"Throughout 2020–2021, 659,136 villagers tested positive for COVID-19, while at the national level, citizens testing positive (for COVID-19) reached 4,267,451. A total of 38,447 patients died in villages, while at the national level, 144,144 people succumbed (to the virus)," Iskandar noted in a written statement received here on Saturday.
Under the COVID-19 Response Village Program, villages independently formed voluntary teams that involved all elements of the community for handling the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
"The transmission of this virus is hard to control. Therefore, villages need to be prepared to deal with it so that the impact of COVID-19 in villages can remain under control," he remarked at the eighth anniversary commemoration of the Village Law in Sirnaresmi village, Cisolok, Sukabumi, West Java, on Saturday.
Information on following a healthy lifestyle was disseminated in 59,125 villages in 2020 and 47,535 villages in 2021, he pointed out.
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Handwashing facilities in public places were provided in 56,056 villages in 2020 and 48,416 villages in 2021, he said. Disinfectants were sprayed in 57,154 villages in 2020 and 45,103 villages in 2021, he added.
Village Gate Posts to control the mobility of residents were built in 50,845 villages in 2020 and 49,022 villages in 2021, he informed.
"There were 39,683 villages that distributed free masks to residents in 2020 and 46,648 in 2021," he said.
In addition, as many as 1,880,174 people volunteered in villages for COVID-19 handling in 2020, the minister informed. As many as 1,684,598 volunteers in 2021 established isolation facilities with 85,168 beds in 2020 and 91,094 beds in 2021, he added.
The isolation facilities were utilized by 191,610 villagers in 2020 and 44,601 villagers in 2021, Iskandar said.
The minister urged villagers to remain vigilant, saying the coronavirus is still present and continues to mutate.
"Continue to follow the health protocols, wear masks, and get vaccinated immediately," he stressed.
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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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