"We see an increase in COVID-19 (cases) of almost 2,800 per week. This is still below WHO's level 1," the minister remarked at a press conference on Health Sector Preparedness for the Christmas and New Year Holidays, followed online here on Friday.
The WHO classified the global COVID-19 situation into three levels. In level 1, the cases are around 20 per 100 thousand population per week, or 56 thousand cases per week, if converted based on Indonesia's population.
As for level 2, the cases are above 20 to 50 per 100 thousand population per week. Meanwhile, for level 3, the cases are around 50 to 150 per 100 thousand population per week.
"We are at 2,800 (cases) per week from the threshold of around 56 thousand per week. It means they (the cases) are still relatively low. However, indeed, there has been quite a large increase in the last few weeks," Sadikin remarked.
On the occasion, he appealed to people to be alert to the JN.1 subvariant cases that are currently experiencing an uptick in Indonesia.
"(Based on) our genome sequencing results for JN.1, it increased, from only one percent in November, 19 percent in the third week of November, and at the beginning of December, it already (made up) 43 percent of the (current) variants' distribution in Indonesia," he remarked.
The minister estimated that the JN.1 cases will peak in January 2024 following the global situation, with a decline in cases also starting to be experienced.
To this end, for the Christmas and New Year homecoming exodus period, the Health Ministry is opening two thousand health posts and deploying 15 thousand officers at critical locations, such as toll roads, train stations, airports, and ports.
Sadikin also advised the community to wear a mask again in areas that are prone to COVID-19 transmissions, such as while using means of public transportation.
"Currently, the vaccine is still available at community health centers (for those seeking) to get additional vaccine. At least, it can reduce the severity when infected with COVID-19," he remarked.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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