TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Covid-19 mitigation task force spokesperson, Wiku Adisasmito, announced that Indonesia saw a downward trend in the number of weekly new cases. He said that this is a good thing as the additional positive cases should decrease every week.

“There is a drop in positive cases by 4.5 percent at the national level this week. This is progress towards a better situation as the cases decrease,” said Wiku in an online press conference, Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

However, he added that this week’s case fatality rate increased, and was even higher than the previous week. “There is a hike of 18 percent of weekly new deaths,” he said.

Five provinces that logged the highest surge in the mortality rate included West Java up to 89 percent, West Sumatra 22 percent, Central Java 16 percent, Riau Islands 10 percent, and West Nusa Tenggara 7 percent, Wiku outlined.

Provinces that recorded the highest death rate, meanwhile, were East Java at 7.24 percent, West Nusa Tenggara 5.64 percent, South Sumatra 5.47 percent, Central Java 5.44 percent, and Bengkulu 5.02 percent.

Wiku further appealed to the regions to be more serious and optimize in treating patients diagnosed with the coronavirus disease, especially those developing moderate and severe symptoms, as well as patients with comorbidities.

“Improve the quality of hospital services. Open up new emergency hospitals if necessary. Coordinate with the central government through the Health Ministry and the Task Force when need assistance in handling Covid-19,” Wiku underlined.

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EGI ADYATAMA