TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reported to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo about the hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR) for COVID-19 patients in several regions during a limited meeting this afternoon. It was recorded that the BOR in 87 regencies/cities hit 70 percent.

The figure has passed the safe recommended rate by WHO. Budi said the government was determined to suppress the high rate by focusing on overcoming issues on the upstream level.

“We focus on the upstream, on how to prevent healthy people from getting sick,” said Budi in an online press conference on Monday, June 21.

In this case, he added that the President had given two directives. First, ensure the public discipline in complying with the health protocols in the community in line with the public activity restriction or known as Micro PPKM. Second, accelerate COVID-19 vaccination by administering up to one million doses per day.

In the Micro PPKM, Budi explained that it was vital to suppress mobility by limiting public activities to 75-100 percent in red zones. The government also sought to increase testing and tracing.

“Because there are many family clusters, all residents in one RT (neighborhood unit) must be tested to see who is infected and not. If there are more than five houses, we must hold specific isolation in the RT area with the help of the military (TNI) and the National Police,” said the minister.

Budi Gunadi went on to explain that if the COVID-19 transmission occured in a densely populated area, the government would enforce centralized isolation.

Read: Health Minister Asserts President's Orders: Public Health Over Economy

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