High Number of Covid-19 Cases in Jakarta, Anies: Does Not Mean Out of Control

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan admitted that the transmission rate of Covid-19 in Jakarta remains high. However, he claimed that a high rate of transmission does not mean things are out of control.

"So if asked, in Jakarta there is a high rate of positive [Covid-19 cases], yes. Is Jakarta having trouble, meaning that things are out of control, maybe not," Anies said in a virtual discussion on Friday, August 21, 2020.

Anies said that the Jakarta regional government has complete data that can provide assurance of the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital.

Such condition, according to Anies, is thanks to the continuously increasing capacity of the Jakarta government to conduct Covid-19 tests, which provides a description of the capital's current pandemic status.

Anies said that currently, Jakarta is capable of conducting 40,000 Covid-19 tests in one week.

He admitted that the high number of tests will also drive the Covid-19 infection curve higher. However, it will allow the government to directly protect infected citizens and prevent further spread of the virus.

Anies mentioned that one of the steps that has been prepared since the beginning of the pandemic mitigation process is to collect as many data as possible, including studies from experts. Anies asserted that data is very important, especially for the government, to establish a policy.

Anies said that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic must be mitigated by continuous learning because there is no one who understands the disease completely.

"Facing Covid-19 is a learning mode, because nobody can say we are the most knowledgeable, so we continue learning," Anies said.

TAUFIQ SIDDIQ