Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – Volunteers for crowdsourced database KawalCOVID-19 (Guard against COVID-19) have introduced an "alertness index" that shows specific data on COVID-19 cases in every city and regency in the country, amid the absence of comprehensive data from the government.
The index was presented in the form of a map marked with light to dark red. Regions with a high risk for COVID-19 transmission were colored dark red and vice versa.
In addition to identifying the risk index of cities and regencies, the map also features the number of confirmed cases, patients under surveillance (PDP) and people under monitoring (ODP), among other information, for each of the regions. It is set to be updated daily.
The national COVID-19 task force itself does not share the specific data on its distribution map, which can be accessed through covid19.go.id, as it only shows the number of positive cases in each province.
"At the end of the day, the public needs transparent data about their risks. With reliable and open data, they can cautiously decide whether to carry out an activity in the public sphere," said KawalCOVID-19 data team coordinator Ronald Bessie during an online discussion on Tuesday.
Gadjah Mada University epidemiologist Bayu Satria Wiratama, who also took part in the discussion, said the index by KawalCOVID-19 could also be used as "a control parameter" by regional administrations to better handle coronavirus transmissions in their respective jurisdictions.