Jakarta's Active Cases Of COVID-19 Are Still The Highest In Indonesia, Health Office: Gradually Decreasing

Photo by Fadhila Nurhakim on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The number of active COVID-19 cases in DKI Jakarta is still the highest compared to other provinces in Indonesia. As of August 4, 2022, there are still 21.419 cases undergoing isolation or treatment.

The Head of Disease Prevention and Control of the DKI Health Office, Dwi Oktavia, admitted that the high number of active cases could be reduced, but gradually with an increase in recovered cases.

"Active cases are cumulative from all the cases that have been diagnosed in the last 10 days, at least they are still undergoing isolation. Meanwhile, DKI Jakarta's daily additional cases are still in the 2000s. It's a gradual decline," said Dwi when contacted, Friday, August 5.

Although currently, Jakarta is still implementing Level 1 Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM), and various activities are allowed to have a capacity of 100 percent, Dwi reminded the public that they still have to maintain the implementation of health protocols.

"We need to try to avoid crowds, wash our hands frequently, while maintaining room ventilation if we are in a closed room. If we can work on that formula, then cases will decrease because the space for transmission will also stop," said Dwi.

Dwi also asked the public to immediately vaccinate against COVID-19, especially the third dose or booster vaccination for those who have not done so. Currently, the booster vaccination coverage in Jakarta is still 54 percent.

"Of course, vaccination is what prevents COVID-19 from getting worse. When infected, the chance of experiencing severe symptoms becomes small for those who already have immunity," she said.

As is known, as of August 5, 2022, there were 2.814 new COVID-19 cases with an accumulation of 1.339.662 cases. The percentage of positive cases a week in Jakarta was 16.2 percent.

The high number of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta was also highlighted by the Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito. Wiku said that Jakarta was the province that contributed the most weekly cases, amounting to 19.000 cases.

Jakarta also became the province that contributed to the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 cases in a month which reached 29 people. The occupancy rate for hospital beds in Jakarta is also the highest, at 12.93 percent.