Ministry Of Health: COVID-19 Weekly Cases In Indonesia Increase, Still At Safe Level

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has confirmed that the trend of weekly COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has increased again, although it is still below the global safe threshold.

"The average number of confirmed cases in hospitals being treated is 131 people, although this is still very low below level 1," said Director General of Disease Prevention and Control (Dirjen P2P) of the Ministry of Health Maxi Rein Rondonuwu as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 6.

The weekly number of cases, said Maxi, is still far from the achievement of the COVID-19 pandemic era, which ranges from thousands of cases per day.

In addition to reports of hospital bed occupancy, Maxi also reported daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia ranging from 34 to 40 cases per day from the results of specimen tests carried out by around 1,000 people with symptoms per day.

"The dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Indonesia today is Omicron XBB1.5," added Maxi.

According to Maxi, the tendency to increase COVID-19 cases in the current endemic era is also reported from a number of countries in Asia, including Thailand with the highest cases, followed by Singapore.

Maxi appealed to people with symptoms to carry out rapid antigen and PCR tests at health facilities.

"If severe symptoms come to the hospital," he said.

In addition, said Maxi, double protection through vaccination and health protocols is also effective in suppressing the rate of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

"The important thing is to do a booster until the end of the year is still free for all people. After next year, we are only responsible for the elderly and young adults who are comorbid and Imunomopromised, for example obesity can still be borne by the government," he said.

The Ministry of Health also recommends 3M prokes, namely washing hands with soap, wearing masks when sick, or maintaining distance to prevent transmission to others.

"Keep immunity with balanced nutritional foods and then keep your distance, especially if you have the flu, of course, wear a mask, keep your distance, don't spread to other people," he said.