The immunity of Indonesian citizens is still high based on the serosurvey in March 2022, and we see that the increase (in cases) is still safe
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin ensured that despite an increase in COVID-19 cases, the condition was still safe based on the positivity rate and community transmission in the last three weeks.

"The immunity of Indonesian citizens is still high based on the serosurvey in March 2022, and we see that the increase (in cases) is still safe," he noted after attending the kick-off event for the integration of primary health services at the Ministry of Health's Sujudi Building, here on Friday.

Indonesia's positivity rate currently stood below five percent.

"Nationally, it (the positivity rate) is now 1.15 percent. The highest is in Jakarta at three percent," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the community transmission of COVID-19 in Indonesia is around one per 100 thousand population.

Sadikin noted that the 31-percent increase in COVID-19 cases in the last three weeks in Indonesia had earlier been forecast by the government based on increased interactions among members of the community during the 2022 Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

"Historically, the increase did not occur three days after the holiday, but around 27 to 35 days after major holidays, such as Christmas and Eid, like now," he stated.

The minister noted that an increase in the number of cases was a normal occurrence after the holidays.

However, he admitted that the government was currently focusing on the findings of four cases of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in Bali Province in May 2022.

"BA.4 and BA.5 can bypass the immunity formed by the vaccine, and the transmission is also fast," he cautioned.

Sadikin advised the public to immediately get the third or booster vaccine dose as part of the efforts to strengthen the body's immunity.

In addition, the public is urged to consistently comply with the health protocols, especially by wearing masks in crowded rooms.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of June 10, 2022, the nation had recorded 6,057,142 COVID-19 cases, 5,897,022 recoveries, and 156,622 deaths.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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