Homecoming In Pati, Tarawih In Banyumas, Takziah Semarang As The New COVID Cluster In Indonesia

Spokesperson for COVID-19 of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi (Photo: Capture / ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health reported the findings of new clusters in the last week that occurred in a number of regions in Indonesia due to people's ignorance of the health protocol (Prokes).

"This week, various clusters appear, such as offices, breaking the fast together, Tarawih in Banyumas, going home in Pati to takziah in Semarang," said COVID-19 spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi in a virtual press conference, Friday, April 30.

The emergence of new clusters is very worrying because of the massive spread of the virus so that the number of people who are positively infected with COVID-19 has increased in a short time.

Siti Nadia said that this situation could occur because in a short time there was an interaction without running the right prokes. There are 3 factors in the emergence of this new cluster. First, the negligence of the community in implementing health protocols.

"Especially when performing Tarawih worship in congregation," he said.

For example, as happened in the cluster in Banyumas, Central Java. The Ministry of Health reported that 51 Tarawih participants had contracted COVID-19.

"As many as 51 people were infected during the Tarawih Prayer in two different mosques and were exposed to COVID-19 after one congregation who was positive still decided to pray in congregation," he said.

Siti Nadia advised that the relaxation policy given by the government for religious activities should be accompanied by strict adherence to health protocols. The second factor, said Siti Nadia, is breaking the fast together.

"In principle, eating and talking at meals together are very likely factors for the transmission of this virus," he said.

The third factor, due to the existence of other clusters, including offices, takziah, to homecoming activities together.

"Of course, it has to be done again with health protocols so that we can prevent things that we do not want to happen," he said.