Resurgence of COVID-19 Cases in ‘Mudik’ Destinations

More effective epidemiological investigations are needed to prevent the resurgence of COVID -19 cases in a number of mudik destinations. In the past week, the bed occupancy rate of hospitals has increased by 14.2 percent

KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI

Family Cluster in Lowokdoro, Malang City - Six residents in RT 006 / RW004 Gang 4 Lowokdoro, Kebonsari Village, Malang City, East Java were confirmed as Covid-19. Monday (24/05/2021), as many as 7 people underwent a swab. After Idul Fitri, the Covid-19 cases in Malang have increased again.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The prediction of a spike in COVID-19 cases after Idul Fitri has come true. A number of regions that were the destinations of the mudik (exodus) have shown a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases.

An increase in suspected COVID-19 cases in the mudik destinations occurred along the northern coast of Java Island, such as the regencies of Kudus, Tegal, Demak, Kendal, Karanganyar, Wonogiri, Purbalingga, Pati, Grobogan and Jepara, as well as Semarang City in Central Java.

In addition, new cases in Cirebon regency and Bogor City in West Java, Malang City in East Java, and Yogyakarta are also on the increase.

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In Kudus regency, the number of new cases reached 400 in the last four days. A number of healthcare workers have also tested positive for COVID-19. Hospitals in Kudus temporarily refused COVID-19 patients referred from surrounding areas because their bed occupancy rate had exceeded 90 percent.

Along with the increase in new COVID-19 cases in Kudus, travel to a number of districts in the regency was restricted in order to break the chain of the virus transmission. A joint team of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian police, transportation services and health personnel was assigned to carry out COVID-19 examinations in the Jati bus terminal in Kudus. Rapid antigen tests were carried out on the drivers and passengers of tour buses, minibuses and private cars from out of the town.

This is a warning for all of us. I urge all in Central Java to be alert. Please limit gatherings.

In Tegal regency , the average daily cases jumped to 80 to 100 cases after Idul Fitri. Previously, the average daily cases in the region was only 20. The spokesperson for the Tegal regency COVID-19 task force, Sarmanah Adi Muraeny, said on Friday (28/5/2021) that the increase in new cases was due to the high mobility of residents and the large number of gatherings during Idul Fitri.

Referring to this condition, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo asked regional heads in the province to limit people’s mobility.

"This is a warning for all of us. I urge all in Central Java to be alert. Please limit gatherings,“ he said.

KOMPAS/KRISTI DWI UTAMI

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (left) observes the implementation of antigen tests for travelers at the Tegal City Terminal homecoming isolation post, Sunday (9/5/2021). It is estimated that as many as 1 million travelers return to Central Java during the Idul Fitri holiday. After Idul Fitri, Covid-19 cases in Central Java increased.

From travelers

Daily cases more than doubled in Cirebon regency. In the last two days, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cirebon had reached 147, a significant increase from 20.

"We are still investigating the sources of the new cases. However, some did come from out-of-town travelers, such as Bekasi and Bandung,” said the head of the Cirebon Health Agency, Eni Suhaeni.

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Meanwhile, 85 residents in the Griya Melati housing complex, Bubulak, Bogor, were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 449 residents had undergone a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test in the cluster-tracking.

"We conducted PCR swab tests on everyone who resides in Griya Melati to break the chain of the transmission," said Bogor Mayor Bima Arya.

An increase in new COVID-19 cases also occurred in the capital city and its surrounding areas. The number of new patients at the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran COVID-19 emergency hospital totaled 138 people on Friday. The total number of patients currently being treated in the emergency hospital has reached 1,774 people.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

A crowd in a shopping area on Jalan Dalem Kaum, Bandung City, West Java, Saturday (8/5/2021). The crowd made the rules for maintaining distance ignored, which has the potential to increase the potential for Covid-19 transmission.

Investigation

Gadjah Mada University epidemiologist, Riris Andono Ahmad, said the restriction of the people’s activities during Ramadan and Idul Fitri was relatively more relaxed than last year despite the fact that the COVID-19 transmission this year was higher.

"So, naturally, the number of new cases is higher,” he said.

Separately, the spokesperson for the COVID-19 task force, Wiku Adisasmito, appealed to regional governments to optimally carry out epidemiological investigations following reports of the resurgence of new cases in residential areas as the result of homecoming trips and religious activities, such as congregational tarawih (evening Ramadan prayer) and halalbilhalal (post-Idul Fitri gathering).

"An investigation is needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and determine the measures that should be carried out based on the results of contact-tracing," he said.

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Nationally, the bed occupancy of hospitals increased by 14.2 percent over the past week. The increase was contributed by the rise in the bed occupancy rate in five regions, namely Jakarta (up 23.7 percent), West Java (20.3 percent), Central Java (23.13 percent), Banten (21.2 percent) and Yogyakarta (18.18 percent).

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy urged communities and local governments to also be aware of the spread of new COVID-19 variants. The control over the flow of passengers and vehicles returning home from Sumatra to Java after idul Fitri holidays was also tightened.

Meanwhile, a AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine batch with the production code CTMAV 547 can be used again after the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) declared there was no link between the quality of the vaccine and the reported severe effects after vaccination. However, the government has also been asked to reconsider the use of this vaccine for the elderly. (DIT/NDU/XTI/IKI/DKA/HRS/DIA/GIO/DAN/AIK/TAN)

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.