Covid-19 Working Group: There is no other way for DKI other than to pull the emergency brakes Page all

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Covid-19 Task Force Health Management Chairman Akmal Taher supports DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s efforts to re-enforce Large Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) early next week.

He considered that there was no other way to do it than by pulling the emergency brake.

This is because the transmission rate of positive Covid-19 cases continues to increase. Meanwhile, hospital capacity and the number of health workers are also limited.

“In my opinion, if you look at the numbers, the availability of a bed, etc., I think there is no other way to brake first,” Akmal said in a virtual discussion on Saturday (12/9/2020).

Also read: UPDATE September 12: More than 2.6 million specimens were examined with regard to Covid-19

Today, there are still 1,205 new cases in DKI Jakarta. The addition brought the total of Covid-19 cases in the capital to 51,635 cases.

The Covid-19 case in Jakarta tends to increase after the PSBB transition and a number of easing measures have been implemented.

On the other hand, Akmal said that almost all the Covid-19 referral hospitals in Jakarta were 60-80 percent full.

“So 80 percent is too much, 60-70 percent should have taken action,” Akmal said.

Akmal said that the recreation of the PSBB could be an opportunity to curb the spread of Covid-19. He hopes that this time the PSBB can really be carried out thoroughly.

This means that the regional government is not in a rush to relax until the Covid-19 case is completely under control. The relaxation of activities must also be carefully designed so that the case does not escalate again.

“What kind of preparation to open again, I think is more important,” he said.

It was reported that DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan decided to pull the emergency brake and re-implement large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

Also read: Positive cases continue to rise, Lampung Health Office admits they cannot control the Covid-19 pandemic

Anies said this decision was made considering a number of factors, namely the availability of hospital beds that were almost full and the high mortality rate.

Therefore, the implementation of the transitional PSBB in Jakarta was revoked and the PSBB was re-implemented on September 14.

“There are not many options for Jakarta except to pull the emergency brake as soon as possible,” Anies said at a press conference broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Jakarta DKI Provincial Government on Wednesday (9/9/2020).