Entering the Christmas and year-end holidays, the level of Covid-19 transmission in Indonesia has become increasingly alarming with the number of patients who need to be treated at hospitals under limited capacity.
By
kompas team
·3 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS —Entering the Christmas and year-end holidays, the level of Covid-19 transmission in Indonesia has become increasingly alarming with the number of patients who need to be treated at hospitals under limited capacity. The public and the authorities are asked to respond to this critical and risky situation by implementing optimal health protocols.
The number of deaths due to Covid-19, based on data from the Covid-19 task force, on Friday (25/12/2020), reached 258, a record number per day for the 10 months of this pandemic with a total death of 20,847. The number of hospitalized patients a day also reached the highest, namely 108,946 cases, from an additional 677 patients on Friday.
That means, of the five people being tested, one person is positive.
Confirmed cases also increased to 7,259 cases, bringing the total to 700,097 cases. The addition of daily cases was obtained by testing 35,131 people, making the ratio of positive cases at 20.6 percent. That means, of the five people being tested, one person is positive.
This figure is slightly lower than the weekly ratio of positive cases at 21.23 percent.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in order to deal with a possible spike in Covid-19 cases during the Christmas and New Year holidays, additional health personnel, especially nurses, were needed. "The number of doctors is sufficient, there are enough medical devices, there are also 100 rooms that can add to it, but we need [more] nurses," Budi said after visiting Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), in Jakarta, on Friday.
On the other hand, based on Covid-19 Report data, several health workers, including nurses, are still dying (due to Covid-19). The number of health personnel who died reached 472 people, consisting of 224 doctors, 152 nurses, 66 midwives, 13 dentists, 10 medical laboratory technology experts and a number of other health workers.
Enforcing protocols
Budi advised the public to stay home and obey health protocols, namely wearing a face mask, washing hands and maintaining distance or avoiding crowds. This is to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
This needs to be supported by assertiveness that limits the mobility of residents, especially during year-end holidays.
Epidemiologist from University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, assessed that the government\'s appeal for people to stay at home was not enough. This needs to be supported by assertiveness that limits the mobility of residents, especially during year-end holidays.
"So far, the experience in Indonesia shows that the trend of increasing Covid-19 cases always occurs after a long holiday. The transmission is getting more massive because it is triggered by mobility,” he said.
In a number of areas, local administrations have taken the initiative to limit the movement of residents during the Christmas and New Year holidays. For example, in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, a number of tourist attractions and crowd centers are closed until early January. The operating hours of business premises, such as restaurants, cafes and malls, are also limited to 7 p.m. local time.
In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, the city administration has banned New Year celebrations, which have the potential to create crowds. However, nightlife spots and other amusement centers can still operate until the early hours.
In Bandar Lampung, the city administration patrols the border area. Motorists from outside the area who cannot show proof of an antigen rapid test with non-reactive results are prohibited from entering the capital city of Lampung. (AIK/XTI/VIO/JAL/IKI/REN/IGA)