Familiar Consequences With Covid-19 Co-workers

Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto (Photo: Doc. Task Force)

JAKARTA - Government spokesman for the handling of COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto (Yuri) stated that recently there have been many additional positive cases in the work environment.

This is because many people underestimate the COVID-19 protocol, such as removing masks and not maintaining distance in their offices because they are familiar with their respective co-workers.

"The addition of many cases occurs in the work environment. There are those who think that a colleague who is already familiar with wearing a mask is considered unnecessary," said Yuri at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Thursday, July 16.

In fact, said Yuri, even though you are in the office with people who are used to meeting, you must still follow health protocols. Because, everyone in the office comes from a different environment and has different risks.

"The only safe place for us is at home. Therefore, keep wearing masks even when you are outside the house, including the office," he said.

In addition, the worker's lunch location is also a source of transmission of COVID-19. At this lunch venue, our people often forget that health protocols such as maintaining distance have to be strictly enforced. Because, that's when the mask is removed to eat.

"Keep your distance and try not to talk at all, as long as we still eat with other people at the place to eat. This is important so that this also reduces the risk of disease spread," he said.

Yuri said, the place to eat is a gathering place for people from various locations. Therefore, Yuri advised the workers not to talk during the meal and leave the place immediately when finished.

"So far, it is in the dining place that we can meet many people chatting, it can be prolonged with a close-knit atmosphere. However, there is a provision called the adaptation of new habits," he said.

Then, another factor that causes the high concentration of virus transmission in the workplace is the air circulation that is not running well. The workspace is usually in a closed place and only uses air conditioner (AC) as air conditioning.

The use of air conditioning in a closed room does not allow air circulation from outside to take turns in and can increase the concentration level of the spread of COVID-19. Because, when someone infected with COVID-19 sneezes and talks, the microdroplet will only move indoors.

Moreover, said Yuri, currently many people are infected with COVID-19 but they are not treated because they are included in the positive confirmation group without symptoms or asymptomatic. In fact, some of them do not realize they carry the virus.

"This is interpreted as being able to reduce the occupancy rate of liver hospitals because it does not need to be treated and will also contribute to a decrease in cases of death, but this is also our concern that they must carry out strict isolation. If not, it will be a source of transmission in our midst, "Yuri explained.