BOR Remains Under Control as COVID-19 Spikes in Regions Outside Java-Bali: Coordinating Minister

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung attends a limited meeting on public activity restrictions evaluation, Monday (02/21). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretary/Agung)

The number of confirmed daily and active COVID-19 cases outside the islands of Java and Bali has continued to rise although it is lower than that of in the two islands, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has said.

“There has been an increase in the number of cases outside Java-Bali. The current proportion makes up 23 percent of the national active cases or 124,714 out of 536,358 [cases]. The Government continues to monitor and make preparations because the peak is expected to be in 2 to 3 weeks, which needs to be anticipated,” he said in his press statement after attending a limited meeting on public activity restrictions (PPKM) evaluation online, Monday (02/21).

According to Airlangga who also helms PPKM outside Java-Bali, three provinces have the highest number of active cases, above 10,000 cases, namely North Sumatra with a bed occupancy rate (BOR) of 31 percent and a bed conversion rate for COVID-19 treatment of 19 percent; South Sulawesi with a BOR of 30 percent and a conversion rate of 16 percent, and East Kalimantan with a BOR of 29 percent and a conversion rate of 23 percent.

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“Despite the spike in cases, the overall hospital occupancy [rate] remains under control. In a national scale, [the BOR] is 38 percent, but outside Java-Bali, it is less than 30 percent,” he said, adding that provinces outside Java-Bali with a BOR that exceeds 30 percent include South Sumatra, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Bengkulu, Lampung, South Kalimantan, and North Sumatra.

Airlangga also pointed out that the BOR of centralized isolation facilities outside Java-Bali is 5.89 percent.

“The number of available centralized isolation facilities can be increased. Currently, there are 29,723 beds and it can be increased to 48,799,” he said.

Regarding vaccination, Airlangga stated that there are three provinces outside Java-Bali with first vaccination coverage still below 70 percent, namely Maluku, West Papua, and Papua.

As for the second vaccination, Airlangga further said that nine provinces, including South Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, North Maluku, Aceh, West Papua, Maluku, and Papua, have not yet inoculated 50 percent of its population.

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Meanwhile, the coverage of booster vaccination outside Java-Bali is still below 10 percent, he added.

“In terms of senior citizens [who have been vaccinated with the first dose], there are seven provinces with coverage under 60 percent. As for the second dose, there are 25 provinces under 60 percent. The President ordered that the second vaccination and [vaccination for] senior citizens are sped up and they are important indicators to be focused on,” he said.

In addition to vaccination for senior citizens, Airlangga stated that President Jokowi also pushes for vaccination for persons with comorbidities, the availability of health care service and medicines for COVID-19 patients, and improved discipline in observing health protocols.

“The President also ordered that telemedicine is operated, medicine availability is prepared, both by regional governments and pharmacies, discipline in observing health protocols is improved, and vaccination in all regions is accelerated,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/MUR)

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