Positive Cases Of COVID-19 Continue To Increase, Luhut: Must Change Behavior, Adhere To Health Protocols

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) as well as Deputy Chair of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (PEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government has a strategy for handling COVID-19 in the country.

The strategy, said Luhut, would be focused on provinces with high distribution rates. The provinces are DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra, Bali, Riau and Aceh.

"Our strategy is how we can change behavior. Encourage the public to adhere to health protocols. One of them is a massive campaign involving the community. Then the justisi operation forces people to obey health protocols," he said at the Mandiri Investment event, Wednesday, February 3.

The next strategy is to increase the test and tracking targets. This strategy is also carried out by providing isolation facilities for asymptomatic and with mild symptoms to reduce hospital capacity and prevent transmission.

Luhut said, every city with a high number of confirmed cases must provide self-isolation facilities that are centralized and equipped with adequate medical equipment.

"The third strategy is to standardize clinical management of COVID-19 handling, including by improving clinical management for COVID-19 patients. For example, how the treatment is carried out, guidelines are in accordance with the Ministry of Health, professional organizations and BUMN Hospital teams," he said.

Regarding the growing number of active cases of COVID-19 in the country, Luhut asked all parties to comply with health protocols. This is because handling a pandemic will not work well if the COVID-19 health protocol is not implemented.

Furthermore, said Luhut, the pandemic also had a negative impact on the Indonesian economy. He said the economy would find it difficult to recover if the pandemic was still in Indonesia. By adhering to health protocols, the COVID-19 pandemic can be resolved immediately and the economy can revive.

According to Luhut, Indonesia's economy, such as the manufacturing sector, began to increase along with the relaxation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB). However, the easing must not make the spread of COVID-19 increase.

"We admit that it is not easy to revive the economy and overcome the pandemic. Therefore, we have prepared a strategy for handling COVID-19," he said.

For your information, based on data from the Ministry of Health as of February 2, the total cumulative cases totaled 1,099,687 people since the first case was announced on March 2. Meanwhile, the new positive cases per day reached 10,379 people. The number of confirmed positive cases who died increased by 304 people and a total of 30,581 people.