Alert, Task Force Expects COVID-19 Cases To Increase In 2 Weeks

YOGYAKARTA - The Yogyakarta COVID-19 Handling Task Force estimates that the positive confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city will increase for the next two weeks as well as become the peak of cases in the city.

"We estimate that in the next two weeks there will still be an increase in cases. And hopefully, after February there will be a decrease in cases", said Heroe Poerwadi, Head of the Yogyakarta City COVID-19 Task Force, as quoted by Antara on Monday, February 14.

According to Heroe, the number of active cases in Yogyakarta City as of Sunday, February 13, had not yet reached half of the peak cases in the city during the second wave, dominated by the Delta variant.

As of Sunday, February 13, Yogyakarta City had 1,411 active cases, while the number of daily active cases during the second wave could reach around 3,600 cases.

Although the number of active cases is quite high, Heroe said that there was no significant increase in the bed occupancy rate (BOR) in hospitals because most of the patients did not show any symptoms or had mild symptoms so they were self-isolating at home.

“The BOR at the hospital is still around 30 percent. The isolation shelter capacity is still sufficient. Only used about 65 percent or 55 patients. Even that half are travelers or residents from outside the region", he said.

The Yogyakarta City COVID-19 Handling Task Force will immediately open an additional shelter at Tower Two Rusunawa Bener if needed.

In addition to community groups, families and travelers, and tourists, the transmission of COVID-19 cases in the city of Yogyakarta also occurred in offices. One of them is at the Gondokusuman District Office which will be closed for a few days.

"There are eight employees who have been exposed to COVID-19, so services have been temporarily diverted to urban villages and e-offices", he said.

Meanwhile, the sub-district head Gondokusuman Guritno said that services in the sub-district were temporarily transferred to the village office, and then brought to the sub-district office at noon to be retrieved before 15:00 WIB.

"Services that require the sub-district head's signature will still be completed as soon as possible", he said.

Guritno hopes that services in Gondokusuman District can reopen on Thursday, February 17 if the results of the latest examination of all employees are declared negative.