Jakarta Still in First Wave of COVID-19; Epidemiologist Slams Govt's PSBB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, the University of Indonesia (UI) Head of Epidemiology, criticized the Jakarta administration for insisting to enforce the transitional large-scale social restriction or PSBB while the capital city was still being classified as the COVID-19 red zone.

The epidemiologist warned Jakarta to seriously implement the restrictionsduring this ongoing pandemic. “Do not joke about enforcing the transitional PSBB again,” said Tri on Sunday, August 9.

Although the city administration limited the number of people to only 50 percent of the maximum room capacity, virus transmission still occurred and was even increasing, which was evident from the emergence of office infection clusters.

Since the transitional PSBB was enforced on June 5, 2020, social and economic activities were reopened. However, new infection clusters emerged from markets, offices, until houses of worship.

Tri argued that Jakarta had not been able to enter the transitional period yet since the curve has not yet flattened and the city was still in the red zone. The transitional period to a so-called new normal could only be enforced should the city be classified as a yellow zone.

He also highlighted the rising number of cases and the COVID-19 positivity rate in Jakarta.

On August 8, 2020, Jakarta Health Agency reported an all-time daily high of 721 new infections, bringing the total tally to 25,242. While the positivity rate was recorded at 7.4 percent, surpassing the recommended 5 percent by the WHO.

Read also: COVID-19 Task Force: Less Than 50% Obeys Health Protocols

LANI DIANA WIJAYA