The figures this week have shown good results, but we must stay vigilant to maintain this condition
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Several areas in Java and Bali have started to record a decline in the number of cases of COVID-19 in contrast to the peak of the Delta wave in July-August 2021, Health Ministry's official stated.

"The figures this week have shown good results, but we must stay vigilant to maintain this condition," Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Health Ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi noted in a press release received on Friday.

Data compiled by the Health Ministry showed that several provinces, including Jakarta, are currently showing a downward trend in terms of the number of daily confirmed cases.

On February 6, Jakarta's daily case count had reached 15,825, albeit gradually decreased to 9,482 cases from February 15.

Bali and Banten, which also recorded daily cases exceeding the peak of the Delta, showed declining cases until February 15.

On February 9, Bali Province recorded daily cases at 2,556 and the figure gradually decreased to 1,646 cases on February 15. Meanwhile, Banten, with 7,283 cases on February 12, recorded a decline on February 15 with 6,500 cases.

Tarmizi stated that the COVID-19 handling strategy conducted in the last few weeks showed good results based on the number of hospitalized patients until February 17, with 36 percent of the COVID-19 isolation beds occupied.

"This figure is still adequate to treat COVID-19 patients. Our health workers are still capable of handling that number," she stressed.

Tarmizi highlighted that the government had continued to monitor data and evaluate COVID-19 conditions in an effort to ensure optimal COVID-19 handling in all regions.

She spoke of the government having taken several preventive measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including by strengthening testing, tracing, and treatment (3T).

Tarmizi also confirmed that as of February 16, the number of specimens tested nationally was quite high, reaching 566,050 samples.

"Testing and tracing close contacts are important to curb the spread of this disease," she noted.

Tarmizi affirmed that the hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR) so far had not exceeded 60 percent in all hospitals.

"We have prepared our health workers to face the worst possibility during this period. The shortage of health workers can still be overcome through human resource arrangements," she remarked.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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