Epidemiologist: Jakarta Unready to Transition Into 'New Normal'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - University of Indonesia (UI) Head of Epidemiology, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono strongly suggests that the Jakarta administration should only loosen its COVID-19 social restriction protocol once the data proves that the spread of the virus is in a stable decline. 

“Loosening the restriction can be done once daily average cases have dropped to 10-20 cases for one whole week,” said Tri to Tempo on Wednesday. 

The epidemiologist argues that the government cannot loosen its PSBB restrictions and prepare for a ‘new normal’ transition amidst the current average COVID-19 cases that is fluctuating within the hundreds. 

“It can’t be deemed controllable if the increase in daily cases reaches 60 cases,” he said. Tri maintains a government can claim that they are in control of a pandemic when data shows a consistent drop for a minimum of seven consecutive days. 

He suggested that the government must isolate COVID-19 cases if they wish to continue with transitioning to the new normal or conduct partial restrictions in ‘red zone’ areas in Jakarta. 

Wahyono asserts that the government must be able to take responsibility if the number of infections increases due to relaxing the social restrictions and impose more restrictions if the numbers increase two folds compared to what it originally recorded. 

As of Tuesday, June 3, the number of COVID-19 cases in Jakarta has increased by 76 cases. Based on the official records, there are a total of 7,459 positive cases, 2,405 recoveries, and 525 deaths. Just one day prior, there was an increase of 121 cases.

IMAM HAMDI