COVID-19 Task Force: Indonesia’s Active Cases Lower than Global Average
Doni Monardo delivers press statement after a Limited meeting on Report of COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery Working Committee on Monday (23/11) in Jakarta. (Photo: Rahmat/PR)
Chairman of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo said that the Government’s efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 has been going quite well as seen from a decrease in the average number of active cases and an increase in the recovery rate.
“Compared to the current global rate, there is a difference of 15.65 percent of active cases between Indonesia and the world. Indonesia’s active cases is at 12.78 percent, while the global active cases is at 28.43 percent,” Doni said in a press statement after a Limited Meeting on the Report of the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Working Committee on Monday (23/11) in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, the recovery rate in Indonesia compared to that of the global rate has reached 14.83 percent. “Indonesia’s rate is at 84.03 percent while the global recovery rate is at 69.20 percent. We must maintain this achievement,” Doni added.
The death rate due to COVID-19 has also decreased. “The death rate in Indonesia is still above the global death rate, but the figure is also decreasing. Over the last few weeks the death rate was at 3.3 percent and yesterday it had dropped to 3.19 percent,” he explained.
However, Doni also mentioned the cause of additional cases that occurred in a number of regions. “In the capital Jakarta there were relatively higher cases compared to that in previous times. Two days ago, the cases reached 1,579 and yesterday it reached 1,300 cases,” he said.
A number of hospitals in provinces of Banten, West Java, and Central Java also experienced a spike of more than 70 percent for ICU rooms, while in Jakarta the ICU room occupancy rate reached 69.5 percent.
“The high cases was due to crowd activities in the past long holiday, especially in the Soekarno Hatta Airport area, in Petamburan area, Slipi area, East Tebet and Megamendung area,” said Doni.
For that reason, he asked people who participated in those activities to voluntarily carry out the swab test that had been prepared by the Government.
“This is very important in order to identify the suspects of COVID-19 as early as possible,” he said, adding that the swab test is also important to determine the earliest possible treatment for those who are exposed.
The early treatment was carried out to protect the community and to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“Based on our experience for more than eight months, people with mild symptoms can recover 100 percent with zero percent of mortality rate; while mortality rate of people with moderate symptoms is 2.6 percent, mortality rate of people with severe symptoms is 5.5 percent, and mortality rate of people at critical phase is 67.4 percent,” he said.
Furthermore, Doni asked the public to remain disciplined in implementing the health protocols as it is the only solution to fight COVID-19.
“On various occasions, the President has always said that before COVID-19 vaccine is available, the best way (to protect ourselves) is to comply with health protocols: wear a mask, maintain distance, avoid crowds, and wash hands frequently using running water and soap,” he said.
On the occasion, Doni also appreciated the regions that have made efforts to implement health protocols and enforce regulations against those who violate the protocols.
“The Government urged all task forces at the provincial, regency, and city levels to implement the health protocols and follow regulations that have been made by the regional governments,” he said. (FID / UN) (EST/MMB)
