Reminding That Not To Hurry In Easing Of COVID-19 Prevention Rules, Epidemiologists: Sloping Cases Don't Mean The Virus Is Gone

JAKARTA - Epidemiologist from Australia's Griffith University, Dicky Budiman, reminded that easing regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 should not be carried out in a hurry. He said that even though positive cases had started to hit, it didn't mean that COVID-19 had disappeared.

This was conveyed in response to the government's decision to abolish the mandatory PCR test and antigen swab test for domestic travelers via land, sea, and air as long as they have received a complete two-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

"When doing easing, it must be gradual, not in a sudden, hasty, and large scale," said Dicky to VOI, Tuesday, March 8.

According to Dicky, this easing should be carried out gradually in a number of areas, the health system is already stronger and the community is more aware of the spread of COVID-19. "Only then gradually a week or two after that it continues to expand," he said.

"Also remember that when COVID-19 is sloping, the cases are small or down, it doesn't mean the virus is gone," said Dicky.

Dicky agrees that the current economic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic is needed. However, what must be understood is that the critical condition has not been passed, especially since the number of COVID-19 cases is still going up and down and the death rate is also still increasing.

Even if the government still insists on relaxing the rules, there must be a number of aspects that must be strengthened to prevent the spread of COVID-19. One of them is through early detection of the spread of COVID-19 in the community to increasing surveillance.

In addition, strengthening security in the aspect of transportation modes also needs to be carried out more optimally, especially in land transportation. "It is the ventilation and air circulation that must be strengthened. Including now, for example, using the train, you don't need to use a test, but the mask must be KN-95, for example. This is to reduce risk and must be done," he said.

As previously reported, the abolition of the requirements for antigen testing and PCR for train and plane travel is no longer needed, stemming from the results of the Limited Meeting held on Monday, March 7, which was delivered by the Java-Bali Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Coordinator, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

Luhut revealed that the abolition of the obligation to show a negative COVID-19 test result for travel and the effective date will be ratified in a circular issued in the future.

"Domestic travelers using air, sea, or land transportation who have carried out a second or complete dose of vaccination no longer need to show evidence of a negative antigen or PCR test. This will be stipulated in a circular letter to be issued by the relevant ministries and institutions that will be published in in the near future," Luhut said in a virtual press conference, Monday, March 7.