Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin. (Image via Kompas)

Health Ministry: Decrease in COVID-19 infection doesn't mean lack of testing

Indonesia's Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) asserted that the decrease of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia in the recent week was not because of the mutual decrease in testing. Speaking on Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said that Indonesia just ended its long holiday.

Moreover, Budi also said that the COVID-19 decrease trend also happened globally. The Minister said that the decrease of the Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR) does not have anything to do with COVID-19 testing. While the COVID-19 case number decreases, that does not mean a lack of testing.

Budi also said that the decrease of COVID-19 in Indonesia was also contributed by the ongoing implementation of public activity restrictions (PPKM) in Java-Bali, from regular to micro-scale. The Ministry found that according to the research and experience, after a long holiday, the COVID-19 case jumped by 30-40 percent. Therefore, the Indonesian Government imposed PPKM for Christmas and New Year's holidays, running until today. As people's mobility is limited, hence the COVID-19 case also decreased.

Budi also asked the Indonesian people to cooperate with the Indonesian Government in obeying the health regulations and protocols determined, even when the COVID-19 case showed a decrease. The health protocols against COVID-19 include wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social-distancing.

However, according to the daily infection report by Indonesia's COVID-19 Task Force, the COVID-19 infection in Indonesia is still fluctuating, from 25-28 February. On 25 February, there were 8,493 cases; on 26 February, 8,232 cases; on 27 February, 6,208 cases, and on 28 February, became 5,560 cases. In terms of testing, on 25 February, 50,019 tested; on 26 February, 39,766 tested; on 27 February, 31,394 tested, and on 28 February, 21,219 tested.

Source: https://bit.ly/3bQfykU