TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - University of Indonesia (UI) epidemiologist Syahrizal Syarif said the Jakarta administration should accelerate its preventive and mitigative efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic in the capital’s community units (RW) that were classified as red zones during the transitional large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

The Jakarta administration recorded 66 community units had been labeled as red zones of the COVID-19 transmission. “Besides the implementation of the transitional PSBB, the enforcement of the local-scale social restrictions (PSBL) was also key in red zone community units,” he said in a text message on Friday, June 5, 2020.

The Jakarta administration kicked off today the first phase of its transition period, which will last for a month and is subject to extension or termination depending on the COVID-19 transmission developments.

Syahrizal explained that according to his records the COVID-19 transmission rate in the capital remained high and was in fact on the rise in the end of May. “Based on the average number of cases per week, the average figure this week rose compared to that of last week,” he said.

Syahrizal revealed his data that on May 11 the transmission rate was below 100 before jumping over 100 on May 18, 2020. In the last week of May, he continued, the number of new cases in Jakarta was below 100 before exceeding 100 again on May 31.

“Let us see on June 7 whether the figure drops or rises,” he said.

He added the government must act swiftly in tackling the COVID-19 transmission so as to keep green zone community units from turning into red zones. According to Syahrizal, Governor Anies Baswedan can adopt the policy in Banjar Serokadan, Abuan village, Susut district, Bangli regency, Bali.

He explained the officials in Banjar had quarantined some 2,600 residents for 14 days, built public kitchens for them and conducted rapid tests on all residents.

“They also keep a check on the residents’ daily status. It is probably good for Jakarta to emulate this [policy] in Banjar.”

IMAM HAMDI