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto, explained the progress of the case as of Thursday, May 7, at 12.00 WIB. There were an additional 338 confirmed positive cases today. The total number of positive cases became 12,776 people.

Even so, there was good news received. The number of recovered cases has outperformed the death cases. There were an additional 61 patients recovered, bringing the total to 2,381 patients. Meanwhile, 35 patients died, bringing it to 930 patients.

"The highest factor that causes patients to die is congenital hypertension. Followed by diabetes, heart disease and lung disease, both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," Yuri said in a press conference at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Thursday, 7. May.

Then, additional numbers also occurred in patient data under surveillance (PDP) with a total of 28,508 people. Meanwhile, the cases of people under monitoring (ODP) increased to 243,455.

The saliva specimen test (swab) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and rapid molecular test (TCM) have been carried out 133,885 times. The number of cases examined was 96,717 people.

In breaking the chain of transmission, Yuri saw the need for tolerance and continuous mutual cooperation in the community. Efforts to stop COVID-19 must be community-based.

Prevention efforts in the community, said Yuri, could be carried out by community leaders. Community role models in an area usually have a number of followers who follow an order from that figure.

"For example, the PSBB policy is meant to be interpreted through role models in society, both religious leaders, traditional leaders, and so on, so that the community really understands it," said Yuri.

Meanwhile, the smallest community leader is the head of the family. The head of the family can discipline the health behavior of all family members in one house.

"Discipline includes getting used to wearing masks and washing hands with soap from running water. This is important which is the key to killing, damaging and killing viruses from our hands," he said.