Although the 'positivity rate' is already below the (World Health Organization) standard, even recently, it has been below one percent, but as long as there are new cases per day, the COVID-19 case count may still increase if we are carelessJakarta (ANTARA) - House Speaker Puan Maharani reminded the people to not become euphoric over the decline in the COVID-19 transmission rate.
Despite the national "positivity rate" being below five percent, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, a spike in transmission is still possible, according to the speaker.
"Although the 'positivity rate' is already below the (World Health Organization) standard, even recently, it has been below one percent, but as long as there are new cases per day, the COVID-19 case count may still increase if we are careless," Maharani noted in a statement here on Thursday.
The speaker referred to existing data showing that the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Indonesia had decreased to only 620 on Monday, October 11. However, the figure has almost doubled on Wednesday, October 13, reaching 1,233 cases.
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"Even in small numbers, as long as transmission can still increase, the potential for a large spike still exists. Hence, we must continue to be vigilant and not become complacent," she stressed.
She called for stricter supervision of community activities policy in several regions being done in accordance with the regulation of each level of restriction.
Maharani cited an example, such as stricter entry rules and the imposition of health protocols in malls, public transportation, and tourist attractions. She deemed leeway or relaxation of those measures as counterproductive.
The speaker warned that the high mobility of people during the year-end holiday period could possibly trigger a spike in COVID-19 cases, especially since several tourist destinations were reopened to foreign travelers.
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"The point is that movement of the public and foreigners must comply with the applicable rules and procedures or else the cases would spike again akin to that during the last Eid holiday," she cautioned.
The speaker urged everyone, including the government and community, to continuously push for three means to suppress COVID-19: imposing 3M health protocols of wearing masks, maintaining distance, washing hands with soap; aiming for higher vaccination rate; as well as boosting testing, tracing, and treatment (3T).
The House speaker noted that if COVID-19 could be further controlled through hard work and mutual cooperation, then Indonesia can quickly recover from the pandemic, so that social and economic activities of the community could run as normal.
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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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