Update On COVID-19 Per June 24: New Case Transmission Is Caused By Not Using A Mask

JAKARTA - Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) explained the progress of the case as of Wednesday, June 24 at 12.00 WIB. There were an additional 1,113 confirmed positive cases today. The total number of positive cases became 49,009 people.

Then, the number of patients who died today increased by 38 people, bringing it to 2,573 patients. There were an additional 417 patients recovered, bringing the total to 19,658 patients.

The highest number of new cases today is in East Java Province with 183 cases, bringing the total to 10,298 people. Then, the second largest province is in DKI Jakarta with an increase of 158 cases and the total to 10,404 cases. Even so, the accumulated number of COVID-19 cases in DKI is still the highest.

Then, South Sulawesi with an increase of 132 cases and a total of 4,062 cases, North Maluku with an increase of 95 cases and a total of 465, and South Kalimantan with an increase of 90 cases and a total of 2,685 cases.

Of the 34 provinces that reported, 18 provinces reported new cases under 10. Of these provinces, 5 of them reported that today there were no additional new cases.

"In fact, several provinces reported more cases of recovery than confirmed positive cases," said Yuri at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Wednesday, June 24.

Yuri explained, most of the new cases that have emerged illustrate that there is still a source of transmission in the community that includes people without symptoms (OTG) but carries the corona virus in their bodies.

"They feel safer and healthier. This is what they do not realize. Then there are still vulnerable groups who do not comply with health protocols, do not use masks and do not wash their hands diligently. This group is the one who becomes vulnerable to contracting it. This provides a picture of new cases that have emerged," said Yuri.

Based on the data from the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, a person who carries the virus but does not wear a mask can transmit the corona virus 100 percent.

Meanwhile, if people who are sick carrying the virus do not wear masks, and have close contact with other people who wear masks, transmission will drop to around 70 percent.

Then, if the person who carries this virus uses a mask and other people around him do not use a mask, the transmission will drop to around 5 percent. However, if both use masks, the chance of transmission drops drastically to 1.5 percent.

"This is what convinces us that using a mask is the most appropriate way. Use a mask properly, cover your nose and mouth properly. This should be our common concern," Yuri explained.

Furthermore, the total number of specimens that had been examined was accumulatively as many as 689,452. In detail, 673,492 specimens were examined using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 15,960 specimens were examined using a molecular rapid test (TCM).

This examination was carried out in 121 active RT-PCR laboratories, 100 TCM laboratories, and 250 network laboratories. The rate of positive cases was 11.8 percent of all examinations conducted.

Then, the patient data under surveillance (PDP) which is currently still being monitored reached 13,069 people. Meanwhile, people under monitoring (ODP) who are currently still being monitored reach 36,648.