TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Health Agency Head Widyastuti said the increase in daily COVID-19 cases in the capital was due to the active case-finding (ACF). The agency expanded tests to residential areas, not only at schools.

According to Widyastuti, ACF is expanded in a bid to curb virus transmission and maintain safe conditions. “We are actively conducting PCR screenings in high-risk (RT) locations, such as in neighborhood units categorized as red/orange/yellow zones, in closed populations that are near those RT including schools, orphanages, offices, dormitories, malls, and others,” she said in a written statement on Thursday, October 14.

In addition, the hike in cases was attributable to the increase in the contact tracing ratio. Widyastuti said that as of October 12, the city’s contact tracing ratio was 13.62, meaning that 13-14 people were tested for COVID-19 following one confirmed case.

A large number of tests, she went on, would affect the positivity rate. However, the city’s positivity rate for the past week remained at 0.8 percent, below the standard set by WHO of no more than 5 percent.

“Although there is a slight increase in cases in Jakarta, I need to underline that the death rate remains low. On October 13, there was zero death case. On October 12, there was only one death. Vaccination and early detection play a significant role in reducing mortality rate,” said the agency’s head of disease prevention and control Dwi Oktaviani.

On October 13, the Jakarta Health Agency recorded 278 new positive cases based on the results of PCR tests on 21,231 specimens. Dwi opined the COVID-19 trend in the city is still fluctuating but sees an increase. On October 12, there were 143 new cases.

Read: Jakarta Logs 143 COVID-19 Cases; Active Cases Drop by 207 Today

ADAM PRIREZA