Head Of BNPB Opens Government Roadmap, COVID-19 Control Changed From Pandemic To Endemic

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. TNI Ganip Warsito/ANTARA

MEDAN - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Ganip Warsito explained three strategic steps that the Medan City Government (Pemko), North Sumatra, could take to control the spread of COVID-19.

"Later on, according to the roadmap from the government, controlling COVID-19 will turn the pandemic into an endemic," he said while reviewing a centralized isolation area (isoter) in the Center for the Development and Empowerment of Educators and Education Personnel (P4TK) Medan, quoted by Antara, Friday, August 6th.

Ganip explained that the three strategies are discipline in implementing health protocols (prokes), restrictions on mobility and community activities.

"This is the key. We have to change the behavior of our people, we have to be disciplined about the process. At least individuals wear masks. The President has required all of our people to wear masks. Because this is the easiest way to protect against exposure to COVID-19," he said.

The next strategy is optimizing the implementation of vaccinations and increasing the number of testing and tracing of close contacts of COVID-19 patients or "tracing" and increasing care or "treatment" of patients.

"These are three weapons that can change or control a pandemic into an endemic," said Ganip.

He asked all components of society to cooperate in implementing health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"This virus has attacked all countries in the world. Nearly 200 countries have been affected by this virus, and this has become a common enemy. We can overcome it by involving all parties," he said.