Deputy Governor Of DKI: Opening Activities Expanded If COVID-19 Decreases Significantly

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria said the opening of activities and activities in the capital city would be increased if COVID-19 cases fell significantly.

"God willing, along with the increase in the implementation of vaccines, then as the transmission of COVID-19 decreases, the central government opens places of activity," said Riza, quoted by Antara, Saturday, August 14.

This was revealed by Riza following the easing and opening of a number of sectors by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, even though the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in DKI was still at level 4, because the current condition of COVID-19 transmission in Jakarta is starting to sag and vaccinations are also speeding up.

Riza explained that the easing that his party is currently doing is reopening modern shopping centers (malls), then "outdoor" sports venues to easing the mobility of residents by opening 20 isolation points.

He said that all the easing had been stated in the Decree of the Governor of the DKI Jakarta Province Number 974 of 2021 concerning the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities Level 4 Corona Virus Disease 2019 issued by Governor Anies Baswedan on August 10, 2021.

This gubernatorial decree is a follow-up to the instructions of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 30 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Level 4, Level 3, and Level 2 Corona Virus Disease 2019 Restrictions in the Java and Bali Regions.

However, with the easing and operation of several sectors, Riza still asks the public to adhere to health protocols, and asks people to stay at home if there is no urgent need.

"Even if there is an easing, we ask that the best place is at home and continue to carry out the process properly. Implement PPKM Level 4 in a disciplined and responsible manner," he said.

Decreasing

Meanwhile, the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan admitted that the current condition of Jakarta is heading to a safe threshold for the spread of COVID-19, where the COVID-19 situation is much better than before.

Anies said that currently, active cases of COVID-19 in DKI had decreased dramatically after previously the capital had 113,000 active cases at the peak of the second wave of explosions on July 16, 2021.

Until now, the number of active cases in Jakarta is 9,453 people who are still being treated in hospital or in self-isolation. On the other hand, the "positivity rate" or the percentage of positive cases in Jakarta has also fallen to the ideal limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Then now, thank God, our active cases are below 100,000 and then our positivity rate is below 10 percent. That is a safe threshold, ideally safe below 5 percent, so we are heading there," said Anies.

The decline in active cases in Jakarta, continued Anies, has left 140 referral hospitals in Jakarta now empty. Many beds and health facilities were vacant after previously Anies Baswedan and his staff were almost distraught because all the hospitals were full at the peak of the second wave of COVID-19 explosion.

Currently, the occupancy of beds in all hospitals in Jakarta is only 33 percent, while the occupancy of beds in the ICU is 59 percent. In comparison, at the peak of the second explosion, bed occupancy was above 90 percent. Even a number of hospitals to make emergency tents to accommodate patients.

"Even though we know the safe limit for the bed is below 60 percent. So Jakarta is in a very good condition," said Anies.