Epidemiologist: There Is Improvement Progress Amid The COVID-19 Pandemic But It's Not Time To Do Much Easing

Illustration/Photo: PIXABAY

JAKARTA - The government often states that Indonesia's condition has improved amidst the COVID-19 pandemic because the number of cases has begun to decline. Even so, Epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, this does not mean easing can be done.

Dicky assessed that the government should not have done much easing in order to prevent an increase in cases ahead of Ramadan and Eid.

"That we have improved progress, yes. But what we have to realize is that this is not the time to do a lot of easing," said Dicky to VOI, Friday, March 18.

He reminded that currently the COVID-19 pandemic situation is still happening, not only in Indonesia but also in various countries. Dicky also mentioned that the current positivity rate in the country is still high or above 5 percent.

"Then the trend of our mortality rate is still high. In fact, in my opinion, it is still increasing amidst the limitations of tracing, testing," he said.

Dicky reminded policy makers to be patient in making decisions. Moreover, the current COVID-19 pandemic has begun to be controlled.

Not only that, he also reminded the government that they must also face other variants of COVID-19. Because, in the future, the Omicron variant can mutate again.

"We have to be patient first so that we don't lose this capital. The capital is already there, but if we hurry we could be in a worse situation again," he said.

"Remember, this Omicron is not the last variant and also not the last wave and to deal with the following threats, yes, this is the capital. Don't get rid of it with hasty easing, just take it slow. So be patient and, after all, we already have easing but don't rush it, measured, and carefully," concluded Dicky.