The COVID-19 Protocol In The DKI CFD Area Must Be Tightened

CFD activities after being closed during the COVID-19 morning (Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

JAKARTA - The implementation of the COVID-19 prevention protocol in the Car Free Day (CFD) activity at Sudirman-MH Thamrin, Sunday, June 21, has not been obeyed by everyone. Some people seem to take off their masks while exercising.

In fact, there were visitors who turned out to be reactive to COVID-19. This is known from the free rapid test conducted by the National Police. Of the 600 visitors to the Sudirman-MH Thamrin CFD area, 5 were reactive to COVID-19.

"As many as 5 reactive people have been swabbed and carried out PCR examinations at the Sukanto Police Hospital. Later, the results (positive or negative COVID-19) will be called to each (person) and handled according to the results," said the Head of the Medical Center and Police Health Brigadier General Rusdianto when contacted, Sunday, June 21.

Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, an epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, views that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government needs to tighten supervision of the COVID-19 prevention protocol that is implemented by the community in exercising in the CFD area.

According to him, CFD does not need to be closed. Just need to improve the health protocol. This is because the DKI Provincial Government is implementing a transitional PSBB period, namely the opening of a number of places, such as workplaces, restaurants, shopping centers, as well as entertainment and recreation places.

"The COVID protocol must be closely monitored. Keeping the distance between citizens must also be considered. Because the number of new cases in DKI is still high," Miko told VOI, Monday, June 22.

Miko said that the ranks of the Jakarta provincial government such as the DKI Pemprov and Satpol PP had been monitoring the CFD. But, unfortunately there is still a notice for residents who take off their masks on the grounds that they have difficulty breathing when wearing masks.

"Exercising wearing a mask is indeed difficult, especially cloth masks. If the mask is wet with sweat, it becomes difficult to breathe because the pores of the material will tighten when exposed to sweat water. So, I recommend exercising using a face shield," explained Miko.

Jakarta is not yet safe from COVID-19

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan implemented a PSBB or PSBB transitional easing period on the grounds that the reproductive rate (Rt) of the corona virus in Jakarta has been 0.99. This means that one person infected with COVID-19 can infect nearly 1 other person. Unlike the household in March, which was at number 4.

However, according to Miko, the number of households in Jakarta is not safe, even though it has decreased. Moreover, the number of new cases in Jakarta in one week can reach 700 cases. When the CFD area becomes the new cluster for the spread of COVID-19, the curve can soar.

"Until now, we are still conducting a study on the safe limits of covid cases in DKI. Because the Rt 1 figure is declared safe, basically there is a bird flu outbreak," said Miko.

"Meanwhile, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from person to person is more massive than bird flu or influenza, especially now that there is a classification of OTG (people without symptoms). So, it is not comparable," he continued.

Previously, DKI Pemprov held another CFD activity. This activity was stopped during the mid-week of COVID-19 because of the potential for transmission or transmission of the virus.

During the opening of the CFD activity, on Sunday, June 21, the community filled the Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan MH Thamrin, which were usually quiet at the start of the spread of COVID-19.