Epidemiologist: If You Want To Return To Normal From COVID-19, It's Still Not Certain

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JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Public Health (FKM UI) Pandu Riono said it was not certain when the situation in Indonesia would return to normal from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If you want to return to normal, yes, it is still uncertain. Because it really depends on many things," said Pandu in the webinar "Future Trends in the World of Work and OSH After the Pandemic" which was followed on the ILO Youtube account in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, November 10.

Pandu said, one of the main problems that caused the uncertainty of the situation being able to return to normal was the transmission of COVID-19, which actually continued to occur every day, and the group's immunity which had not been fully formed.

The immunity of the community, which has not yet been fully formed, is caused by obstacles in carrying out vaccination activities such as waiting for vaccines purchased by the government from abroad.

As a result, he said, people still have the potential to contract the virus while waiting for the vaccine to arrive.

Furthermore, there is a mutation of the COVID-19 virus which continues to give birth to new variants, it is feared that it will be more dangerous and become immune to vaccines. So it is feared that the pandemic will end longer.

“Another threat that is still unclear is when will this virus mutate? Because this virus is always mutating. We are worried that the immunity built by vaccination could be powerless against a virus that changes its strain," he said.

Although there are a number of problems that affect the situation, he explained that Indonesia's optimistic attitude to expand vaccination coverage, especially in areas that have a high pandemic burden such as agglomeration areas, urban areas, and vulnerable groups can help reduce the number of positive cases and hospitalization rates.

The existence of strict policies implemented by the government in carrying out social activities, also helps the community avoid the transmission of COVID-19. So these rules must be maintained if the country wants to enter the endemic phase.

"We have to make a lot of changes, so that the transition from pandemic to endemic goes smoothly, and that requires agreement, patience as well as our collective resilience. This is what I can answer for now," he said