Jakarta (ANTARA) - The number of positive cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in DKI Jakarta has exceeded 300 as of December 13, 2023, the health office reported.

Of the total positive cases, 57 cases were detected on December 11, followed by 127 cases on December 12 and 131 cases on December 13.

"There were 2 cases of death on December 1–10, while there were zero cases of death on December 11–13," head of the surveillance, epidemiology, and immunization section of the DKI Jakarta Health Office (Dinkes), Ngabila Salama, informed in Jakarta on Thursday.

As of December 13, DKI Jakarta has recorded 44 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 32 moderately symptomatic patients who have been placed in isolation rooms, and 12 ICU patients, she said.

So far, hospital bed occupancy has remained below five percent, and there has been no increase.

The Jakarta Health Office has urged Jakartans experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever accompanied by a sore throat, cough, runny nose, or an impaired sense of smell, to immediately get checked at a hospital.

People with COVID-19 symptoms or close contacts of patients are being asked to go to the nearest District Health Center in DKI Jakarta and take a free PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or antigen test.

"We serve patients who live in DKI Jakarta or who have the Indonesian identity card of DKI Jakarta on a daily basis," she said.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate of PCR tests in DKI Jakarta is currently around 40 percent. Out of every 10 people undergoing the tests, 4–5 are testing positive for COVID-19.

To check the spread of COVID-19, the DKI Jakarta provincial government (Pemprov) has intensified COVID-19 vaccinations for residents aged 18 years and over.

"Around 8.4 million people are targeted to get vaccination doses one to four in DKI Jakarta,” she informed.

She appealed to the people of DKI Jakarta to immediately complete vaccination doses one to four. "This vaccination principle is better late than never," she said.

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Translator: Siti, Alita, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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