Warning For Ganjar Pranowo, Jokowi Highlights Spike In COVID-19 Cases In Kudus

Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said President Joko Widodo highlighted the increase in COVID-19 cases in Kudus Regency, Central Java.

This was disclosed by Minister of Health Budi during a limited meeting between ministries and institutions at the State Palace, Central Jakarta.

"He (Jokowi) questioned, asking for reports in Central Java, namely Kudus. Indeed, Kudus has recently seen a tremendous increase, both in terms of confirmed cases and hospital admissions," said Minister of Health Budi in a Youtube broadcast. Presidential Secretariat, Monday, 31 May.

Currently, Kudus is in the red zone or an area with a high risk of COVID-19. The occupancy of isolation beds and ICUs in Kudus has reached 90 percent.

In fact, there are hospitals that are no longer able to accept new COVID-19 patients. Then, as many as 140 health workers were also infected with COVID-19.

The spike in cases in Kudus was caused by gathering activities during Eid al-Fitr 1442 H and the large number of homecomers celebrating Eid there. Family COVID-19 clusters have also sprung up.

Minister of Health Budi said the central government had asked the Governor of Central Java to follow up on the limitations of COVID-19 treatment beds by distributing some patients to hospitals in surrounding areas, such as Semarang.

“We continue to coordinate with the Governor. The previous patients who came from the area around Kudus such as Pati, then Sragen, we also directed them to other hospitals outside Kudus," said Budi.

A number of RTs with findings of COVID-19 cases above 10 have also been micro-locked. Thus, the transmission of the corona virus in Kudus did not spread to other areas in Central Java.

Following up on this condition, the Ministry of Health will conduct a whole genome sequencing (WGS) examination to find out whether there is a mutation of the corona virus due to rapid transmission in Kudus.

"We are also now asking for the sample for genome sequencing, whether the spike that occurred in Kudus was caused by a new mutation," he said.

The Minister of Health advised, areas with high case transmission, especially in Kudus, to remain disciplined in implementing the 3M health protocol.

"For areas where the spike is quite high, including Kudus, please remain disciplined, especially wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining distance. Now the trend is rising. But, if we are disciplined, God willing, we can handle everything well," he concluded.