Bad News, Death Rate Due To COVID-19 In Papua Is High, Reaching 2.7 Percent

Spokesperson for SGPP COVID-19 Papua, Dr Silwanus Sumule. (Photo: Evarukdijati/Antara)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Prevention and Handling Task Force in Papua, Dr. Silwanus Sumule, stated that the death rate from COVID-19 in his province is considered high, which currently reaches 2.7 percent.

"The death rate from COVID-19 in Papua can be said to be high because it reached 1.089 people out of 40.232 people who tested positive", he said in Jayapura, as reported by Antara, Saturday, August 21.

The highest death cases occurred in Jayapura City with 258 people, then Merauke Regency 207 people, Mimika 170 people, Biak 143 people, Jayapura 110 people, Nabire 43 people, Yapen Islands 36 people, Keerom 29 people, Boven Digoel 26 people, Asmat 13 people, Mappi eight people, Paniai seven people, Puncak Jaya four people.

Then Puncak and Yahukimo Districts had three people each, and Lanny Jaya and Bintang Mountains had two people each.

The high number of deaths was caused by several factors, including the patient who came in moderate to severe illness with oxygen saturation below normal.

The hospital conditions are not limited yet while the patients who come in are seriously ill and require serious treatment.

Cumulatively as of Thursday, August 19, cases of recovering COVID-19 patients in Papua reached 80.9 percent or 32.548 people, and 6.595 people or 16.4 percent were treated.

"The community is expected to continue to apply health protocols and carry out vaccinations because being vaccinated will form herd immunity", said Dr. Sumule.

Of the 29 regencies and cities in Papua, there are 19 districts and cities whose citizens have been exposed to COVID-19, namely Jayapura City and District, Mimika, Merauke, Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, Puncak, Puncak Jaya, Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi, Asmat, Biak, Yapen Islands, Tolikara, Nabire, Supiori, Bintang Mountains and Yahukimo District.