TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the number of new COVID-19 cases was consistently below 1,000 and even hit below 500 after the 2022 Eid al-Fitr holidays. The low number of virus transmission, he claimed, had occurred since the last 25 days.

Additionally, the hospitalization rate also continued to drop by up to 97 percent. The number of occupied hospital beds was also very low at only two percent of the total available beds.

“The death cases caused by the Omicron variant have also slumped by 98 percent and the positivity rate is below 0.7 percent,” Luhut outlined the latest COVID-19 data in Indonesia in today’s online press conference, May 9, 2022.

Based on these data, Luhut believed that the spread of the Omicron variant amid the Eid long holidays was still under control. In general, he mentioned that all provinces in Java-Bali had experienced a decline in cases of up to 99 percent compared to the peak of Omicron cases a few months ago.

“This is thanks to the control measures that were carried out effectively so as to maintain Indonesia’s economic performance until date,” Luhut added.

Despite improving pandemic conditions, Luhut ensured that the enforcement of the public mobility restrictions or PPKM policy in Java-Bali would continue to be extended. The rule was previously extended from April 26 until today, May 9, 2022.

Read: PPKM Remains in Effect So Long as COVID-19 Cases Found: Task Force

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH