COVID-19 Task Force: Continue to Build Cooperation in Reducing COVID-19 Cases

Chairperson of the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN) Airlangga Hartarto, Head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo, and Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono deliver a press statement after attending a Limited Meeting on COVID-19 Pandemic Handling chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, in Jakarta, Monday (24/5). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

Head of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Doni Monardo assessed that the cooperation of relevant parties at regional levels has managed to curb the rate of COVID-19 cases through the enforcement of Micro-Scale Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM Mikro) policy and it needs to be maintained.

Doni made the statement during press conference after attending a Limited Meeting on COVID-19 Pandemic Handling chaired by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, in Jakarta, Monday (24/5).

“We have seen that the cooperation at regional, city and regency levels has been well established. The cooperation must be continually promoted and echoed. Through mutual cooperation, we can provide assistance to the community exposed to COVID-19 as our cheapest strategy. If the disease is getting out of control, it will get worse. The phase will go into a more dangerous phase, a critical phase, and it may be difficult to save lives,” he said.

Doni revealed that during the meeting, President Jokowi underscored the importance of PPKM Mikro enforcement to reduce the pace of the pandemic. The implementation of the policy must be continuously optimized. COVID-19 posts at the village and sub-district levels are also expected to implement this policy.

“Every COVID-19 post should implement those programs conveyed by the Government, including self-quarantine that applies for people returning home from traveling and people living in at least five houses tested positive for COVID-19, and the initiative to impose micro-scale lockdown at the neighborhood level,” he said.

In an effort to control people’s mobility during post home-coming period, the result of COVID-19 mandatory check for travelers at Bakauheni Port in Lampung was satisfactory.

“The Special Task Force for mandatory check under the leadership of Lampung Police Chief and Commander of the Garuda Hitam Military Command Post (Korem) has joined hands with all components so that the result is quite satisfying. The Health Office, Traffic and Road Transportation Department, Transportation Department, and State-owned Ferry Operator ASDP have all worked hard, followed by the community’s compliance to participate in the mandatory check,” Doni stated.

Based on the PCR test results, as many as 532 travelers tested positive for COVID-19. They are treated in several places in Lampung, be it in hospitals and other facilities provided by Lampung Provincial Government.

“Most of these travelers are going to return to the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek). Thus, you can imagine if Lampung Governor, Regional Police Chief (Kapolda), Military Resort Command (Danrem), and all central and regional government institutions in Lampung Province did not put maximum efforts in the mandatory check, then there would be many people able to enter the Jabodetabek area and infect the virus to their families and relatives, as well as the colleagues at work,” he added.

During this occcasion, Doni also highlighted that bed occupancy rate at the national level  increased from 29.40 percent on 18 May to 30.66 percent on 23 May 2021. The bed occupancy rate at the emergency hospital for COVID-19 cases in the Kemayoran Athletes Village also increased from 15.02 percent on 18 May to 21.77 percent on 24 May 2021. The active cases and mortality rate at the national level also experienced an increasing trend despite small number of bed occupancy rate, while the recovery rate showed a decreasing trend.

“Although the increasing trend is relatively lower than that of the previous year, we from the Task Force, under direction of the President and Coordinating Minister remind all not to be careless, stay vigilant, always adhere to health protocols, do not slack off. Do not let our guard down. This must be reminded every day, even every hour, and every minute. There must be community groups that remind each other on this matter,” he said. (TGH/UN) (RIF/MMB)