Fluctuating Cases in Office Cluster, City Urges the Importance of Health Protocol Even After Vaccination

Positive COVID-19 cases in office cluster has increased significantly some time ago. Currently, positive cases is fairly fluctuating, tending to decline on April 19-25 period, where 68 cases were found in 27 workplaces. But it still has a potential to increase again. Therefore, Jakarta Government emphasized the importance of disciplining health protocol although many employees who are categorized as public workers have received COVID-19 vaccination.

Therefore, it is important to adhere to health protocol

Jakarta Health Agency Head, Widyastuti explained, currently her side is still investigating factor that triggers increase in office cluster through epidemiological data, where several cases were found related to family cluster. Increase in COVID-19 cases on April 12-18 was also due to accumulation of positive case data from the previous week from one hospitals in Jakarta. Besides, increase in COVID-19 cases always occurs after long weekend, which must be anticipated for spike in cases around 14 days after long weekend.

"Some confirmed cases are from offices that have received COVID-19 vaccination. We need to emphasize that although we have been vaccinated, it doesn't mean we are 100 percent free from COVID-19 and can do things freely. Health protocol implementation should be tightened consistently by offices," she conveyed, as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release.

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For people who have been vaccinated but then confirmed positive for COVID-19, she mentioned, 21 percent of them had no symptoms, 73 percent had mild symptoms, and 6 percent were hospitalized, but then recovered. She also emphasized the importance of gradual vaccination according to schedule given by Government because it can prevent illness and death.

"Vaccination is a very good preventive measure, especially in preventing severity and death. However, transmission can still occur although they have been fully vaccinated. Therefore, it is important to adhere to health protocol. Let us protect ourselves and people around us by implementing 5M," she asserted.

Jakarta Government continues to urge office capacity to be filled only 50 percent and continue implementing work from home (WFH) and work from office (WFO) system. If there is workplace that exceeds the capacity, please report immediately to Jakarta Government via JakLapor feature on JAKI application and officers will follow it up.

For information, there were 425 COVID-19 confirmed cases from 177 workplaces in Jakarta within April 12-18 period. Whereas in previous week, on April 5-11, there were 157 confirmed cases from 78 workplaces in Jakarta. Increase in COVID-19 cases in office cluster is a proof that pandemic is not ended yet.

Although some people have been vaccinated, it doesn't mean they will be 100 percent protected from COVID-19. Vaccination only reduces the possibility of severe symptoms and complications due to COVID-19 and they can still transmit it to others. So, let's remain vigilant and disciplined in carrying out 5M in order to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission.