In a press statement monitored online in Jakarta, Wednesday, the health minister confirmed that the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia had begun to decline, as was apparent from the decreasing trend in daily positive cases of COVID-19 also reflected in the decreasing trend in the care of COVID-19 patients at hospitals.
"We double check with the data at the hospital to ensure the decline in confirmed cases has actually occurred or because the number of tests has decreased. We can see that the number of patients at the hospital has fallen consistently in two weeks," Sadikin stated.
The minister noted that the number of new patients for treatment at the hospital had also dipped in the past two weeks.
Sadikin clarified that a decline in the number of daily positive COVID-19 cases in Indonesia was not owing to a decrease in the number of tests as compared to the regular days, but rather that the peak had passed and the number of cases had begun to decline.
The minister dismissed the claims of various groups that attributed the decrease in COVID-19 cases to a decline in the number of tests being conducted.
The health minister pointed to a consistent decline in the number of tests during the national holidays and on weekends.
Sadikin stated that a recent drop in the number of tests was owing to the long Chinese New Year holidays.
Meanwhile, the health minister revealed that a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia was not the result of vaccinations being conducted.
Sadikin gauged that the number of cases in the last two weeks had declined as the peak transmission of COVID-19 cases, caused by high mobility during the Christmas and New Year holidays, has passed.
"Every time there is a long holiday and high human mobility, there will be an increase of 30 to 40 percent in the number of confirmed cases. After this rise, this virus will die on its own in 14 days, so the number of cases drop after the Christmas and New Year holidays have passed," the minister stated.
Sadikin cited the implementation of micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) by the government since early January of 2021 as another reason behind a decline in the number of cases.
"The decline has occurred in the number of confirmed cases and the reduction in hospital care based on fundamentals. The peak transmission of COVID-19 cases caused by high mobility during the Christmas and New Year holidays has passed. The implementation of PPKM has had an impact on the community, thereby reducing the rate of transmission. With this data, it is clear that there is a trend of decreasing confirmed cases and decreasing hospital care," the minister remarked. Related news: Govt advises strict vigilance as COVID-19 cases spike
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Translator: Aditya R, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
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