Papua XX PON COVID-19 Cases Continue To Increase, Minister Of Health Budi Finds The Cause

JAKARTA - Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, revealed that there were 83 positive cases of COVID-19 in the midst of the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) until today or Monday, October 11.

According to him, this number continues to increase compared to the previous day and is mostly found in athletes from judo to cricket.

"As for Papua, as of yesterday, 65 confirmed cases have been identified and as of this afternoon, there have been 83 confirmed cases, which are concentrated in a number of sports, such as judo, rollerblading, motocross, archery, and cricket," Budi said in a press conference broadcast on Monday. on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube.

He then explained that the addition of active cases in the middle of the sports competition was caused by a number of things. Including, due to the athletes sleeping in a room occupied by more than two people.

"Our observations show that the transmission was caused because the athlete's room inn was occupied by about four people," said the former Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises.

In addition, eating together by athletes and officials also led to the spread of COVID-19.

"This is a record so that in the future at big events like this there will be improvements (implementation, red) of health protocols that we can do," said Budi.

"In addition, we observe that the discipline of implementing health protocols can still be improved by giving greater authority to the COVID-19 Task Force in the regions," he said.

On that occasion, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto also explained that out of 83 people who were exposed to COVID-19 in the midst of organizing the XX Papua PON, athletes were dominated. While the rest, consisting of officials, referees, and journalists who are doing the coverage.

"Athletes are 72 percent; officials are 23 percent; coaches (coaches) are 1.5 percent; referees are 1.5 percent, and that's where journalists cover," he said.

"There are quite a number of athletes in sports (exposed to COVID-19, ed) namely 9 judo athletes, roller skates. Then seven motocross, archery, and cricket athletes," he concluded.