MAKASSAR - A Doctor In Makassar, South Sulawesi (Sulsel) Died. This Doctor Is Exposed To COVID-19.

Unsplash / Illustration

MAKASSAR - This sad news was conveyed by the Chairman of the Makassar City IDI, Dr Siswanto Wahab, accompanied by the IDI Makassar City Public Relations official, Dr Wachyudi Muchsin.

"Innalillahi wa innailaihi rojiun, has passed away to the senior Rahmatullah, our teacher and colleagues, Prof. dr. Nuraeny Malawat, SpKJ, at WS Hospital. May Allah forgive his sins, accept his charity and place him by His side. Amiin , "said the chairman of the Makassar City IDI, Dr. Siswanto Wahab, Wednesday, January 6.

Previously, there were three doctors in Makassar who died at the end of 2020. In total there were ten Makassar doctors who died, fighting at the forefront of fighting COVID-19.

With the increasing number of doctors who died, said Dr. Anto, they should make the public more aware not to underestimate the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently the level of spread is more massive due to the Pilkada cluster and the year-end holiday cluster from the beginning of the spread of the corona virus.

"For this reason, the IDI of Makassar City urges to remain vigilant and to discipline the 3 M health protocol (wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance), because Makassar is in the red zone, so the policy of easing business, office, social and educational activities needs to be tightened again. "By complying with the 3 M, we can do the most effective and efficient efforts to reduce the rate of COVID-19," he explained.

Moreover, at this time, the transmission rate of COVID-19 has increased again and the number of patients who need treatment is also increasing. Not to mention that the new variant of the corona virus or SARS-CoV-2 that was found in the UK was more contagious.

Doctor Anto said the transmission of this new variant of the B117 corona virus could reach 70 percent higher.

"The occupancy of the isolation room in Makassar is above 85 percent and the ICU (intensive care unit) is above 80 percent. Other areas are the same, patients continue to increase 'high transmission'," he said.

Dr Anto, explained, the high transmission of COVID-19 in Indonesia can also be seen from the data at the beginning of the year which again broke the record for a positivity rate of 29.5 percent.

Indonesia's daily data on positivity rate is five times higher than the maximum threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 5 percent.

In South Sulawesi, COVID-19 cases continue to increase. On Wednesday 6 January 2021, there were 463 new cases in which Makassar was the epicenter.

"It is feared that the transmission of COVID-19 will increase after the Christmas holidays 2020 and the new year 2021. Therefore, the Makassar City IDI supports the government to tighten health protocols so that the positive curve of COVID-19 decreases," he explained.