It Had Been Nil For Several Months, The COVID-19 Task Force Again Found 5 New Cases In Aceh

Illustration-Passengers queue to board the Aceh Hebat 2 ferry at Ulee Lheu Port, Banda Aceh, Friday (6/5/2022). (AMONG/

JAKARTA - The Aceh Government's COVID-19 Handling Task Force (Satgas) said health workers detected five new cases of corona virus infection after the last few months being free from COVID-19.

"We have to be more vigilant and alert. Five new cases found in a day is not an easy matter. Even though we have recorded several zero cases in this area," said Aceh COVID-19 Handling Spokesperson Saifullah Abdulgani in Banda Aceh, Antara, Saturday, July 16.

Saifullah said the new case was detected after the results of the swab sample examination came out last Thursday. The case infected three residents of Banda Aceh and two residents of Aceh Besar.

In fact, he continued, previously Aceh was free from COVID-19 cases and was an area of level one implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), and even seven districts/cities had the status of a COVID-19 green zone.

He explained that for the first time in Aceh there were zero cases on 12 May. Apart from that there were no new cases, at that time all corona virus sufferers in treatment had been declared cured, there were no patients who were self-isolating, let alone being treated at a COVID-19 referral hospital.

"Although new cases still appear sporadically during the period 20 May - 1 last Friday, they are not found every day," he said.

According to him, seven regions in Aceh have green zone status including Gayo Lues Regency, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, Lhokseumawe City, Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh Besar, and Simeulue Regency. Meanwhile, 16 other regencies/cities have been designated as COVID-19 yellow zones.

With the improvement in pandemic conditions in Aceh ahead of Eid al-Adha 1443 Hijriah, reinforced by the results of the PPKM level assessment by the Ministry of Health, all regions in Aceh are PPKM Level one areas which are valid from 5 July to 1 August 2022.

However, according to him, the discovery of the five new cases will change the COVID-19 risk zoning map in Aceh, especially in the cities of Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar.

“Aceh Besar is likely to drop its zone status, from the green zone to the yellow zone. Likewise Banda Aceh City," he said, judging.

According to the surveillance team's search results, the five new victims of the corona virus were travellers, and two of them were listed as husband and wife.

"But throughout Friday, Alhamdulillah, there were no reports of additional new cases," he said.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Aceh was 43,711 people. Patients who have recovered reached 41,489 people, 2,217 people died, and five new patients were undergoing treatment in self-isolation.

"The procedure for handling COVID-19 patients without symptoms, or with symptoms but mild symptoms, is sufficient for treatment at home with self-isolation protocols," he said.