Bracing for Surge in Covid-19 Cases

Thousands of travelers have tested positive for Covid-19. The phenomenon requires the anticipation for a possible spike in Covid-19 cases as mudik (exodus) travel grows out of control.

KOMPAS/ADITYA PUTRA PERDANA

The activity of checking the completeness of the required documents for travelers from out of town to motorists at the Kalikangkung Toll Gate, Semarang City, Central Java, Monday (10/5/2021). The government will enforce the (mudik) homecoming ban from May 6-17, 2021.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Random tests administered during Ketupat Operation 2021 have indicated a high risk of Covid-19 spread after 4,123 travelers tested positive for the virus.

Tests on travelers and enforced quarantines are urgent to help prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases in the regions.

During a press conference, following a meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto confirmed the high number of positive cases among travelers based on the results of random tests during the Idul Fitri -related operation.

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"From the Ketupat Operation yesterday, the number of randomly tested mudik travelers was 6,742, and 4,123 were confirmed to be positive," said Airlangga who is also head of the Covid-19 Task Force and the National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) said in Jakarta on Monday (10/5/2021).

Out of the travelers’ positive cases, 1,686 people have undergone self-quarantine and 75 have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.

From the Ketupat Operation yesterday, the number of randomly tested mudik travelers was 6,742, and 4,123 were confirmed to be positive.

During the currently implemented period of the mudik ban, the police screened a total of 113,694 vehicles, 41,097 of which were told to turn back.

As many as 346 vehicles were found to be illegally serving travel, known as "black travel", with the police cordoning 381 checkpoints.

KOMPAS/KRISTI DWI UTAMI

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (left) reviewed the implementation of antigen testing for travelers at the Tegal City Terminal mudik (homecoming) isolation post, Sunday (9/5/2021).

Watch out for spike

With the country vigilant over a spike in Covid-19 transmission, the administering of tests in Ketupat Operation -- according to Indonesian Public Health Expert Association (IAKMI) chairman Ede Surya Darmawan in Jakarta on Monday -- is an appropriate move in the effort to contain the virus contagion.

Administering antigen swab tests need to be followed up with PCR swab tests, along with tight supervision over the obliged quarantines.

The discovery of 4,123 positive cases among travelers should serve as a warning about the high risk of transmission. The fact that the positive cases accounted 75 percent of the randomly tested people vindicated an alarming transmission.

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"This is a kind of orange light alert for us regarding the transmission of Covid-19. In fact, the tests have yet to be imposed thoroughly. The residents who were identified as being positive for Covid-19 in the random tests must be monitored – not only during isolation period but also when they travel back," he said.

Ede called for regional governments to be prepared for a surge in positive cases due to the high mobility of community.

Rising mobility

Apart from the high positive cases of mudik travelers, Airlangga disclosed a rising trend in community mobility nationwide in the last seven days as found in North Maluku, Bengkulu and Southeast Sulawesi.

On the other hand, Bali, Yogyakarta and Riau Islands were reported to be the provinces with low mobility.

“We are aware that in this month of Ramadan, the retail sector, malls and grocery stores see high mobility,” said Airlangga, who was accompanied by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The police turned around the motorbike travelers who packed the insulation posts on the border of Bekasi and Karawang regencies in Kedungwaringin subdistrict, Bekasi regency, West Java, Monday (10/5/2021). Even though the joint team was closely guarded, some of the travelers were desperate to break through the isolation post before the D-3 Idul Fitri.

To restrain a spike in Covid-19 cases, the government has also decided to extend the implementation period of the 8th stage of the micro scale community activity restriction (PPKM) from May 18 to 31 in 30 provinces. The extension sees the restriction carry over to two weeks after Lebaran.

Despite the mobility restrictions, 11 provinces have seen a climbing daily case with sharp surges reportedly found in Riau Islands, Riau, South Sumatra, Aceh and West Kalimantan.

"It is partly due to the arrival of migrant workers," Airlangga said.

Also read: Traffic Scrutiny Tightened Against ‘Mudik’ Travelers

With a status of low mobility, Riau Islands has in fact recorded an increase in cases due to the arrival of migrant workers. The government predicts the number of Indonesian migrant workers returning home in the March-May period will reach 49,682 people. Airlangga called for strict enforcement of swab tests and health protocols on them.

Seven provinces -- North Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands, South Sumatra, Jambi, Lampung and West Kalimantan – have also received special attention due to a bed occupancy ratio (BOR) of above 50 percent. The number of the occupied hospital beds in North Sumatra has reached 63.4 percent, Riau 59.1 percent, Riau Islands 59.9 percent, and South Sumatra 56.6 percent.

Arriving home

Kompas observed on Monday many cars with B (Jakarta) plates entered the Kalikangkung toll gate in Semarang, Central Java. Based on data at the Central Java Transportation Agency, 421,929 people headed toward the province by public transportation until last weekend.

Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad, in Tanjung Pinang on Monday, reminded all parties about a possible spike in Covid-19 transmission during Idul Fitri holidays and appealed to the residents to comply with the prohibition on making trips between islands.

"Apart from that, we also restrain events that would potentially draw crowds, such as fast-breaking gatherings. Administration officials at all levels are also prohibited from conducting open houses,” Ansar said. (DIT/TAN/NSA/NDU/DIT/VAN/MEL/ERK/DAN/HLN/WKM)

This article was translated by Musthofid.