Update On COVID-19 As Of May 31: New Normals Must Go Through Simulations

Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) (Photo: BNPB documentation)

JAKARTA - Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) explained the progress of the case as of Sunday, May 31 at 12.00 WIB. He said, there were an additional 700 positive confirmed cases today. The total number of positive cases became 26,473 people.

Then, there were 40 more patients who died, so that it became 1,613 patients. There were an additional 293 patients recovered, bringing the total to 7,308 patients. The cure rate was mostly experienced by the 29 to 45 year age group.

"It is in this age group that we really hope to recover and then become productive again, because this is our workforce," said Yuri at a press conference at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Sunday, May 31.

The province with the highest number of cases today is East Java with 295 new cases with a total of 4,857 cases. Then, DKI Jakarta experienced an increase of 118 cases with a total of 7,348 people.

"New cases in DKI do not only come from residents of DKI, but also Indonesian migrant workers who have just returned. On average, more than 1,000 people every day who enter through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, are screened. If a positive case is found, then they will be screened. we will be treated at the Wisma Atlet emergency hospital, "Yuri explained.

However, there were also four provinces that reported no new cases, namely Aceh, Jambi, North Kalimantan and Riau. There are also provinces that report the addition of only 1 person, including Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, Lampung and NTT.

Furthermore, the number of specimens examined per day has reached 11,470 times, the total number of specimens that have been examined is accumulatively 323,376 times. In detail, 319,086 specimens were examined using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 4,290 specimens were examined using a molecular rapid test (TCM).

Then, the patient data under surveillance (PDP) which is currently still being monitored reached 12,913 people. Meanwhile, people under monitoring (ODP) who are currently still being monitored reach 49,936.

The implementation of the new normal must be simulated

Yuri explained that currently there are 102 districts / cities that are in the green zone and these areas have the potential to undergo a new normal during the early days of COVID-19. Yuri explained that the application of the new normal could not be done simultaneously because the dynamics of case transmission in each region were different.

"We do not think that the new normality is like a starting flag for a running race. Everything moves together, no. This really depends on the epidemiological conditions of each region and this is the decision of the regional head," he said.

Then, when an area has met the requirements to apply the new normality, that region must perform a simulation. The implementation of new normality simulations must also be accompanied by socialization and education to the public.

"It is not something easy to unilaterally state that the new normality can be done immediately. Of course there must be socialization, education, and simulation of how the health protocol procedure can be implemented," Yuri explained.

"If then this simulation has been implemented, understood, and believed to be implemented, it will certainly be carried out," he concluded.