YOGYAKARTA - The exhalation-based COVID-19 detection tool, GeNose, made by the UGM research team has begun to be used as an alternative to medical examinations which is a requirement for long-distance train passenger travel at Tugu Station, Yogyakarta.
"Today is the first day for the soft launching of GeNose implementation at train stations. Several passengers have tried to use GeNose and hopefully the implementation can go well," said UGM Director of Business Development and Incubation, Hargo Utomo, quoted by Antara, Wednesday , February 3.
The use of GeNose has also begun to be tested at Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta. Meanwhile, the official launch will take place on Friday, February 5.
GeNose is a research-based innovation product in the form of an electronic nose that detects Volatile Organic Compound in human breath, which was discovered by a UGM research team led by Prof. Kuwat Triyana.
This product received a distribution permit from the Ministry of Health in December last year and its use for 'screening' for COVID-19 for long-distance train passengers in the Java Island region was approved by the COVID-19 Task Force in Circular Letter Number 5 of 2021 concerning the Extension of Insider Travel Provisions. Land during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
On the first day of its implementation at Tugu Station, a number of prospective train passengers started using GeNose. Vio, one of the prospective passengers, chose GeNose for the COVID-19 test because of its relatively affordable cost compared to the rapid antigen and PCR tests.
"I usually use rapid, and the price is pretty good for students like me, while GeNose, which costs 20 thousand rupiahs, is fairly affordable. It is launching today and I want to try it for the first time," he said.
Previously he had received quite a lot of information related to GeNose from social media, even though he just found out that GeNose has started to be implemented at Tugu Station.
"I just happened to be told that GeNose began to be used today so I was immediately interested in trying it. Some time ago it was busy on Twitter about GeNose. When I wanted to register, I just found out that here I can use GeNose, so I chose this," he said Vio.
At Tugu station, there are six GeNose devices in separate booths that can be used by prospective passengers. After registering and making payment at the counter, prospective passengers will be given an air bag that is used to hold their breath.
At each booth there is an officer who will provide explanations and instructions that must be followed by prospective passengers to exhale into the bag.
The bag is then handed over to the officer, and prospective passengers are allowed to wait for a few minutes until the results come out and prospective passengers will be called to receive information on the results of the examination.
"At first I was confused and afraid of being wrong, but it turned out to be easy to understand, and I thought it was more comfortable," he said.
Another GeNose user, Ayu, also revealed that using GeNose is quite easy and comfortable.
Even though he didn't know about GeNose before, he was interested in trying GeNose after being informed by KAI officers. He said that affordable costs were one of the considerations for choosing to use GeNose.
"This is the first time, just found out earlier when we came here. We immediately chose GeNose, I want to try," he said.
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