Luhut Pandjaitan Talks About Boosting PCR Tests, Epidemiologist Confirms Key Processes For Preventing Third Wave Of COVID-19

JAKARTA - Epidemiologists said that efforts to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases were to implement strict health protocols such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and washing hands with soap (3M) instead of conducting RT-PCR tests for travelers.

"For domestic travel, what must be done is prevention of transmission. How, yes, 3M," said Masdaline Pane, Head of the Professional Development Division of the Indonesian Association of Epidemiologists (PAEI).

Previously, the government through the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment as well as PPKM Coordinator for the Java Bali region Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the policy on the RT-PCR test requirements for domestic travelers was being reviewed. The policy was called to anticipate the movement of people during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Masdalina said that the application of the PCR test for travelers is also ineffective if it is carried out for regencies and cities with limited access to laboratories.

According to her, several districts and cities in Indonesia can only get PCR test results for two days.

This is considered ineffective because people who get test results have two days to allow transmission or infection of the virus from their social activities.

She also explained that the negative results of the PCR test did not mean allowing the capacity of public transportation to be 100 percent because it was considered a violation of the health protocol, namely maintaining physical distance.

Masdalina also supports the continued reduction in the price of PCR tests to below Rp100,000, as implemented in India.

"If it turns out that with the PCR test, it can be reduced a lot compared to the initial price, we support it too, if it can be pushed again, like India, it's less than Rp100 thousand," she said.