The National Police Chief Explains Strategies To Prevent The Christmas-New Year's COVID-19 Spike

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo/DOK Public Relations of the Police

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo in a cross-sectoral coordination meeting explained security strategies in order to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases during the Christmas and New Year's 2022 holidays.

The strategy in question is handling from upstream and downstream, strict supervision of health protocols (prokes) in all modes of sea, air and land transportation.

"In an effort to anticipate 'Nataru' the police will carry out Candle Operations. But of course it will be adjusted to government policies," Sigit said as quoted by Antara in a written statement from the Police Public Relations Division, Friday, November 26.

According to Sigit, the strategy to anticipate the prevention of the growth rate of COVID-19 was implemented in Candle Operations to oversee the PPKM level 3 policy during Christmas and New Year.

The National Police will start security one week before and one week after PPKM Level 3 is implemented, with the aim of reducing the transmission of COVID-19 numbers," said Sigit.

Regarding the strategy for handling upstream to downstream, Sigit explained, to apply a scenario of tightening health procedures starting from pre-departure to destination locations for people who continue to go home.

The tightening process is carried out through the PPKM Command Post starting from the RT/RW level. For residents who have to travel, must include a homecoming certificate, two vaccine certificates and the results of an antigen or PCR swab.

The next strategy, the National Police also prepares posts that will be used for community vaccination. Also a place that is prepared to carry out quarantine if people are found whose swab results are positive.

"This service post to help people who have not been vaccinated is our strategy," said Sigit.

The police will also set up checkpoints to ensure that health protocols are in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

For airports, the police will also increase surveillance of travelers from abroad, in order to prevent the entry of new variants of COVID-19.

The next strategy, Sigit emphasized, is that the TNI-Polri and all elements of society will continue to accelerate the acceleration of vaccination to achieve President Joko Widodo's target of 70 percent by the end of the year.

"This means that there are steps that we need to take to anticipate the achievements in November and in December of at least 70 percent," he asserted.

General Sigit said, for areas where vaccination coverage is below the national average, special steps are needed to accelerate it.

"We expect this vaccination acceleration before the Candle Operation is carried out to keep the vaccination running and the process going well," said Sigit.

The National Police Chief also appealed for Christmas celebrations to be carried out using "online" or virtual methods. Or if it is carried out "offline" with a good capacity, only 50 percent will attend.

"Not only that, the PeduliLindung application must also be installed in houses of worship," said Sigit.

Meanwhile, for shopping centers or malls, Sigit emphasized that apart from installing the PeduliLindung application, vaccination and quarantine posts must also be provided. Meanwhile, at tourist attractions, this can be done using the "One Gate System" and there is also a vaccine post and quarantine.

Sigit also reminded the importance of cross-sectoral coordination steps, so that the prevention of the rate of COVID-19 during the Christmas and New Year holidays can really be controlled together.

"As ordered by the President in the last meeting, preparations for the possible growth rate of COVID-19 at Nataru must be anticipated. So that coordination steps are taken together with all parties," said Sigit.