PPKM has so far yielded significant results in reducing the number of confirmed infections in the city, head of Jakarta Health Office, Widyastuti, said here on Tuesday.
Jakarta recorded a sharp fall in confirmed cases following the implementation of PPKM, with the number of cases dipping from 7,439 on March 8 this year to 5,747 on March 16.
"However, in the post-holiday period of religious holidays (Isra Miraj and Nyepi), the curve rose again, although it remained under control to reach 7,322 cases on March 21, 2021," Widyastuti said.
The significant reduction in active cases also resulted in a decline in the use of isolation beds and ICUs in referral hospitals, she added.
Based on data from the Jakarta Provincial Health Office, the total capacity of hospital isolation beds as of March 7 this year was 8,256 beds, of which 4,922 beds were under use, or 60 percent of the existing capacity.
Meanwhile, the total ICU capacity as of March 7 was 1,148, with occupancy reaching 755, or 66 percent.
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Meanwhile, as of March 21 this year, Jakarta had a capacity of 7,863 isolation beds, of which 4,258, or 54 percent, were occupied. The ICU capacity stood at 1,142, of which 674, or 59 percent, were occupied.
"That way, the beds and ICUs that were previously prepared (for COVID-19 patients) can be diverted for the care of non-COVID-19 patients," Widyastuti noted.
Despite the decrease in infections, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has urged residents to refrain from venturing out of the house, especially if it is not urgent.
"Alhamdulillah, our joint efforts to reduce the rate of active cases through PPKM Micro are on track, where we can see a significant reduction," Baswedan said.
He also highlighted a survey conducted by a team from the Faculty of Public Health, the University of Indonesia (UI), Unicef, and Puskesmas (community health center) cadres in the past week that showed that the level of community compliance with 3Ms was at an unsatisfactory percentage.
The three indicators covered by the survey showed a decrease, with compliance with the rules on wearing masks and maintaining a distance pegged at just 40 percent and the rule on washing hands with soap at only 10 percent. Earlier, the indicators had touched 85 percent.
"Once again, we remind you to continue to apply the 3M health protocols with discipline, even though we are bored and tired, but the virus is tireless, unsaturated. And I often say that wearing a mask is uncomfortable, but it is more uncomfortable to be treated for COVID-19 infection," the Mayor remarked.
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Translator: Ricky Prayoga, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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