Medical team for COVID-19. (Image via Kompas)

IDI: COVID-19 infection rate decreased by 40% last month

On Thursday, the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) stated that the decrease of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in Indonesia reached 40% in recent month. The news was confirmed by IDI's deputy chairman, Slamet Budiarto. Yet, IDI reminded the government to keep being vigilant in holding testing, tracing, and treatment (3M) measures, and the Indonesian people to adhere to the health protocol against COVID-19 such as wearing masks, washing hand, and maintaining social distancing.

Budi stated that the significant decrease, especially in DKI Jakarta province, was thanks to the implementation of the large-scale social distancing (PSBB) since 12 October 2020. Some red-zoned areas also showed a promising decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients at hospitals.

Regarding the correlation between the decrease in COVID-19's patients and suspects and the decrease of testing done by the government, Budi said that the specimens checked and suspects awaiting test results cannot always be the indicator, He said that all along, Budi and team only checked the positive case and mortality rate to measure the number of patients and bed occupancy rate (BOR).

On the other hand, the General Chairman of the Association of Private Hospitals in Indonesia (ARSSI), Susi Setiawaty, also restated a similar message as Budi. Susi said that the Indonesian people's awareness toward COVID-19 and 3M implementation also contributed to the decrease. Not to mention, the joint efforts from government and medical teams in flattening the curve.

Source: https://bit.ly/32c7F5q