TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The latest data from the Jakarta COVID-19 taks force revealed the number of asymptomatic carriers (OTG) testing positive for the COVID-19 jumped by 2,441 people in a day in the capital.

Hence, there are 9,646 asymptomatic carriers (OTG) as of today, May 18, from the previous 7,205 on Sunday, May 17.

“We find a total of 9,646 OTG,” said task force head Ani Ruspitawati in an online press conference at the City Hall today.

According to the task force's data, the number of OTG has continued to climb in the past few days. On Saturday, May 16, the figure reached 4,874 people, and on Friday at 4,777 people.

According to Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) chairman Daeng Muhammad Faqih, about 80 percent of people tested positive for COVID-19 did not feel symptoms of the virus, or considered as people without symptoms (OTG).

“OTG is a person who has been exposed to a positive person but shows no symptoms. Previously, this criterion was included in ODP (people under monitoring). Now it is separated, OTG, which really has no symptoms, and ODP has symptoms but is very mild, they can still isolate themselves at home," said Daeng in a special interview in the April 18 edition of Tempo Magazine.

Daeng also reminded of the significance of figuring out how to deal with OTG as it could spread the coronavirus further if the issue was left unaddressed.

TAUFIQ SIDDIQ