"I want and remind the governors to look at the data and figures on the movement of COVID-19 cases in their respective regions. Be careful that currently, various countries are back in trend (in terms of rising coronavirus infections),” President Joko Widodo said at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Tuesday.
He made the remarks at a limited meeting entitled ‘President's Briefing for the Governors Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic and National Economic Recovery’, which was held via video conferencing.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
"There is an increasing trend of positive cases, both in European countries and also in the Asian region, therefore, we must be careful because, in our country, although there have been several increases in positive cases in several regions, compared to other countries, (the situation in) Indonesia is still under control," the President noted.
Governors must look into the control and management of COVID-19 cases, he advised.
“(As per) The data I received on August 31, 2020, the number of positive cases in our country is 175 thousand from the 2.2 million tests that we have done, and thank God, the 'case recovery rate' has also increased: In April, 2020, (it was) 15 percent, (and) now in August, (it has reached) 72.1 percent,” he added.
President Jokowi said the figure showed a better trend because the cure rate for COVID-19 sufferers in Indonesia is higher than the world average at 69 percent.
"Active or still-in-care cases have also decreased from 77 percent in April to 23.69 in August (2020). This is better than the world average of 27 percent," he said.
However, he said, the number of deaths is still above the world average, so governors need to work hard to solve the problem.
“Be careful about the case fatality rate in Indonesia. Although it has decreased from 7.83 percent in April to 4.2 percent this month, we still have big homework to reduce it again because the fatality rate in our country is still higher than the global fatality rate, which is at 3.6 percent. This is our big job, so that we don't lose control in controlling COVID-19,” President Widodo told governors.
He also shared the data he had with the governors.
"Look at our active position and our death rate, in April (the active position was) 77 percent (and it) became 23.7 percent (in August); then, the death rate in April was 7.8 percent (and it fell to) to 4.2 percent in August," the President said, pointing to graphical data.
Data provided by President Jokowi shows that as of August 31, 2020, Indonesia has 41,420 thousand active cases, which account for 23.7 percent of the total cases in the country.
"The addition of positive cases yesterday was 2,743, and we should be grateful that the recovery is 72.1 percent, or 125,959 cases, and the number of deaths is 7,412, or 4.2 percent. If we look at the developments, this is for positive cases at the national level. The percentage of deaths in April was high and then decreased in August to 4.27 percent. We must continue to do this so that the percentage of deaths decreases (further),” the President explained.
He also shared province-wise data on the development of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
"Governors and task forces of COVID-19 should suppress the number of cases," he stated.
If there are problems, local governments can convey them to the central government, he added.
"The main thing is to be assisted by our committee and task force," the President remarked. (INE)
Related news: Indonesia records 2,743 fresh COVID-19 cases, 1,774 recoveries
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Desca L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
