WHO Sets Jakarta to Level 3 For COVID-19 Transmission, This Is Deputy Governor Riza Patria's Response

Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria (ANTARA DOK)

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, responded to the condition in Jakarta which was determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be in the transmission or transmission of COVID-19 level 3.

Riza admitted that the number of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta had increased in recent weeks. Jakarta also recorded the highest daily addition of cases in Indonesia.

"Indeed, there has been an acceleration and increase in the virus in the last 1-2 weeks," Riza told reporters on Monday, July 18.

Therefore, the former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives asked the people in Jakarta to improve compliance with health protocols, even though Jakarta is currently still implementing Level 1 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

In addition, Riza also asked his citizens to immediately vaccinate the third dose or booster for those who have not done so. Considering that currently the government has made booster vaccines a requirement for activities in offices and public spaces.

"We know that there have been high deaths recently due to comorbidities and people who are over 40 years old. The most effective way apart from health protocols is booster vaccines. Now the government has taken policies for offices, malls, tourism places, public places, mandatory booster vaccines," he explained.

As is known, WHO categorizes DKI Jakarta as an area with level 3 transmission of COVID-19 spread. The community transmission rate of virus transmission in Jakarta is 73.8 per 100 thousand population.

"At the provincial level, during July 4-10, DKI Jakarta was recorded as the area with the highest incidence of 73.8 per 100.000 population," wrote the WHO report.

This figure is the highest in Indonesia. Below that, the transmission of COVID-19 in Banten was 12.8 per 100.000 and Bali was recorded at 10.3 per 100.000 population.

"The other 33 provinces are at low levels of community transmission or level 1 with weekly incidence cases below 20 per 100.000 population," the WHO said.