Suppress The Spread Of COVID-19 Epidemiologist Asks People To Temporarily Stop Non-essential Activities Aktivitas

Masdalina Pane, head of professional development at the Indonesian Epidemiologist Association (PAEI). (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of professional development for the Indonesian Association of Epidemiologists (PAEI) Masdalina Pane suggested that the public temporarily stop unnecessary activities, in order to suppress the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. Masdalina in a written statement received in Jakarta, Thursday, June 17, explained The surge in patients exposed to COVID-19 in the last 10 days has a relatively higher mutation rate than the excited variant in 2020. "In this situation there should be no further mobility, especially next month Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha. further tightening is carried out to prevent a bigger spike," said Masdalina as quoted by Antara. According to him, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 that is currently developing is a variant of Delta 1617.2 originating from India. faster spread even though its virulence or malignancy is relatively lower. Masda-Masdali's nickname Na, emphasized that this variant has pushed almost four provinces on the island of Java into red zones again. Meanwhile, for the Bali area, there was no spike, but based on the latest findings in people who died from COVID-19, it turned out to be caused by variant B.1.351 origin South Africa. "The difference is that the variant from South Africa has high virulence or malignancy, but does not spread quickly. So once people are exposed to the African variant within three days, they can die immediately," he said. Masda said many areas on the island of Java have now become epicenters, such as in Kudus, Bandung, and Jakarta. Although not all areas in one province are showing symptoms. Masda continued, the COVID-19 Task Force data shows that in aggregate it shows DKI Jakarta which has increased to 400 percent, Depok 305 percent, Bekasi 500 percent, Central Java 898 percent, and West Java 104 percent. -19 is not the impact of the Lebaran homecoming. The spike actually occurred due to the failure of deterrence, which resulted in the entry of Indian and African variants into Indonesia. In fact, it should have been 14 days based on the provisions for the optimum incubation period and this has become the standard of the world health organization (WHO)," he said. Masda also said that this spike indicates local transmission. This means that most of the people affected by COVID-19 do not travel abroad. , but was affected by a new variant. "This indicates that there has been local transmission, so it is a 'new emerging disease' in Indonesia," said Masda. Previously, Masda appreciated that the government through the police had succeeded in reducing population mobility during the Eid al-Fitr period. From the figure of 35 million There are only 1.5 million people who usually go home. The Masda, who is also an employee at the Ministry of Health, invites the public to continue to comply with health protocols by implementing 3M. Especially, avoiding crowds, both in social activities for ordinary people and sports activities in the near future. "It takes about a month if you look at the incubation period, until this spike can be suppressed. Therefore, the task of the government is to ensure the implementation of the Decree of the Minister of Health No. 4641 regarding testing, tracing, isolation, and quarantine more strictly," said Masda.