JAKARTA - Positive cases of COVID-19 in the country have spiked again. The good news is, of the total 86,594 available beds on a national scale, only 29 percent have been filled.
This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, based on the latest data on Friday, February 11, at 17.00 WIB.
"Isolation beds used 23,109 units out of a total of 24,718 units. ICU beds used 1,609 units out of a total of 8,240 units," said Siti Nadia Tarmizi, quoted from Antara.
He said the COVID-19 vaccination program had succeeded in reducing the number of patients with severe to critical symptoms who were hospitalized. In fact, most of the patients admitted to the hospital also have mild symptoms and are asymptomatic.
Nadia appealed to people with no symptoms and mild symptoms to self-isolate and in an integrated manner, the government also continues to increase testing. As of Thursday, February 10, the government has carried out 416,065 specimens being tested every day.
"The scheme encouraging people with mild or asymptomatic symptoms to isolate at home is the strategy of choice so that patients who need more, such as severe and critical symptoms, can receive intensive care," he said.
He said the government was continuing to try to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases, which were dominated by the Omicron variant. In addition to allocating hospitals for those who need more intensive services, the government also continues to encourage a national vaccination program.
As of February 9, 2022, Indonesia has had more than 500 million vaccines and as of February 11, 2022 at 12.00 WIB, a total of 187.9 million (90.23%) of the population of Indonesia have been vaccinated with doses 1 and 134.6 million (64.64%) ) was vaccinated at dose 2.
Nadia appealed to the public to follow the government's vaccination program because vaccination has been scientifically proven to reduce the worst risk of being infected with COVID-19.
"Data from the Ministry of Health for the period January 21 to February 8 2022 shows that of the 487 COVID-19 patients who died, 66 percent of them have not been fully vaccinated," he said.
Nadia added that booster vaccinations or booster doses are also important, especially for the elderly to boost their immune system.
The latest research from the Ministry of Health with the University of Padjadjaran and the University of Indonesia, said Nadia, showed that those who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine were given a half-dose booster vaccine capable of increasing antibodies comparable to the full dose.
"The best time to get a COVID-19 booster is at least six months after receiving the second vaccination. Then, if someone gets a booster in the sixth to ninth month, the antibodies produced can be 12.5 – 88.9 times, depending on the brand. booster vaccine used," he said.
However, Nadia also reminded that vaccination is not the only way to reduce the worst impact of COVID-19. The government always urges the best way is to complete vaccinations along with disciplined health protocols such as wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping a distance.
"Through all preventive measures that can be taken by both the government and the community, it is hoped that the transmission of COVID-19, which is dominated by Omicron, can be passed and controlled as soon as possible," he said.
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