The risk of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country is still high, an epidemiologist from the Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Iwan Ariawan, has said.

“The risk of an increase in cases is still high, although not as high as after the previous Christmas and New Year holidays or after Eid al-Fitr,” he observed here on Monday.

According to the epidemiologist, the public must not stop following the health protocols as the threat of a rise in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia is still high.

On Sunday (Nov 21), the country added 314 daily cases and 11 deaths, the COVID-19 Task Force reported.

The most active cases were recorded in Papua, West Java, and Central Java, with each reporting over one thousand cases, Ariawan said.

Thus, the health protocols need to be followed so that there is no increase in COVID-19 cases again, he said. “So, that we can immediately turn this COVID-19 (as an) endemic condition next year,” he remarked.

Community activity restrictions have been imposed in accordance with regional indicators. This means that the restriction levels can be lowered and raised again depending on the development of COVID-19 cases in a district or city, he explained.

“If people don’t want the community activities restriction level to be raised again, then we have to take care to prevent an increase in COVID-19 cases again. The trick is to consistently carry out healthcare, (the use of) PeduliLindungi (application), vaccinate, and test-trace-isolate cases,” he said.

He further said that adherence to the health protocols is the simplest thing everyone can do, which can greatly reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19.

It must be done well or properly and consistently, he stressed.

“So that we can prevent an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases; thus, we can be more safe and comfortable in carrying out economic and social activities,” he added.

Source: Antara News