TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The COVID-19 Handling Task Force reported a surge in cases of coronavirus disease by 5.23 percent after the Eid al-Fitr holidays. The report was submitted to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in a closed meeting today, May 24, 2021.

“The number of active cases as of May 23 increased by 5.23 percent compared to last week’s number,” said COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee Chairman Airlangga Hartarto.

The country’s daily case, he outlined, saw a slight upward trend to around 5,000 cases per day after previously dropping to 3,800-4,000. Airlangga said the surge in the national active cases must also be watched out albeit the trend declined by 47 percent as of February 5.

“What needs to be monitored is the trend in the next four to five weeks because, for example, the highest hike in cases after Christmas and New Year holidays occured on February 5. So we have to monitor [cases] in the next four to five weeks,” said Airlangga.

Based on the data, 56.4 percent of active cases were on Java Island, and 21.3 percent on Sumatra Island. Meanwhile, regions that contributed to 65 percent of active cases were West Java, Jakarta, Papua, Central Java, and Riau.

“Thirty one point four percent of the active cases are in West Java. This must be heeded,” said Airlangga.

The Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs also mentioned ten provinces that recorded a surge in COVID-19 cases, viz. Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau Island, Jakarta, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), North Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Maluku, and North Maluku.

Read: COVID-19 Task Force Sees Rise in Hospital Bed Occupancy

EGI ADYATAMA