COVID-19 Positivity Rate Hits 14%, Epidemiologist: This Is Emergency
Translator
Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
Editor
Markus Wisnu Murti
Senin, 7 September 2020 14:01 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, suggested Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan immediately impose the emergency brake policy to stop the Transitional Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB).
Tri considered the city’s COVID-19 positivity rate that had hit 14 percent as a danger signal. This means of every 100 people tested 14 were found positive for the coronavirus disease.
“This is an emergency condition. [The transitional PSBB] must be lifted as soon as possible,” said Tri to Tempo on Monday, September 7.
According to him, the rate is similar to that in April 2020, when the city was at a high risk of virus transmission. Even at that time, the basic reproductive number or R0 was at four. This means one infected person transmits the virus to four other people.
Tri said there was no other way the government could apply other than re-enforce the initial PSBB. Adding the capacity of hospital beds and recruiting more health workers could not contain COVID-19 transmission, he said.
Should the city administration care for its people, it must not hesitate to pull the emergency brake policy. “Do not wait until the situation worsens,” he underlined.
Tri went on to say that Jakarta could apply the sub-district level lockdown as an alternative if it had no courage to impose a provincial quarantine.
Read: Anies Baswedan Says Jakarta COVID-19 Positivity Rate Is Alarming
IMAM HAMDI
