Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has asked the Aceh Provincial Government to prevent the increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate in Aceh Province.

"Based on the development of the positivity rate, currently Aceh's (positivity rate) is still below the national average. However, it has increased to 8 percent. Meanwhile, the national average is 18 percent," Prabowo said after monitoring COVID-19 vaccinations in Aceh Besar, here on Friday.

To this end, he urged the Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations in all regions.

Especially because Indonesia is currently facing the spread of the Omicron variant, he added. Therefore, accelerating the first dose, second dose, and booster dose vaccinations is essential to achieve immunity throughout the community, he noted.

He also encouraged people to comply with the health protocols during their daily activities.

The National Police Chief added that the increase in the positivity rate could be suppressed through hard work. He said he hoped the unity that has been formed from the local government, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and all health workers can be maintained and continue to work well.

"Of course, the key to all of this is hard work, how the solidity that has been built between all local government stakeholders, TNI-Polri, and all health workers can work well. Of course, we must encourage and maintain this," he remarked.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of February 25, 2022, Indonesia has recorded a total of 5,457,775 COVID-19 cases, 4,736,234 recoveries, and 147,586 deaths.

The Ministry of Health detected the first Omicron case in Indonesia on December 15, 2021. With the spread of the new variant, Indonesia has recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases.
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Translator: Khalis Surry, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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