The most important aspect is how to trace and treat it
Malang, East Java (ANTARA) - The Malang Government, East Java, is expediting the tracking of cases of COVID-19 transmission following an increase in the case count in the city.

Currently, the city government has recorded 157 active cases of COVID-19, the highest in East Java Province.

"We have told the Malang City Health Office to not be afraid of a further increase in the number of cases. The most important aspect is how to trace and treat it," Mayor of Malang Sutiaji stated here on Wednesday.

"In addition, with testing being expedited, (there will be) additional (confirmed cases). From there, we will trace the close contacts," he further noted.

Case tracking and screening activities were aimed at detecting COVID-19 transmission as well as handling cases at the earliest. If cases of COVID-19 could be detected and treated early, the virus would not spread further.

The mayor noted that an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Malang did not reach a point that necessitated the reopening of the Idjen Boulevard Field Hospital (RSL), whose service activities were temporarily suspended since January 2022.

However, the hospital, which is overseen by the East Java provincial government, is still prepared to handle patients.

The mayor also noted that most patients in Malang infected with the Omicron and Delta variants did not experience symptoms of illness, so they only underwent self-isolation under supervision of the local government.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Malang City had increased since January 18, 2022. The highest spike in cases occurred on January 25, 2022, with as many as 50 new cases of COVID-19.

According to data from the East Java provincial government, as per Wednesday, a total of 15,842 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Malang, out of which 14,527 had recovered, while 1,133 had succumbed to the disease. Currently, 157 people are suffering from COVID-19 in Malang.

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Translator: Vicki Febrianto, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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