Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Bambang Soesatyo, has urged the government to remain vigilant despite the declining trend observed in national COVID-19 cases.

“The government must remain vigilant and continue to provide utmost service to residents who are infected with COVID-19 and its variants,” Soesatyo said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

The government must be persistent in reminding residents about the importance of health protocols despite the declining COVID-19 caseload and hospitalization rate, the Speaker added.

Residents must also remain vigilant by observing the health protocols in public areas, he said.

“Residents are expected to maintain discipline in adhering to the health protocols as a prevention measure, considering that the Omicron variant has a higher infection rate,” Soesatyo explained.

He urged the authorities to ensure that the decline in COVID-19 cases remains consistent for at least two weeks in all provinces, as the positivity rate would be assessed to conceive and decide necessary pandemic handling measures.

The central and regional authorities must also address the increasing rate of COVID-19 mortality amid the Omicron wave, particularly as the national mortality rate has shown no sign of falling in recent weeks, he said.

“The government must provide appropriate treatment to COVID-19 patients and expedite vaccinations, particularly for vulnerable groups,” Soesatyo advised.

He also asked regional authorities, particularly in regions where COVID-19 cases are increasing, to continue efforts to suppress positive cases.

“Particularly in several provinces that recorded an increase on COVID-19 cases, such as Yogyakarta, West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Sumatra,” he said.

Source:  Antara News