COVID-19 Rises But Controlled, Luhut Calls Blessing To PeduliLindungi App

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, emphasized that the government still has full control in dealing with the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Luhut said since the Omicron variant was discovered one month ago in Indonesia, today there are no signs of an exponential increase in cases like what has happened in other parts of the country.

"The increase in cases is relatively under control. The number of confirmed and daily active cases is still lower by more than 90 percent when compared to Delta's peak cases", Luhut said at the PPKM (Community Activity Restrictions) evaluation press conference, Monday, January 24.

Based on data on pandemic response policies obtained by the government from France, the death rate and treatment for COVID-19 cases could be lower in countries using the COVID passes platform. In Indonesia, the platform is the PeduliLindungi application.

"The use of COVID passes, at PeduliLindungi, can boost vaccination rates. When compared, the mortality rate and daily care in France are lower with COVID passes compared to without", said Luhut.

"Therefore, the government will continue to use, passively and tighten the use of the PeduliLindungi application, especially in dealing with this Omicron variant", he continued.

On that occasion, Luhut explained that daily cases had indeed increased. The effective reproduction rate (Rt) of COVID-19, especially in Java, has reached 1 and in Bali, it is more than 1.

The trend of the positivity rate or the percentage of positive cases from the number of specimens examined also increased. Although overall, PCR and antigen, the positivity rate is still below the WHO standard of 5 percent, the PCR positivity rate has increased to 9 percent.

"With these various developments, we also urge the public to be more vigilant. Don't abandon health protocols, always wear a mask, reduce unnecessary activities out of the house, and always use PeduliLindungi when doing activities in public places", he explained.