COVID-19 Cases Rise Again, But Minister Of Health Guarantees Still Safe: Indonesians' Immunity Is High

JAKARTA - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin ensured that the indicators of the positivity rate and transmission of the COVID-19 community in Indonesia in the last three weeks were still at a safe level.

"Because the immunity of the Indonesian people is still high based on the sero survey (antibody survey) in March 2022, and we see the increase is still at a safe level," said the Minister of Health, Friday, June 10, quoted from Antara.

The positivity rate or the proportion of COVID-19 positive people from the total population tested in Indonesia is still below five percent.

"Nationally, it is now 1.15 percent, the highest in DKI Jakarta is three percent," he said.

The indicator for community transmission or the spread of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 in Indonesia is around 1 per 100.000 population, from the Level 1 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) stipulation of 20 per case per week for 100.000 residents.

He said the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases by 31 percent that occurred in the last three weeks in Indonesia, had previously been predicted by the government based on increased community interaction during the 2022 Eid celebrations.

"Historically, the increase was not three days after the holiday, but between 27 to 35 days after major holidays such as Christmas and Lebaran. Or now," he said.

Budi said the increase in the number of cases this time was a normal thing that happened after the celebration of the holiday.

However, what the government is currently focusing on is the emergence of four subvariant cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 which were first detected in Bali in May 2022.

"BA.4 and BA.5 can avoid the immunity formed by the vaccine, the spread is also fast," he said.

He advised the public to hasten access to a booster vaccination program or a third dose to strengthen the body's immunity.

In addition, the public is asked to consistently comply with the health protocol rules, especially wearing masks in crowded rooms.