People Are Advised To Return To Wearing Masks While In Crowds

JAKARTA - General Chairperson of the Indonesian Internal Medicine Specialist Association, Dr. Dr. Solly A. Nasution, SpPD, KKV, FINASIM, FACP, said that people need to return to wearing masks while in crowds to prevent exposure to COVID-19, especially during holidays.

"Masker, it's been a good couple of months without masks, but, in closed places, a lot of gatherings, I think it's best for us to take care of ourselves again, especially the comorbid groups," Sally said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 18.

Sally said that apart from wearing masks, people also need to re-implement a clean and healthy lifestyle and try to avoid gathering, especially considering the number of COVID-19 cases has increased in recent times.

When asked whether it is safe or not people are doing mobility at this time, he is of the opinion that the current conditions are different from the COVID-19 pandemic. The morbidity rate if exposed to this disease is expected not as heavy as it used to be.

"Currently, if we look at the minimum data for vaccines of one and two, at least more than 50 percent and if we look at it, it will increase, but, the severity of the disease, God willing, is not what it used to be," said Sally.

In addition to COVID-19, he noted that many diseases are encountered, especially entering the rainy season today, such as influenza, pneumonia, and dengue.

Currently available vaccines to provide protection against the three diseases. Vaccines are recommended, especially for those who will travel at least two weeks before departure.

Immunization is said to play an important role by increasing specific immunity so that it can reduce morbidity, reduce the severity of illness, hospitalization, complications due to disease, and reduce mortality.

"The vaccine is at best two weeks before the D day, for example, if you want to leave. The distance between vaccines and immunity is two weeks. So, if you want to go to Umrah or Hajj, you can't get the vaccine tomorrow, the protection is not optimal," continued Sally.

However, according to him, it is not too late for people to be vaccinated, especially certain groups.

"People have arranged holidays and so on, we feel welcome. However, avoiding crowds, masks are very important. Then for comorbidities, if there is a vaccination that has not been implemented, I need to be done," said Sally.