TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Pandu Riono, responded to the surge in new Covid-19 cases in Jakarta which reached over one thousand infections per day despite the reimposition of the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB).

Pandu argued that the effect of PSBB Volume 2 on the number of cases requires time. As observed on the previous PSBB, the effects could only be seen after a one-month implementation, Pandu said.

“It (the effects) cannot be attained automatically. Perhaps, two weeks or a month,” said Pandu to Tempo on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

He explained that the rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the capital resulted from the previous virus transmission before the social restriction was re-enforced. There is a time period when people are infected with the virus to be confirmed positive.

Jakarta sees a rising number of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 every day. The additional daily cases hit more than one thousand. There are 66,505 cases in the capital as of September 23, 2020.

Pandu opined that there should not be any relaxation of PSBB in Jakarta since the onset of the outbreak in March. He believed that Governor Anies Baswedan would prolong the social restrictions. “It (PSBB) must be stricter further,” said the epidemiologist.

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LANI DIANA WIJAYA