“When we look at it (spike in infections) in detail and based on the reports of our colleagues from the districts and cities, most (of the cases) were caused by local neighborhood transmissions and ceremonies,” he said in between a high level meeting on inflation control in Denpasar on Thursday.
The reopening of leisure spots, he continued, prompted much of the young population to go out, after having to stay home in isolation for a few months.
“This then led to asymptomatic cases. As they are young, they remained healthy and they came home, and they became carriers of COVID-19, and then infected their parents, grandparents, whose immune systems are not as strong anymore. Recovery time for them (older patients) is relatively longer and they face a higher risk of death,” he explained.
Speaking of infections spreading due to traditional ceremonies, the Deputy Governor said that he will speak with the Bali Provincial Traditional Village Board and pursue limiting meetings in traditional villages.
In view of the high occupancy rate at treatment rooms in hospitals, the Bali government will also coordinate with private hospitals to turn them into referral facilities for COVID-19 patients, he added.
"If we provide more rooms, the (occupancy) percentage will go down," he continued.
As of Thursday (September 10, 2020), the cumulative positive COVID-19 cases in Bali had reached 6,834, with 5,437 patients recovering from the virus, accounting for 79,56 percent of the total cases, and 151 patients succumbing to the infection.
A total of 1,246 active patients are currently receiving treatment at several facilities.
Since the end of August, 2020, there has been a significant increase in daily positive COVID-19 cases and deaths in Bali province, with 150 new cases being reported daily on average and 81 deaths reported in a week. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Ni Luh Rhismawati/Aria Cindyar
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
