COVID-19 Cases Increase This Week, PB IDI Asks All Parties To Be Alert And Other Infectious Diseases

JAKARTA - Indonesia has recorded another increase in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. A significant increase was seen since the beginning of this week as many as 591 cases, then the addition of 930 cases, reaching 1,242 cases in the middle of the week.

The BA4 and BA5 sub-variants are the currently worrying variants of concern because they are easily contagious. The Ministry of Health estimates that the number of cases will continue to increase until the end of July this year.

PB IDI Chairman Adib Khumaidi said this pandemic was still not over. An endemic situation indicates that the disease is present but the transmission is under control, while endemic does not mean a disease-free condition.

"The endemic situation shows that the disease is present but the transmission is under control. We ask for the cooperation of all parties, both the government, the private sector, and the community to continue to carry out various vigilance efforts, prevention strategies and a strong transmission control system. This handling cannot be done by medical personnel alone, but all parties simultaneously," said Adib Khumaidi in an electronic message received in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 21.

Similarly, the Head of the PB IDI Infectious Disease Handling Division, Agus Dwi Susanto, asked the government to review the policy on removing masks in public places, and asked the government and the public to reactivate booster vaccinations for COVID.

"The community is also asked to continue to carry out strict health protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and using hand sanitizers. We

He also reminded the public to be aware of other diseases that emerged in this transitional season, such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Monkey Smallpox, Acute Hepatitis, and a number of other diseases that could potentially arise," Agus explained.

Agus also reminded that although monkeypox cases have not been found in Indonesia, they still have to increase their vigilance so that it does not become an outbreak or extraordinary event in this country.

The following are recommendations from the PB IDI Infectious Disease Management Study Division regarding the prevention of COVID and other infectious diseases

1. Keep wearing masks in open and closed spaces

2. Increase Tracing and Testing activities

3. Increase Vaccination Coverage including Boosters

4. Calling on policy makers such as governors and regents to make various efforts to increase booster vaccination coverage

5. The coverage of children's vaccinations also needs to be increased, especially before the 100 percent PTM in the new school year

6. Negative PCR rules for travellers are re-applied

7. Conduct massive and continuous education about prevention efforts because the pandemic is not over yet, considering that people are already saturated with pandemics.

8. Continue to follow health protocols

9. Don't be careless even if the case decreases later