Garuda Passenger Positive For COVID-19, PKS: Government Must Evaluate Corona Detection Tool Alat

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JAKARTA - Member of the DPR from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction of the DPR, Suryadi Jaya Purnama, highlighted the finding of passengers who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on a Garuda Indonesia flight upon arrival in Hong Kong, Sunday, June 20.

This finding prompted the Hong Kong authorities to temporarily ban Garuda Indonesia flights from Jakarta from June 22 to July 5.

Regarding this case, Suryadi asked the government to evaluate various COVID-19 detection tools as a travel requirement that allows errors to occur. Because previously, the passenger in question had been tested in Jakarta and the result was negative.

"It is necessary to evaluate the use of various COVID-19 detection devices as a condition of travel, where the equipment uses several different methods to detect COVID-19," said Suryadi, Friday, June 25.

The member of Commission V of the DPR who is in charge of transportation matters said that several health experts themselves have long asked the government to evaluate the use of COVID-19 detection equipment as a condition of travel.

For example, the use of a swab with the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test method. He assessed that these tools and methods can detect the presence of viruses in the human body directly.

In addition to the PCR test, he continued, there are other methods that do not directly detect the presence of the virus in a person's body but can indicate the presence of the virus. That is by detecting the pattern of VoC compounds or Volatile Organic Compounds in human exhalation which is expected to indicate the presence or absence of the virus in a person's body.

"Because the method is not direct in detecting COVID-19, it takes a lot of data to test the accuracy of the tool," he explained.

As cases increase and mobilization continues, he said, the government must really ensure the accuracy of COVID-19 detection tools.

It is better if the government of Suryadi continued to use standard screening or diagnostic tests that have been approved by WHO, in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

"Moreover, the emergence of new variants of COVID-19, the PKS Faction believes that the evaluation of various COVID-19 detection tools as a travel requirement is increasingly urgent," said Suryadi.