Experiencing An Increase In COVID-19 Cases, Jokowi 'Flicks' These 9 Areas: Be Careful!

Illustration-COVID-19 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Mstyslav Chernov)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said there are a number of areas that have experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases. He then 'flicked' the local government to be careful and prevent an increase in cases in the community.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta said that there were 9 regions that experienced an increase in cases. One of them is South Sumatra.

"I see that some areas have started to increase. We need to be careful in the areas of South Sumatra, Aceh, Lampung, Jambi, West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Riau, Bengkulu, Riau Islands, be careful", said President Jokowi in a Presidential Briefing to Regional Heads throughout Indonesia in 2021 broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel, Thursday, April 29.

He said that the central government always pays attention to areas that are experiencing an increase in cases. "Because we always follow the daily charts and curves", he said.

Jokowi reminded that at the beginning of the year the development of COVID-19 cases in the country had reached the number of up to 15 thousand active cases per day. However, this figure was successfully suppressed in the range of 5-6 thousand cases per day.

This is evident from the decrease in the level of use of beds in the hospital or the bed occupancy rate (BOR). In fact, in the past, this level of use had reached 80 percent.

"Our bed occupancy rate is above 80 percent and I always monitor that the daily rate at Wisma Athlete once reached 92 percent. But now two weeks ago it fell to 21 percent, now it is up again 25 percent. We will continue to suppress it", he said.

Furthermore, Jokowi ordered regional heads to be careful. This must be done in order to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 cases from occurring in Indonesia, as happened in a number of countries including India.

"These days there is an exponential surge in India, to 350 thousand active cases per day. This is what we all care about. Be careful of developments in India, not only in India, in Turkey, Brazil, and some in the European Union. Be careful", he said.

"No matter how small the active cases in the provinces, districts, cities that you lead, don't lose your guard. Follow the numbers, the curve is followed with caution. As soon as it rises a little, you should immediately push it back so that it continues to decline", he added.

In addition, he also asked regional heads to be aware of the long Eid holidays. He reminded that in 2020, there was an increase in COVID-19 cases in the community every time the long holiday ended.

"Be careful with what is called a long holiday. We are approaching to a long Eid Al-Fitr holiday", he said.

"Remember last year there were four long holidays where the increase was very jumpy, last year's Eid al-Fitr rose to 93 percent, August last year rose 119 percent, October holidays rose 95 percent, New Year rose to 78 percent. Therefore, be careful. After two weeks of holidays (cases increased, ed) almost 2 percent. Be careful", said Jokowi.