Indonesia's Covid-19 Task Force Concerned As Daily Covid-19 Cases Near 9,000

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Covid-19 Task Force expressed alarm over the surge in Covid-19 cases, as the number of daily cases reached a new high of 8,892 on June 10.

Covid-19 Task Force Spokesman Wiku Adisasmito noted that the number of daily coronavirus cases even surpassed the previous high on February 25 of 8,493 cases.

“This surge in cases is a stern warning for us all to evaluate our methods or what we did wrong,” he said on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel Friday. “The increase in cases is also a warning to brace ourselves for an even higher number of cases.”

Wiku also expressed his concern over the increased number of cases that occurred less than a month after the Eid al-Fitr or Idul Fitri holidays.

Also read: President Jokowi: No Stockpiling of Covid-19 Vaccines in Indonesia

“Active Covid-19 cases in Indonesia currently stand at 100 thousand, up from 87 thousand. It occurred as the number of Covid-19 cases in six provinces on Java increased over the past ten days,” he asserted.

Jakarta experienced the highest surge, as case numbers spiked up to 2,091 with a BOR of 62.13 percent, a 300 percent increase from 591 cases on June 1.

Central Java experienced an 80 percent increase in cases, as the number of cases surged to 1,500 cases with a bed occupancy rate (BOR) of 66.89 percent.

East Java came in third with 425 new cases, with a BOR of 31.57 percent.

In Malang, East Java, National Disaster Mitigation Agency or BNPB head Ganip Warsito has urged the government to pick up its nationwide vaccination drive.

KOMPAS.com/Ihsanuddin BNPB head Ganip Warsito visits the Covid-19 Emergency Hospital at Wisma Atlet Kemayoran in Central Jakarta, Wednesday (26/5/2021)

“The public should take advantage of the [government’s] vaccination program to gain herd immunity against Covid-19,” said the three-star Army general, who is also in charge of Indonesia’s Covid-19 Task Force.

“We will also improve cooperation between government institutions, as well as religious, cultural and youth organizations, to raise public awareness about health protocols.”

Ganip advocated further steps, such as more support for medical workers and increased availability of medical supplies and policies.

Also read: Indonesian Minister of Finance Suggests 1 Million Daily Vaccinations to Jumpstart Economy

“Policies such as Micro-Scale Enforcement of Community Activities or PPKM help in upholding health protocols and other measures,” he explained.

“But more importantly, the public should comply with Covid-19 health protocols such as wearing masks, maintain social distancing, and washing hands to keep ourselves and others safe.”

Indonesia is experienced the current increase of Covid-19 cases, after milllions of people headed to their hometowns during the Eid al-Fitr or Idul Fitri Islamic holidays in defiance of a government ban on homecoming travel.

The surge was marked by clusters of Covid-19 cases in Jakarta, Central Java, and East Java as well as other provinces.

(Writers: Haryanti Puspa Sari, Andi Hartik, Malang Contributor | Editors: Icha Rastika, Pythag Kurniati)

Sources: 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/06/11/18231731/kasus-covid-19-capai-8000-satgas-kenaikan-ini-jadi-peringatan-keras. 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/06/11/202619478/tekan-lonjakan-kasus-covid-19-kepala-bnpb-minta-masyarakat-tak-ragu-ikut?page=all#page2.