COVID-19 Case Slopes, DKI Regional Representative Council Fahira Idris: We Must Learn From Other Countries

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JAKARTA - Indonesian Regional Representative Council member, Fahira Idris, reminded all elements of the nation not to be too euphoric to see the recent COVID-19 case.

Because according to her, the spread of COVID-19 in a country that continues to slope is a sign that the country is still in the early stages of trying to control the pandemic.

"This is only the initial stage of success because the real challenge is how our strategy can continue to maintain and even increase this good trend so that there can be absolutely zero cases or no more transmissions", said Fahira, Sunday, October 24.

Fahira said that the recent improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country should be grateful for by remaining vigilant and maintaining strict health protocols despite easing.

"Don't be too euphoric. We must learn from the experiences of other countries where the situation had improved but now there has been a spike in cases again", said the senator from DKI Jakarta.

According to her, the dynamics of dealing with COVID-19 are developing very quickly. Starting from the threat of virus mutations and new variants that are feared to be able to reduce the level of vaccine efficacy, the efficacy or effectiveness of vaccines in warding off COVID-19 varies. Until the policy of easing activities, the stability of the number of tests to the level of discipline of health protocols in the community fluctuates.

This dynamic, continued Fahira, requires that efforts to overcome COVID-19 in Indonesia are both anticipatory and adaptive. So, she said, the threat of a third wave could be avoided.

Fahira explained the need to implement 4 main strategies in controlling COVID-19. Among them, detection, therapeutic (treatment), vaccination, and behavioral changes that were the mainstay of the surge in cases yesterday must also not be slack.

"Detection, for example, is no longer just an epidemiological test and a screening test, but also genome surveillance tests must be carried out to track viral mutations. In this improved situation, the ratio of closely tracked contacts must also be expanded so that the spread can be stopped immediately", she explained.

Previously, the main targets for vaccination were areas with high cases and mobility, added Fahira, now is the time for vaccination to be spread evenly throughout Indonesia. The implementation of health protocols must also be stricter.

"This means that there is no single strategy in controlling this pandemic. Not only vaccination but detection, therapeutics, health protocols must also be carried out maximally", she said.

In addition, he continued, these strategies must be implemented in tandem so that the impact is significant in controlling the pandemic. "If we continue to be consistent, it is not impossible, Indonesia can succeed. zero COVID-19 cases", concluded Fahira Idris.

It is known, that there were 802 positive COVID-19 cases in Indonesia on Saturday, October 23.

Patients who were declared cured of Corona today increased by 1,066 people, while the number of patients who died increased by 23 people.

Thus, the total number of positive cases of Corona in Indonesia since it was first reported in March 2020 until today is 4,239,396 cases. Of these, 14,803 are active cases. Active cases mean patients who are still positive for Corona to this day. Active cases of COVID-19 fell by 287 from the previous day.