Expert: Jakarta Must Prevent Possible Second Wave of COVID-19
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6 May 2020 13:13 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Epidemiology expert from the University of Indonesia (UI) Dr. Pandu Riono on Tuesday appealed for the government to stop the flow of people entering Jakarta to prevent a second wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) after the city reported a constant gradual drop in new cases.
“That would be helpful to prevent a second wave of transmission, that is if it’s true that the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline,” said the UI biostatistics and population department senior staff.
He was also vocally skeptical about the claim issued by the COVID-19 task force head, Doni Monardo, who issued the drop in numbers. At the time, Doni attributed the drop in new cases to the implementation of the PSBB social restriction.
“It is still too early to say [the curve has flattened],” said Pandu.
Pandu called for the government to anticipate the worst-case scenario, especially as Indonesia is heading toward the homecoming season which often takes place at the end of the Islamic Ramadan month.
Despite the government banning people from traveling to their hometowns in a 'homecoming ban,’ many reports suggest a large number of people have already traveled home before the ban was imposed. This is why he fears the travel back to the capital city by these people can potentially spark another spread of the COVID-19.
M ROSSENO AJI