Covid-19 Positivity Rate Reaching Critical Level, says Expert
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21 December 2020 14:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australia’s Griffith University epidemiologist, Dicky Budiman, on Monday said to Tempo that the rising daily confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths shows that the handling of the pandemic has gotten out of hand.
“Our pandemic has gone uncontrollable and this has taken place for a long time, not just 1-2 months,” said Dicky on December 21.
Dicky also highlighted the positivity rate, or positive Covid-19 cases compared to the tests conducted - which is currently above 10 percent. He also argues that the actual mortality rate could possibly be three times larger than what the government reports.
The epidemiologist believes this is a serious signal that the government has not succeeded in suppressing the Covid-19 chain of infections. “This means that it is too late. Our efforts are far behind from the 4 weeks that the virus has spread,” he said.
Dicky said there is no other option but to strengthen the 3T or testing, tracing, and treatment to help bring down the positivity rate below 10 percent, which he believes is not an easy task and would arguably need 2-3 months of consistent testing, tracing, quarantine, and isolations.
Also Read: Indonesia Adds 6,982 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, Tally Reaches 664,930
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