East Java Governor Forms Covid-19 Hunter Joint Team to Cut Transmission Rate

KOMPAS.com – East Java has formed a Special Covid-19 Hunter Joint Team that harnesses the resources of relevant districts and work as one to stem the tide of infections in the region. 

Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa formed the joint team in response to President Jokowi’s demand for East Java to reduce the number of Covid-19 infections. Government data shows East Java overtaking Jakarta with its daily numbers of new Covid-19 infections.

Jokowi recently toured the three high-risk provinces for Covid-19 infections including East Java.

Read also: What's Fuelling the Rise in Indonesia's Covid-19 Cases?

“One of the measures is to deploy the Covid-19 Hunter Joint Team from the District Level Health Office to the main cluster of Greater Surabaya. The team will conduct testing and contact tracing of at least 20 persons per positive case,” said Khofifah on June 27.

The Covid-19 Hunter Joint Team is hoped to maximize the synergy, coordination, and collaboration between districts in the Greater Surabaya area, mainly the city of Surabaya, Sidoarjo Regency, and Gresik.

“The joint team is a combined effort from Forkopimda East Java and the Greater Surabaya Task Force. It is directly coordinated by Pangkogabwilhan II,” said the East Java Governor.

Public figures needed

To enforce greater discipline in observing the Covid-19 health protocols, the East Java Governor has called for the help of public figures.

Khofifah is working with religious clerics and figures as well as influencers.

The primary Covid-19 health protocols that are being promoted include wearing masks and regular handwashing.

Read also: Indonesia Turns to Public Figures to Raise Awareness of Coronavirus Health Protocols

“This is important because research proves that if 60% of the population wears a cloth mask then the rate of transmission can be below one, thus moving the curve downwards,” said Khofifah.

The East Java Governor is also planning to evaluate the capabilities of Covid-19 referral hospitals.

Experts have additionally been included in efforts to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 infections as well as managing the coronavirus pandemic.