COVID-19 Outbreak Investigation of A Tablighi Jamaat Cluster in Gunungkidul District, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia in The Early COVID-19 Pandemic, May 2020
Rosita Dwi Jayanti1,2*, Riris Andono Ahmad2

1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Indonesia
2Field Epidemiology Training Program, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: Rosita Dwi Jayanti (rositadwijayanti[at]gmail.com)

Abstract

Background: On May 1st, 2020, the Tablighi Jamaat (JT) cluster in Gunungkidul District was declared to be one of the major Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) clusters in Yogyakarta Province.
Purpose: This study aimed to describe the cluster and identify the risk factors.
Methods: This study used secondary data from the outbreak investigation report and close contact tracing form in the Gunungkidul District Health Office. A 1:4 case-control study was conducted. Cases were people involved in a JT gathering in Jakarta and close contacts with positive results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or reactive results of antibody rapid test. Controls were those who tested negative RT-PCR or non-reactive antibody rapid test. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was used to identify risk factors.
Results: The index case was a resident of Gunungkidul District who had a history of attending a JT gathering in Jakarta, which resulted in local transmission. A total of 54 cases from 275 who were tested (41 reactive antibody rapid test, 13 positive RT-PCR), one mortality case, identified between April 4th and May 20th, 2020. 50% of cases were 40-59 years old, 53.70% were male, and 87.04% were asymptomatic. The multivariate analysis result showed that chance to find multiple contacts in case group was 5.05 times greater than control group (OR:5,05- 95% CI:1.48-17.15), and chance to find contact of religious activity in case group was 2.19 times greater than control group (OR:2.19- 95% CI:1.08-4.47).
Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak became a JT cluster because an index case who attended a JT gathering in Jakarta triggered a local transmission. The risk factors were multiple contacts and contact of religious activity. It is necessary to involve religious leaders in contact tracing, initiate health-promoting mosques, and maximize village-level COVID-19 task force to control residents^ mobility when a COVID-19 outbreak occurs.

Keywords: COVID-19, Outbreak, Investigation, Cluster, Tablighi Jamaat

Topic: Communicable and non communicable disease