If one positive case was found, then the office would conduct tracing of at least 15 people that had come in close contact with the patient, Jakarta Health Office's Surveillance, Epidemiology and Immunization Head, Ngabila Salama, stated.
They will conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) swab test to expedite the handling of COVID-19 cases and prevent the infection from spreading further, she noted here, Tuesday.
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The effort is made, as the COVID-19 pandemic has not been revoked and due to the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, such as the XBB subvariant.
To this end, Salama emphasized the importance of continuing to implement health protocols and the administration of booster or third dose vaccination.
The office head deems this crucial since booster vaccination in Jakarta currently only reached 70 percent, and the figure stood at 60 percent for elderly residents.
Moreover, the Jakarta provincial government actively traces potential COVID-19 positive cases through schools, offices, and public places.
The PCR test is also increased seven to eight times on average from the standard that the WHO set, reaching 10,645 people per week. This necessitates the involvement of people across different sectors, Salama remarked.
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The Jakarta Health Office disseminates information on COVID-19 vaccination locations and centers through the Instagram account @dinkesdki.
The vaccination is conducted at several health facilities and public health centers (puskesmas) across Jakarta, and registration can be done on the spot or through the Jakarta Kini (JaKi) application.
According to the Health Ministry's data as per Monday, the total number of Jakartans that have already taken the first dose of vaccination reached 12.9 million, or 135.3 percent from the targeted 10 million.
Meanwhile, the administration of second dose stood at 10.8 million, or 115 percent, while that for the booster dose was recorded at 5.2 million, or 55.47 percent.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
