Day: March 14, 2022

An upward trend in COVID-19 cases has been recorded in four provinces of Indonesia, government spokesperson for COVID-19 Handling Reisa Broto Asmoro has informed.

“As of March 12, 2022, COVID-19 cases in 30 provinces have decreased. Four provinces have recorded an increase in cases,” she said during the “Deceleration Phase in Indonesia” online broadcast, which was accessed from here on Monday.

The four provinces that are still showing an upward trend in cases are Aceh, North Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara, Asmoro informed.

Though the four provinces are experiencing an uptick in cases, as of March 12, 2022, the pandemic situation nationally has seen continuous improvement.

According to Asmoro, the improvement can be seen from the bed occupancy rate (BOR) in hospitals, which declined from 23.97 percent on March 12, 2022, to 21.72 percent on March 13, 2022.

A downward trend has also been seen in the daily confirmed cases. She said that on March 12, 2022, Indonesia recorded 14,900 new COVID-19 cases nationwide, and as of March 13, 2022, the number of new cases declined to 11,585 cases.

Despite the improving COVID-19 situation, the spokesperson reminded people to keep complying with the “3M” health protocols—wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining a safe distance—as well as getting vaccinated against the virus.

She also asked people who are eligible for the booster or third vaccine dose to immediately visit health facilities and get inoculated to help curb COVID-19 transmission.

“Hopefully, the downward trend will continue as the pandemic situation improves globally,” she remarked.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of March 14, 2022, Indonesia has recorded a total of 5,900,124 COVID-19 cases, 5,434,729 recoveries, and 152,437 deaths.

Source: Antara News

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has expressed the hope that Indonesia will not see an increase in COVID-19 cases linked to the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron.

Recently, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the UK have reported an increase in infections caused by the sub-variant.

“Alhamdulillah (thank God), we do not see and hopefully, will not see an increase in (COVID-19) cases again,” he said in a press statement on the Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Evaluation Meeting, which was accessed online here on Monday.

In the last two months, the government sequenced 8,032 genomes, Sadikin informed. The result of the sequencing showed that a portion of the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant is already dominant in Indonesia.

To prevent an increase in the number of cases and deaths, the minister called for the acceleration of vaccinations, especially among older adults.

“Almost all the deaths that occurred in Hong Kong that filled the hospitals occurred in older adults. This is a precious lesson for us,” he said.

The number of older adults in Hong Kong who have been fully vaccinated is still relatively low, which is around 26 percent, he noted.

For that reason, he emphasized the importance of accelerating vaccinations among older adults to protect them.

“We have to help convince them to get vaccinated at least with two doses. Ideally, three doses,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Health’s data, as of March 14, 2022, the first dose coverage among older adults in the country has reached 77.09 percent or 16.61 million. Meanwhile, the second dose coverage has so far reached 57.53 percent or 12.39 million.

Overall, the Indonesian government is targeting to vaccinate a total of 21.5 million older adults nationwide.

The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Indonesia in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of March 14, 2022, Indonesia has recorded a total of 5,900,124 COVID-19 cases, 5,434,729 recoveries, and 152,437 deaths.

Source: Antara News

The Health Ministry has extended the validity period of 18 million vaccines that were set to expire in March this year as they are still in good quality though their emergency-use authorization has expired.

“When we say that the vaccines have expired, they have not expired in terms of factory quality, but because their emergency-use authorization has expired,” the ministry’s spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said here on Monday.

COVID-19 vaccines are new products that have passed through three stages of clinical trials to obtain emergency-use authorization (EUA) from the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), she informed.

EUA cannot be provided for a long period of time because it requires an intensive and periodic safety evaluation by BPOM, she explained.

However, in accordance with vaccine producers’ provisions based on internal quality control measures, it has been determined that the vaccine expiration period can last up to 24 months.

“For instance, in the label section on Sinovac and AstraZeneca (vaccines), it is stated that their expiration period can last until 24 months. Quick and emergency authorization in Indonesia cannot be given for a long period of time,” she noted.

In the early stage of EUA, vaccines can only be distributed within three months, Tarmizi said.

However, with the increasing number of people receiving vaccines, BPOM can observe the side effects to evaluate their safety.

“BPOM can carry out evaluation for the period that lasted three months. Several of these vaccine types can be extended to six months and, even after long period of time, to nine months,” she elaborated.

BPOM periodically evaluates the safety of vaccines to prevent adverse side effects in recipients, the spokesperson noted.

Last week, the government extended the validity period of around 18 million COVID-19 vaccines.

They comprise leftover vaccine doses that have not been administered to the target population.

Source: Antara News

The government of Mataram City has appealed to the public to continue following strict health protocols during the implementation of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

“Although the enforcement of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in Mataram City is at Level 1, we must remain vigilant to curb the transmission of the virus by wearing masks,” Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare at the Mataram City Regional Secretariat Lalu Martawang said here on Monday.

He issued the reminder to residents since a local micro, small, and enterprises (MSMEs) products bazaar will take place from March 18–20, 2022, at Taman Sangkareang, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, during the racing event.

In addition, there will be a live performance featuring eight local bands at the bazaar.

“Hence, since it is usually hard to keep the distance between visitors at entertainment attractions, in accordance with the health protocols, they must wear a mask to reduce the transmission potential of the virus,” Martawang said.

Furthermore, he asked the managers of all hotels, restaurants, MSMEs centers, as well as a number of potential tourism attractions to prepare themselves optimally.

“If possible, various entertainment performances, such as traditional dances, arts, and music, can be conducted at hotels to entertain guests,” he added.

Furthermore, he asked all parties in Mataram city to be good hosts to visitors of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia and make the tourists feel safe and comfortable so that they long to return to the city.

The government has carried out a simulation of the operation of the free shuttle buses that will be provided for spectators of the racing event, Martawang informed.

“The former Selaparang Airport will become the main shuttle bus terminal for the spectators coming from North Lombok district, Mataram city, and West Lombok district. They will be taken to the circuit from the terminal,” he added.

Source: Antara News

The zero-quarantine policy, which is currently under trial in Bali, has bolstered foreign tourist arrivals to the province in the past week, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said.

“According to the evaluation result of the zero-quarantine policy implemented in Bali for the last one week, the number of foreign tourist arrivals has soared significantly,” he said at a press conference on activities restriction enforcement (PPKM), accessed from Jakarta on Monday.

The minister pointed out that the COVID-19 positivity rate among foreign arrivals has been recorded at just one percent.

“We still need to evaluate the policy for one more week before deciding to implement the policy nationwide,” he informed.

Pandjaitan, who also serves as the coordinator for PPKM in Java-Bali regions, said that the reinstatement of the visa-on-arrival policy has also contributed to the increase in foreign tourist arrivals.

Around 449 foreign tourists have applied for a tourist visa through the visa-on-arrival scheme since last March 7, 2022, and the authority has recorded a total of Rp224 million (US$15.6 thousand) in non-tax state revenue, the coordinating minister noted.

On March 7, 2022, the authority commenced a zero-quarantine policy on a trial basis for foreign tourists coming to Bali Island.

While they are now free from the quarantine requirement, foreign tourists need to fulfill several requirements before being allowed entry to Bali: They need to provide several documents such as proof of paid accommodation reservation (for a minimum of four days) or proof of domicile and health insurance.

Foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia need to have obtained a booster vaccine. They need to undergo a PCR test upon arrival. They are required to remain in their hotel room till the test report shows a negative result. They are also required to undergo a repeat PCR test on the third day of their stay.

Besides regulating foreign tourists’ arrival, the government has also instructed the organizers of international events in Bali to observe the health protocols as per G20 standards.

Source: Antara News

Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) General Chairman Mochamad Iriawan said the association has established a medical center in Gelora Bung Karno Arena of Jakarta not only for footballers, but also for other athletes.

“We have also opened the facility for all athletes from other sports. Feel free to use it. Although the facility is owned by PSSI, the financing of the facility is borne by the government,” he informed at the inaugural event for the facility here on Monday.

The pieces of equipment at the medical center use advanced technology and have been imported from Australia, Germany, and South Korea, he noted.

He then thanked the government of Indonesia, especially President Joko Widodo as well as Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali, for the establishment of the first PSSI medical center.

“When the player has a minor injury, the medical center can handle it. Thus, it will not be necessary to rush to the hospital, except, for example, (in case) the player has a torn knee ligament or fractured bone,” the PSSI chairman pointed out.

The facility will remain open from Mondays to Fridays, he said.

On the same occasion, Amali emphasized that the government will fully support PSSI in managing the medical center.

He said he expected the facility to be optimally utilized for the development of national athletes, especially footballers.

“Sports medicine has started to develop. We cannot get optimal achievements without the implementation of sports medicine and sports science. Hence, we will encourage the establishment of sports medical centers in various regions throughout Indonesia,” he added.

The pieces of equipment provided at the PSSI medical center have varied functions, such as measuring muscle strength, observing the body shape, conducting treatments, performing physiotherapy, testing hamstring muscles, training the goalkeeper, as well as measuring thigh muscle strength.

Source: Antara News