Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Extends Enforced Restriction of Community Activities or PPKM | Covid-19 Task Force Express Concerns Over Spread of B.1.1.7 Strain | Mount Merapi Crater Increased in Hei

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/05/14491151/pemerintah-perpanjang-ppkm-mikro-hingga-22-maret?page=all#page2. 

Covid-19 Task Force Express Concerns Over Spread of B.1.1.7 Strain

The Covid-19 Task Force has expressed concerns over the possible spread of the B.1.1.7 strain of the pandemic, after the mutation was traced to two Indonesian migrant workers who returned from Saudi Arabia at the end of January.

“The possible spread of the B.1.1.7 strain will make the Covid-19 Task Force’s efforts to contain Covid-19 more difficult," Cov-19 Task Force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said on Friday.

"This is because the B.1.1.7 mutation is quicker to transmit between persons than the SARS CoV-2 from Wuhan, China.” He called on the public to comply with health protocols to break the chain of transmission.

He also called for tighter controls of Indonesia’s borders and the movement of peoples within the country, to reach this aim. Wiku urged the public to comply with checks and quarantine after carrying out their journey.

“Compliance is vital in anticipating any large-scale outbreaks, as are vaccines,” he asserted.

The two B.1.1.7 carriers were traced to their hometown of Karawang, West Java. Health workers in the area noted that the duo has tested negative for Covid-19, since they were quarantined on returning to Indonesia last January.

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/05/14540761/wiku-jika-mutasi-b-117-menyebar-penanganan-covid-19-lebih-sulit?page=all#page2. 

Twitter/@BPPTKG Hot clouds going up to 1000 meters cover Mount Merapi on Friday (26/2/2021)

Mount Merapi Crater Increased in Height

Volcanic activity on Mount Merapi continues to confound experts studying the volcano, which is the most active of its kind in Indonesia.

“The crater on Mount Merapi’s has actually increased increased by five meters to reach a height of 45 meters,” said the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center [BPPTKG] head Hanik Humaida on Friday. “This can be seen on the southeast corner of the volcano.”

“The volume of lava flowing from the crater is currently estimated at 711 thousand square meters, after it increased by 13,900 square meters on a daily basis.”

Merapi’s constant volcanic activity, which includes lava flows and hot clouds, gave it a category III or ‘Watch’ status, the second-highest status in Indonesia’s four tier alarm system for natural disasters, after category IV or beware.

Source:

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/03/05/195036278/kubah-kawah-gunung-merapi-meninggi-sudah-45-meter?page=all#page2.