Daily Case Increase Reaches One Thousand Per Day, This Is The Government's Step To Anticipate The New Variant Of COVID-19

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut BInsar Pandjaitan/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government predicts that sooner or later there will be an increase in COVID-19 cases along with the transmission of the Omicron variant. As of Saturday, January 15, new cases of COVID-19 reached 1,054 cases per day.

"Based on this data, local transmission cases are already higher than transmission cases caused by foreign travelers," said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in a virtual press conference, Sunday, January 16.

Luhut explained that the new cases were dominated by the Java and Bali regions, especially the DKI Jakarta Province. The increase in cases in Java-Bali was also seen in the provinces of West Java and Banten.

"This is driven by their territory which is included in the Jabodetabek agglomeration section," he explained.

The coordinator of PPKM Java and Bali said that until now the death cases were still maintained despite a significant increase in cases. However, looking at other countries, Omicron waves can increase rapidly.

"Based on our projections, we again predict that the increase in cases has the potential to rise even higher in DKI Jakarta Province if we are not careful. This is an alarm for all of us to start being vigilant again in entering this new variant of COVID-19," he said.

Especially for other areas in Java-Bali, Luhut continued, cases in other provinces outside Jakarta, West Java and Banten are relatively more well maintained. However, it is predicted that the spread of cases will also spread faster considering that the mobility that has occurred in Java-Bali is already very high.

"With the increase in cases reaching a thousand cases per day, the Government is preparing various mitigation measures to stem the deeper severity caused by this variant," Luhut said.

The government, he said, would accelerate booster vaccines for all people, especially those living in the Greater Jakarta area and enforce more massive health protocols to curb the spread of cases.

"Entrance requirements to public places will be tightened, only those who have been vaccinated twice can move in public places," he said.

In addition, Luhut continued, the government will also continue to encourage the second dose of vaccination for the general public and the elderly, especially in provinces, regencies and cities which have not yet reached 70 percent.

"I specifically appeal to all regional heads and regional leaders in areas where the general dose of 2 and the elderly are still below 70 percent to accelerate vaccination in order to provide protection against the Omicron variant," said Luhut.

Luhut added that the government would continue to closely monitor the development and spike in cases caused by Omicron. He emphasized that the government will continue to use PPKM Level as a basis for tightening activities for the community.