There Are No Guidelines Yet, We Discussed With The Ministry Of Health Spokesperson About The Possibility Of A Pandemic Concert Scheme

JAKARTA - The government opens the possibility of organizing large-scale arts and cultural activities, including music concerts. There is no official guide yet. We spoke with the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) for the Vaccination Program, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi to discuss a possible concert scheme that might be an important point in efforts to coexist with COVID-19: the endemic transition.

This discourse emerged based on the statement of the Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Johnny G. Plate. In a written statement, Johnny revealed that the government gave the green light for organizing large-scale arts and cultural activities to accommodate community activities to remain productive. The government hopes that the granting of this permit will accelerate the recovery of the national economy.

"Considering the need for us to accommodate community activities to remain productive but also safe from COVID-19, the government can now give permission to hold large-scale events and meetings involving many people, as long as they comply with the implementation guidelines that have been set," said Johnny.

However, there are no official requirements yet. Johnny, in his statement only explained a number of risk factors for transmission that must be avoided. The first is related to the situation of COVID-19 cases in the area where the activity is held. Second, the potential for transmission during activities due to the distance between participants and poor air circulation. Third, related to the long duration of activities. Then question the number and behavior of participants.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health for the Vaccination Program, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, explained that there were no specific official guidelines from the government regarding organizing music concerts. What is clear, according to him, is that the permit for the concert will be granted through a strict assessment.

There are three stages of assessment that every prospective concert organizer must go through. First, pre-concert. At this stage, "the organizer must present a contingency plan, a plan to ensure how the prokes is carried out," said Nadia to VOI, Monday, September 27.

"Including if there is a positive case, how do you ensure that the education of participants to take part in the Prokes properly looks like. That must be discussed, yes, it is finalized by the organizers and then discussed with the relevant authorities before the permit is granted."

The second stage is implementation. Perhaps there will be no need for music in a festival format, said Nadia. Later concerts may also be held with seated and spaced audiences. Another requirement regarding air ventilation settings.

Then the organizers must ensure that only spectators with a negative PCR test result and have been vaccinated at least once can enter. According to Nadia, all these schemes refer to the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs (Inmendagri) Number 43 of 2021.

On the SIXth point, precisely the letter L from the Ministry of Home Affairs which was published in mid-September is explained:

Art, culture, sports, and social activities (locations of art, culture, sports facilities, and social activities that can cause crowds and crowds) are permitted not with a maximum capacity of 50 percent by implementing stricter health protocols and using the Peduli Protect application.

"Nothing has specifically set about music concerts, yes. But in general, the Ministry of Home Affairs (43/2021) is like that. But the organizers have to make whatever concerns him," said Nadia.

Like the Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny G. Plate, Nadia also explained that the government's main goal in opening up opportunities for organizing music concerts is to accommodate community activities, especially those that can support the national economy.

After all, according to Nadia, sooner or later the government must reopen the community's activities as widely as possible with the safest implementation of health protocols in the midst of these activities. This music concert could be an important point in our adaptation to getting used to living side by side with COVID-19: the transition to endemic.

"Because after all, we have to live together with COVID-19, yes. It means we have to start getting used to these kinds of things. Because sooner or later, music concerts or other community activities will be held, like that," Nadia.

There are several reasons why the government finally decided to give the green light. First, the positivity rate which has touched 5 percent and below. Second, the low bed occupancy rate (BOR) aka the hospital occupancy rate, as well as the minimum number of deaths and case growth.

"But remember, we are still in a pandemic condition. It means it's not over yet. There will always be the potential for a rate of transmission. And in principle there are activities or easing of community activities, the goal is that we try to accommodate community activities to remain productive but still safe also from COVID-19. The principle is that."

*Read other information about MUSIC or read other interesting writings from Yudhistira Mahabharata.