Epidemiologist: Do NotACK Health Protocols, Pandemics Are Still Endless

Illustration. (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Head of the Professional Development Division of the Indonesian Association of Epidemiologists (PAEI) Masdalina Pane reminded the public not to ignore health protocols considering the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet.

"COVID-19 cases have experienced an upward trend in the last five weeks so people don't forget that the current condition is still a pandemic so they cannot ignore health protocols," said Masdalina Pane, quoted from Antara, Saturday, November 13.

The researcher at the Center for Public Health Research at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) added that the National Health Day (HKN) which is celebrated every November 12 is the right momentum to increase health resilience again in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The 2022 HKN theme is 'Bangkit Indonesiaku, Sehat Negeriku' so that it is hoped that all parties, including the community, together with the government, will need to strive to realize health resilience as realized in policies and programs that have been prepared," he said.

Masdalina Pane also added that National Health Day is the right moment to continue to improve targeted risk communication in order to support the acceleration of handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Continue to remind the public to be disciplined in implementing health protocols as an effort to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission," he said.

Pane also reminded the need to increase the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination following the emergence of the XBB subvariant.

"In the midst of the emergence of the XBB subvariant, the public must further increase health resilience and strengthen health protocols to prevent COVID-19. In addition, vaccination coverage must also be increased," he said.

Regarding the emergence of the XBB subvariant, Pane again reminded the public not to panic but to continue to increase vigilance.

"The XBB subvariant is not virulent, but it needs to remain vigilant because vulnerable groups still have the potential to cause severe symptoms. Therefore, people need to protect and protect vulnerable groups from the risk of COVID-19 transmission and ensure vulnerable groups have been protected by vaccinations," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Coordination for Health Quality Improvement and Population Development of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Agus Suprapto said National Health Day is the right momentum to strengthen a healthy clean lifestyle.

"Let's take advantage of this HKN momentum as a joint foothold to strengthen and maintain health," said Agus Suprapto.