National COVID-19 Active Cases Have Dropped: Task Force

Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo (Photo by: Teguh/PR)

The number of COVID-19 active cases in the country over the past month has decreased, according to Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo.

“On 13 September, the percentage of active cases stood at 25 percent. Today, the figure is 19.97 percent; thereby the number of national active cases has dropped,” he said in Jakarta, Monday (12/10).

Doni also pointed out that the number of active cases in eight priority provinces has also dropped with the provinces of East Java and Papua seeing a drop in the past week.

Recovery rate, he said, has also risen above the global recovery rate at 76.46 percent, while in the previous figure it stood at 71 percent, adding that the recovery rate in eight priority provinces has also seen a rise, except in Papua province.

Meanwhile, the country’s death rate is still relatively high and is above the global death rate, he added.

“This is our common duty. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered proper treatment of the patients. Thus, we will do our utmost to find cases that still show mild symptoms and make efforts for treatment,” he said.

Regarding availability of care facilities, he continued, the intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rate in Jakarta has also dropped.

“The ICU occupancy rate has dropped by 11.77 percent. We hope the number of patients admitted to the ICU can decrease,” he said.

The number of patients receiving medical treatment at Wisma Athlete hospital has also dropped, he said, adding that a number of hotels in cooperation with the provincial government and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have available treatment rooms.

Doni also unveiled the results of a survey that showed that 17 percent of the public did not believe (in the pandemic) and thought it is impossible and very unlikely to be exposed to the disease.

Responding to the report, he said, President Jokowi has stressed the importance of joint efforts to change people’s behavior in dealing with COVID-19.

“Collaboration of all components is needed to change the public perspective. Alhamdulillah, more and more people are now aware of the impacts brought by COVID-19,” he said.

The COVID-19 Handling Task Force, he continued, has also partnered with a number of media both at central and regional levels as well as with 4,900 journalists to disseminate the Government’s campaign to change public behavior and to adhere to health protocols by wearing a face mask, maintaining a safe distance, avoiding crowds, and washing hands regularly with soap and running water or disinfectant fluids.

He further said the Task Force has also involved family planning instructors from the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and students as well as college students in collaboration with Ministry of Education and Culture to join hands to disseminate the campaign.

In implementing health protocols, the public was affected by imposition of sanctions for those flouting the rules and ‘lead by example’ approach, he added.

“We hope all elements, officials, apparatus, and public figures continue to be at the front to lead by example,” he said. (MAY/TGH/UN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas