Anies' Words Are Proven: DKI Enters The Critical Phase Of COVID-19, Increasing Cases And Stop Face-to-Face Schools

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan with Deputy Governor of DKI Riza Patria (DOK Public Relations of DKI Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - Some time ago DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said the capital city was entering the critical phase of COVID-19. This was conveyed when announcing the extension of the micro PPKM until 28 June.

The surge in active cases in the last few days is in the range of 2,000 cases every day. This makes all parties have to be more vigilant to prevent the capital city from entering the critical phase after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

"The capital city is now in a condition that requires extra attention. If the current conditions are out of control, we will enter a critical phase, and if that phase occurs, then we must take drastic steps like what happened in September and February last year. We want that event not repeated," said Anies, Tuesday, June 15.

Anies' words are now proven. New cases of COVID-19 in DKI Jakarta, Thursday, June 17, reached 4,144 cases. This figure is the second-highest during the pandemic. Previously, the highest new cases occurred on February 7 with 4,213 cases.

Head of Disease Prevention and Control Division, DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office, Dwi Oktavia said this figure was obtained from the examination of 23,913 specimens.

"As is known, the number of positive cases has recently been in the range of 1,000–2,000 cases a day. However, today, Thursday, the number has jumped rapidly to reach 4,144 cases," said Dwi on Thursday, June 17.

In detail, today there were 5 additional positive cases in the Thousand Islands, West Jakarta 824 cases, Central Jakarta 490 cases, South Jakarta 932 cases, East Jakarta 1,370 cases, and North Jakarta 523 cases.

The districts with the highest number of cases include Cengkareng with 205 cases, Duren Sawit with 189 cases, Cipayung with 177 cases, and Jagakarsa with 172 cases.

In fact, currently, DKI Jakarta has 33 cases of virus mutation, of which 18 cases are Delta variant or B1617.2 from India, 12 Alpha variant (B.117) from England, and 3 Beta variant (B.1.351) from South Africa.

The current condition of community compliance in wearing masks when doing activities outside the home has decreased. Currently, only 25 percent of residents are compliant with wearing masks. In fact, compliance with the use of masks at the end of last year had reached 70 percent.

In addition, there is an increasing trend of active positive cases in children under the age of 18 at this time. A total of 661 cases from the increase of 4,144 or 16 percent were children aged 0 to 18 years.

"A total of 144 cases of which are toddlers. For that, we remind residents to avoid leaving the house with children," said Dwi.

Since running on June 8, the DKI Provincial Government has finally decided to stop the limited face-to-face learning (PTM) trial in hundreds of schools.

The termination of this face-to-face school has been officially signed through a notification letter issued by the Education Office with Number 8057/-1.851

"Face-to-face and online learning activities in educational units (...) are fully implemented online or learning from home since the issuance of this notification letter until further decisions are made," the notification letter said.

"Therefore, we remind all people not to underestimate COVID-19. Overcoming this pandemic requires joint work. We urge the public to continue to be alert to the spread of COVID-19 which is getting faster and always implement 5M wherever and whenever, "said Dwi.