Jakarta, IO – The upward trend of Covid-19 cases ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday prompts the Health Ministry (Kemenkes) to issue advisory to the regional administrations and health facilities to be alert.
“Kemenkes views that there is need to prevent transmission carried out simultaneously by all elements of society,” said the ministry’s spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi, per Kemkes.go.id, Fri (15/12).
Nadia explained that the Covid cases in Indonesia spiked in the October 8-14 period, leading to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
The cases are dominated by the Omicron EG.5 subvariant which is more transmissible but not necessarily more dangerous. In response, Kemenkes has issued a circular advising preventive measures and vigilance.
The circular is addressed to heads of provincial and health services in regencies/municipalities, heads of Port Health Offices (KKP), heads of Public Health Laboratories, hospital directors, heads of Community Health Centers and first level health facilities (FKTP) and relevant stakeholders across Indonesia.
They are asked to keep monitoring the developments of the situation and update information through Kemenkes’ official channels of communication and that frontline health workers are better equipped. (un)