East Java has lost 106 nurses to COVID-19: Governor

Malang, E Java (ANTARA) - There are 106 nurses among the 9,495 people who have succumbed to the coronavirus since the pandemic struck the province last year, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said.

"We extend our deepest condolences over the deaths of our 106 nurses who got infected while serving COVID-19 patients," she said here on Tuesday.

The nurses who died on the frontline of the coronavirus fight were extremely dedicated, she told journalists after attending an event to mark the anniversary of the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI).

"This has been a struggle with an extraordinary sacrifice. Our nurses in East Java have shown their high dedication," the governor said.

To bring down the COVID-19 infection rate in East Java, the provincial government has enforced micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro), she informed.

The enforcement of this prevention policy has significantly reduced East Java's infection rate and the province no longer has red zones (areas with high infection risk), she said.

Owing to its effectiveness, the East Java provincial administration has extended the imposition of the PPKM Mikro policy until March 22, 2021, she added.

The central and regional governments have been striving to reduce Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate.

To this end, the Health Ministry is working with the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) to carry out vaccinations and contact tracing at the grassroots level.

In addition to working with the TNI and police, collaborating with communities is also being considered key to bringing down the COVID-19 infection rate.

To curb infections, the central government has enforced restrictions on public activity in the islands of Java and Bali since January 11, 2021.

It is also conducting a nationwide vaccination program that commenced on January 13, 2021.

The Health Ministry revealed earlier that it would take 15 months to inoculate around 181.5 million people under the national vaccination program.

Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate crossed one million cases on January 26, 2021.

To attain herd immunity and free the nation from the clutches of the pandemic, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has stressed on the need for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the targeted population.