"That is why we postpone halal bi halal (gathering after Eid). We do not want to gather a crowd," he said at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday.
If COVID-19 cases continue to escalate, Hartono said he will increase Jakarta hospitals' bed capacity.
"Based on the cases’ improvement, we will prepare anything," he added.
He also urged the public to continue wearing masks if they are visiting crowded areas.
Separately, in a written statement issued the same day, the Head of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Immunization Section of the Jakarta Health Service, Ngabila Salama, said that the COVID-19 situation in Jakarta is under control even though the number of positive cases and deaths have increased.
"The positivity rate (the proportion of positive infections among people tested) has increased. However, there are many undiagnosed cases in the field," she disclosed.
Salama also informed that the hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR) increased last week to 16 percent while 16 people, aged 30 and over, succumbed to the infection.
She advised the community to wear masks in crowded areas and while using public transportation, as well as avoid sick people.
"Masks can protect us from various infectious diseases, such as colds caused by viruses or other bacteria, measles, rubella, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and others," she added.
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Translator: Siti Nurhaliza, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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