I urge all regional governments to continue to bolster health protocol monitoring and expand vaccinations, especially for the elderly and people with comorbidities.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force has urged regional governments to once again strengthen monitoring of the implementation of health protocols and expand vaccinations in response to the current infection surge.

"COVID-19 positive cases have continued to increase to the extent that they have reached seven thousand cases within a single day," national spokesperson for the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, said at a virtual press conference on Thursday.

"I urge all regional governments to continue to bolster health protocol monitoring and expand vaccinations, especially for the elderly and people with comorbidities," he added.

Three provinces have accounted for the current increase in COVID-19 cases, Jakarta, West Java, and Banten, along with Greater Jakarta agglomeration districts and cities, he informed.

He then asked regional governments to evaluate people's activities handling and carry out adjustments or changes, if needed.

"Please immediately evaluate and uphold the implementation of the health protocols, whether in offices, public facilities, or public transportation," he said.

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The central government will routinely coordinate and evaluate regional mitigation efforts, he emphasized.

Jakarta, West Java, and Banten have contributed 13,316 cases, or 90.4 percent, of the total 14,729 cases recorded within the last week, he said.

"Regional governments or task forces within these regions should carry out mitigation strategies to stem the surge in cases for the next two weeks to prevent an even higher spike in cases," Adisasmito said.

He also asked the people from the three provinces, especially those from the vulnerable group, to avoid activities and places that pose a high risk of infection.

The vulnerable group comprises people who cannot be vaccinated, children, and elderly people with comorbidities, he said.

"Preventing is far better than treating. To this end, let us make an effort to implement the health protocols that have been proven to provide benefits considering that the cases have consistently risen significantly," he added.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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