Bad News From Semarang, The Death Rate From COVID-19 Is Still High

Medical officers carry out a rapid test of COVID-19 antigen at the exit of the Ungaran Toll Gate, Semarang Regency, Central Java. (Photo: Aji Styawan/Antara)

JAKARTA - The Mayor of Semarang, Hendrar Prihadi, revealed that the death rate from COVID-19 in the Central Java capital was still relatively high during the PPKM extension period.

"The death rate from COVID-19 is still around 6.2 percent, still above the national average. the maximum is set at 5.percent," said the Mayor in Semarang, Wednesday.

However, the daily average death rate due to COVID-19 has decreased since the implementation of PPKM on July 3 to 20, 2021. On July 3, the average death rate reached 340 people per day.

The number, according to him, has now dropped to 271 people per day.

He mentioned many factors that influenced the high mortality rate, such as the high occupancy rate in hospitals in the last two to three weeks, so many decided to self-isolate.

In addition, there were also limitations during the travel process to quarantine places.

People's understanding of health is also one of the causes. "There is a lack of understanding about health. When it is time to go to a health facility, we are not aware of it," he said.