PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. The Public Communications Team of Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force referred to the Central Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Wednesday (2/2/2022) saying that the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo delievered four directions regarding the evaluation of the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM). These directions were conveyed by the President while chairing a limited meeting via video conference from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman International Airport, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan Province on Monday (31/1/2022).

The four directions, first, the President demanded his staff to apply different handling approaches related to the increase of Covid-19 cases in Indonesia, especially related to the Omicron variant.

If you look at the characteristics of the Omicron variant, it is considered that downstream strengthening must be carried out as a short-term handling effort. “For the short term, we must strengthen the downstream part, dissemination, massive education for people who are positive without symptoms to self-quarantine by consulting doctors independently at the health centers, health facilities, or through telemedicine. Then, the stock of medicines in these pharmacies really must be controlled,” said the President.

Second, the President requested his staff to prevent local transmission within the country, especially in the six provinces that are the biggest contributors to active cases in Indonesia.

The President hoped that the public remained aware and disciplined in implementing the health protocols. “Stay calm, don’t panic, remain aware, and also be disciplined in implementing the health protocols with the assistance from Indonesian National Armed Forces and Indonesian Police, especially on massive 3M and also close contact tracing, these things are what we have done,” said the President.

Third, the President reminded the importance of discipline in strengthening the entrances and carrying out the quarantine process from abroad to comply with the rules that have been set.

And, fourth, the President requested his staff to accelerate the implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination throughout the country.

“Finally, regarding vaccines, I demand for the acceleration of vaccination Dose I and Dose II, but I also request for the booster vaccination to be accelerated, especially the achievement of vaccinations for children 6-11 years old and for the elderly,” said the President.

The Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Task Force Team also appealed to the public to support the vaccination program, in addition to implement the 5M health protocols (wearing masks, washing hands with soap or cleansing hands with sanitizer, maintaining distance, reducing mobility, and avoiding crowds), and implementing 3T (Testing, Tracing, and Treatment).

Furthermore, the Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force Team conveyed the development of Covid-19 data accumulated today, where Confirmation Cases have added to 12 people: 10 people in Palangka Raya, 1 person in Pulang Pisau, and 1 person in Kapuas, so from 46804 people to 46816 people.

There was no patient recovered, so it remained 45151 people. There were 12 people under treatment, so from 62 people to 74 people. And, there were no additional cases of death, so there were still 1591 people, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.4%.

Regarding Bed Occupancy in hospitals or Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR), Intensive Beds experienced an increase in Bed Occupancy (30.95%), so from 7.14% to 38.10%, where there were no regencies/municipality with BOR above 50%. Meanwhile, Insulation Beds experienced a decrease in Bed Occupancy (0.35%), from 1.95% to 1.65%, where there was no Regency/Municipality with BOR above 50%.

Regarding the achievement of the vaccination target of 2,036,104, the realization of Dose I Vaccination for Central Kalimantan Province has reached 88.26%. All Regencies/Municipality have achieved more than 70% of Dose I Vaccination. Meanwhile, regarding the achievement of vaccination target for teachers and education personnel, high schools, and equivalent vocational schools, the realization of PNS/GTT/PTT Vaccination has not increased so it remained at 6,258 or 79.01 %, there was no addition of Dose I for SMA/SMK, so it remained at 73,202 or 76.95%, and there was no addition of Dose II for SMA/SMK so it remained at 32,403 or 34.06%. (ran/transl.by feb)