Five THINGS That The Government Needs To Do After Revoking PPKM

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Director of Postgraduates at Yarsi University, Tjandra Yoga Aditama suggested that five things the Government needs to do after revoking the Policy for the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) on December 30, 2022 so that COVID-19 can be controlled.

"These five things are also important fundamentals of controlling any infectious disease as well," he said via his electronic message on Sunday.

First, the Government needs to continue careful surveillance. This observation is not only based on a clinical picture but also from a laboratory even at certain circumstances to a whole genome sequencing examination. (WGS).

The FKUI professor gave an example of this surveillance activity in the form of continuous observation of dengue fever so that in the rainy season this problem can be immediately identified and prevented from expanding.

Second, the Government needs to expand the provision and ease of accessing antigen or PCR tests, especially since these tests are no longer mandatory for people.

"There are plans to provide antigen test kits at pharmacies, while we know that in many countries antigen test kits can be purchased in various stores and supermarkets," he said, suggesting large companies such as SOEs could provide test kits and distribute them to employees.

Third, the Government still needs to continue case tracing activities. According to Prof. Tjandra, as the concept of controlling infectious diseases in general, the possibility of disease spread needs to be prevented, so contact from those who are positive for COVID-19 must be identified so that transmission does not spread in the community.

"One example of another infectious disease is tuberculosis where contact from patients must also be found and even given preventive therapy," he said.

Furthermore, encourage vaccination because, like other infectious diseases that can be prevented by immunization, the COVID-19 vaccination remains and always needs to be maintained and increased in scope.

Finally, the Government needs to always provide health counseling so that the community can overcome the impact of COVID-19.

Tjandra said that public health counseling is one of the important things that needs to be continuously done, both about COVID-19 and various infectious and non-communicable diseases.

He also reminded the importance of the Government to always invite people to apply clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS).