COVID-19 Cases Continue To Decrease And Community Mobility Increases, Airlangga: Need To Accelerate Vaccination And Health Protocol Discipline

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Evaluation of the implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in the Java-Bali and Outside Java-Bali areas will still be carried out every week, although PPKM will still be in effect for this period until November 8, 2021. In national aggregate, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is sufficient under control, with the number of active cases continuing to decline.

However, we must be aware of the trend of increasing cases in 131 regencies/cities in the last few days. Nationally active cases as of 31 October were recorded at 12.318 cases or 0.3 percent of the total cases, down 97.85 percent from the peak of 24 July 2021 (574.135 cases), and this figure is far below the global average of 7.4 percent.

Daily Confirmed Cases as of November 1 were 403 cases, down from 523 cases on Sunday, October 31, with a 7-day average (7DMA) of 619 cases, and a downward trend of 99.1 percent from the peak of daily confirmed cases on July 15, 2021. (56.757 cases).

Meanwhile, for developments outside Java-Bali, Daily Confirmation Cases as of 31 October 2021 were 129 cases and an average of 7 days (7DMA) of 209 cases, with a consistent downward trend. This caused the number of Active Cases as of October 31 to reach 6.816 cases or 0.4 percent of the total cases, and a decrease of 96.9 percent from the peak of active cases that occurred on August 6, 2021, which was 221.412 cases.

Since the beginning of the PPKM based on the assessment level, data from August 9 to October 31 outside Java-Bali has decreased, and the highest percentage decline occurred in the Nusa Tenggara region of 97.97 percent. For the Healing Rate (RR), the national percentage is 96.33 percent, higher than the Global 90.56 percent.

The RR in Java-Bali is 96.30 percent and Outside Java-Bali is 96.39 percent. Meanwhile, the National Mortality Rate (CFR) is 3.38 percent, still higher than the Global one at 2.02 percent. CFR in Java-Bali is 3.50 percent and Outside Java-Bali is 3.12 percent.

The Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) continues to monitor the development of COVID-19 cases in each region.

"Community mobility and socio-economic activities increase, high vigilance is needed and continues to encourage the acceleration of vaccination, as well as compliance with health protocols," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto as Chair of KPC-PEN, in a written statement, quoted on Tuesday, November 2.

Regarding the achievement of Dose-1 Vaccination for areas Outside Java-Bali, of the 27 provinces, there are 5 provinces whose achievements are above the national average of 57.53 percent, namely Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi. However, the other 22 provinces are still below the national average and need to be accelerated.

Then, for the achievement of Dose-2 Vaccination for areas Outside Java and Bali, there are 4 provinces whose achievements are above the national average of 35.44 percent, namely Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, East Kalimantan, and Jambi. Meanwhile, the other 23 provinces are still below the national average and both must continue to accelerate.

For arrangements for International Travelers (PPI), quarantine is enforced for 3 days, for PPIs that have met the requirements, including complete vaccination (2 doses), negative PCR test results at the time of departure, arrival, and when quarantine will finish. The provisions regarding this quarantine will soon be included in the amendment to the Head of Task Force (KaSatgas) Circular (SE) Number 20/2021 so that it can be implemented immediately.

As for Domestic Travelers (PPDN), they can use the results of the Antigen test (H-1) for travelers who have been vaccinated twice, or the results of the PCR test (H-3) for travelers who have just been vaccinated once. Antigen test can be used for both Java-Bali and Outside Java-Bali people. However, it must continue to be monitored from time to time, and if there is a spike in cases, it can be followed up immediately.

In addition, what needs to be jointly monitored in the implementation of Prokes is the plan to hold major events in the near future, such as the National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) in Papua, World Superbike (WSBK) in Mandalika, Badminton (Indonesia Masters, Indonesia Open, and BWF World Tour Finals) in Bali, and the events of the G20 Meeting series which will start in early December 2021.