Omicron Wave; Luhut Asks for Local Govts' Transparency on Covid Data

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Luhut reminds all regional leaders, security forces and authorities to be transparent in providing data on Covid-19 cases.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, held a Java-Bali PPKM Evaluation Coordination Meeting to anticipate the Omicron wave, Thursday, January 20. The meeting involved the governors in Java and Bali provinces as well as the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum.

"To this day, the death rate is at a safe level even though cases are increasing," Luhut said on Friday, January 21.

However, learning from other nations' experiences with Omicron, there is a possibility of higher rates in hospitalization and deaths when cases surge. Efforts to flatten the curve, he said, must continue to reduce the burden on the health system.

Mentioning the case spikes in Greater Jakarta, Luhut asked the provincial governments of Jakarta, Banten, and West Java to fast-track booster rollouts.

Luhut also reminded all regional leaders, security forces and authorities to be transparent in terms of data on the Covid-19 case. "Don't hide anything so that we can immediately determine the correct, measured solutions," he said.

In the meeting, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that Jakarta currently has the highest number of cases. That, he said, would soon spread to surrounding areas.

"We must increase testing and tracing again in order to have knowledge of outbreaks happening nearby, and continue to push vaccination," he said.

Read: Luhut Urges Booster Acceleration in Greater Jakarta

DEWI NURITA