National Active Covid-19 Cases Surpass 36,000; These are the Provinces with the Highest Spread

Indonesia's COVID-19 Task Force reported 36,781 active COVID-19 cases as of July 21, 2022, a 2,480-case increase from the previous day. Compared to a month prior, active cases have risen by 264%.

By province, DKI Jakarta had the highest number of active cases on July 21, 2022, with 18,616 cases, representing 50.61% of the national total.

West Java ranked second with 8,812 active cases (23.95% of the national total).

Banten and Bali reported 3,790 and 1,310 active cases, respectively, while Central Java had 828 cases.

Cumulatively, approximately 6.15 million people in Indonesia have been infected with COVID-19 as of July 21, 2022. 2.54% of these cases resulted in death, and 96.85% have recovered.

The government has confirmed two cases of the Omicron BA.2.75 (Centaurus) subvariant in DKI Jakarta and one in Bali.

However, Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono urged the public not to be overly concerned, stating that symptoms in individuals infected with the Omicron BA.2.75 Centaurus subvariant are generally mild.

"So don't worry about BA.2.75, because its characteristics are almost the same as BA.4, BA.5, BA.1, and BA.2," said Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono, as quoted by Kompas.com on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

The emergence of new COVID-19 variants in Indonesia warrants caution regarding the potential for widespread transmission. Therefore, adhering to the 3M health protocols—wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands—remains crucial.