COVID-19 is still not completely gone from Indonesia. The increase in COVID-19 cases has again occurred in several parts of Indonesia this past week. This increase in cases caused the national positivity rate to increase significantly, from only 0.5 to 0.8 percent to 1.36 percent. The positive value nationally is still quite good. WHO states that the safe limit for COVID-19 must be below 5 percent.
 On Tuesday (14/6) number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia increased by almost a thousand, 930 to be precise. Then the total positive ever confirmed in Indonesia reached 6,062,009 people. While the patients who recovered became 548 people, the total number of recovered patients was 5,900,049.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the number of COVID-19 cases in several regions had increased this week.
Budi said in a teleconference Monday (13/6), "Confirmation instances did occur in DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and Bali."
Several factors have caused the re-occurrence of the increase in Covid-19 cases in Indonesia.
1. New Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5
Because the Omricon variant has a faster deployment power than the previous variants, some speculate that this rise is also attributable to the new variant. The BA.4 and BA.5 variants can trick our immune system, or is called escape immunity.
The Minister of Health said that so far there have been 8 cases found in Indonesia of this variant. Three of them came from abroad and the rest were local transmissions.
"The rest are cases of local transmission. 4 Jakarta, 1 in Bali. But one (in Bali) concerned media personnel from Jakarta," said Budi.
2. Deteriorating Health Protocol.
Lack of vigilance on health protocols is another cause and one of the most significant contributors to the rise in COVID-19 cases. After going through the Eid al-Fitr holiday yesterday, the community has become less aware of the need to keep implementing the health protocols. Especially after President Jokowi's policy not to use masks in open spaces, unfortunately, people also do not use masks in closed spaces.
The Minister of Health advised the public to comply with health protocols and use masks in closed spaces.
"If you are in a room with air conditioning, and the circulation is closed, it is advisable to wear a mask. There is nothing to lose by being careful and alert. It can protect us and others while also ensuring economic growth," said Budi.
