TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government is determined to put forth contact tracing in order to control and slow the spread of the COVID-19 or coronavirus in Indonesia.

The tracing of people who had been in direct contact with confirmed coronavirus cases will be done by regional administrations once the central government confirms positive cases of the virus infection.

“Contact tracing will be our main priority each time we detect positive cases of COVID-19. Through this, we will be able to catch those who are suspected to be infected by the virus and immediately isolate them to prevent a further spread,” said Indonesia’s spokesman for the coronavirus mitigation, Achmad Yurianto, at the president’s office on Tuesday, March 10.

He revealed that the finding of 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases recently announced by the government is mostly due to contact tracing while other cases are deemed imported cases, which implies to cases brought into the country following overseas visit.

The second layer of contact tracing, or sub-clusters, would be commenced once positive cases are found. “It would not be considered clusters if contacts are made with family members. But contacts that were made through mass gatherings will be pursued as clusters,” said Achmad Yurianto.

He asserts that the contact tracing procedure and follow-up isolations are handed entirely to regional health agencies. As of now, Indonesia has identified three coronavirus clusters which consist of the Jakarta cluster; Diamond Princess cruise ship evacuees; and imported cases.

Out of the total 27 COVID-19 or coronavirus cases in Indonesia, 8 cases come from the Jakarta cluster, 12 imported cases, and 1 case comes from the Diamond Princess cluster. Meanwhile, the other 3 cases come from the Jakarta sub-cluster and 2 other cases were infected by family members (not considered a cluster) while 1 remaining case is being determined.

DEWI NURITA