REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A number of countries have recorded a very significant spike in the Covid-19 cases recently. The trend of covid-19 cases in Indonesia has also increased, although it is not as high as the covid-19 records in other countries.

India, for example, recorded an increase in daily cases reaching more than 220 thousand cases per day. This figure overwhelms health facilities in India in handling Covid-19 positive patients.

The rising wave of Covid-19 has made the Indonesian government need to be vigilant. Moreover, the threat of an increase in cases for Indonesia is in sight: an increase in the mobility of citizens ahead of Lebaran (homecoming days).

Although homecoming has been officially banned for the period 6 to 17 May, people can still return to their hometowns outside that date. This means that the risk of a spike in cases is still there.

Government Spokesperson for Handling Covid-19 Wiku Adisasmito said the Indonesian government would not remain silent in anticipating this condition. Indonesia, said Wiku, has implemented a layered policy by limiting the international mobility.

Restrictions are also carried out for domestic mobility. "The government also imposes Micro PPKM and eliminates homecoming according to SE Task Force 13 of 2021. This is our effort in controlling the Covid-19 case," Wiku told Republika.co .id, Sunday (18/4).

Wiku emphasized that the government involved many parties to anticipate a spike in Covid-19 cases including the TNI, Polri, local government, regional level task forces, religious leaders, to community leaders at the central and regional levels.

Tightening surveillance was carried out after Indonesia studied the cause of the spike in cases in India, which was predicted to be due to the lack of application of health protocols by residents.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin also ordered all local governments to prioritize Covid-19 vaccination for the elderly. This method is believed to be able to reduce the risk of death from Covid-19, which has been stalking the elderly.

Even though the Covid-19 vaccination program was accelerated, the Minister of Health asked the public to be complacent and not alert. According to him, the threat of a spike in cases is still real.

Budi conveyed that the vaccination program and the micro-level PPKM were proven to be effective in reducing the transmission rate during this February-April. However, negligence in adhering to health protocols could easily re-increase the daily case rate.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health for Covid-19 Vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi added that the Indonesian government is also intensifying the promotion of the implementation of health protocols and urging the public to reduce movement outside the home.

Apart from India, a spike in covid-19 cases reportedly also occurred in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Chile, Brazil and European countries.

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