The Indonesian Ministry of Health has issued a circular to enhance national vigilance following a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across parts of Southeast Asia.
Circular Letter Number SR.03.01/C/1422/2025, titled Vigilance Against Increased COVID-19 Cases, outlines the current situation and provides a set of directives to health authorities and related stakeholders.
Entering the 12th week of 2025, an increase in COVID-19 cases has been observed in countries such as Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Despite the uptick, the Ministry of Health noted that transmission and mortality rates remain relatively low.
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Indonesia itself has recorded a decline in cases, from 28 in week 19 to just three in week 20, with a positivity rate of 0.59 per cent. The dominant variant in circulation is MB.1.1.
“This circular aims to increase awareness of Covid-19 and other potential diseases of extraordinary events or outbreaks,” reads the circular, signed by Murti Utami, Acting Director General of Disease Management, on 23 May 2025, and quoted by Kompas.com on 31 May.
The directive is addressed to provincial and district health offices, health quarantine units, laboratories, and healthcare facilities. It urges them to increase monitoring, improve reporting, and strengthen infection prevention protocols.
WHO Warns of Rising Cases in Southeast Asia
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the rise in Covid-19 cases globally, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Between 14 April and 11 May 2025, WHO recorded 91,583 new cases worldwide, an increase of over 55,000 compared to the previous period.
Thailand has reported the highest number in the region, with 69,200 cases during the April-May timeframe. In response, Thai authorities have ramped up digital health services, provided free telemedicine consultations, and distributed sanitisers and medicines via government apps such as Mordee and SaluberMD.
Singapore also recorded a notable increase, reporting approximately 14,200 cases in early May, up by more than 11,000 from the previous week.
Hospitalisation rates have risen, though the situation remains under control. Singapore’s Ministry of Health has advised senior citizens, high-risk groups, and nursing home residents to obtain additional vaccine doses, according to Business Standard.
In Malaysia, active Covid-19 cases reached 8,609 in May. Health experts have expressed concern over a potential spike during the school holidays from 29 May to 9 June.
Virologist Kumitaa Theva Das noted, “There will usually be an increase in cases during large gatherings so the potential for the virus to spread is very high.”
Indonesia, according to WHO data, reported 35 new cases in the same period. The Ministry of Health’s circular outlines that variants such as XEC and JN.1 have been identified in Thailand, LF.7 and NB.1.8 in Singapore, and JN.1 in Malaysia.
Health Ministry Directives to Strengthen Surveillance
The Ministry of Health has provided detailed instructions to healthcare facilities and government units in order to strengthen preparedness. These include:
- Monitoring developments in global COVID-19 data via official government and WHO sources.
- Enhancing ILI/SARI/Pneumonia/COVID-19 reporting through the SKDR system (https://skdr.surveilans.org) and ILI-SARI sentinel surveillance.
- Reporting any potential outbreaks within 24 hours via the Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) feature on SKDR or by contacting the PHEOC at 0877-7759-1097.
- Submitting COVID-19 specimen results through the All Record Tc-19 system (https://allrecord-tc19.kemkes.go.id).
- Reinforcing standard infection prevention and control measures in all healthcare facilities.
- Strengthening referral service capacity within emerging infectious disease networks.
- Increasing public awareness and health promotion on Covid-19.
- Ensuring the timely detection and response to all reported cases.
- Maintaining the health and well-being of all medical personnel and frontline workers.
Cover: Photo by Anna Shvets/Pexels
