COVID-19 Rate Soars, Elderly And People With Comorbidities Should Keep Wearing Masks Outdoors

JAKARTA - Health expert Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama said vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with comorbidities need to continue to wear masks outside to prevent the spread of COVID-19 following the increase in cases in recent times.

"In the elderly, comorbid, and immunologically impaired as well as pregnant women and children should still wear masks outdoors. Also, if there is a crowd with a high risk of transmission, it is better to wear a mask," he said when contacted from Jakarta, Wednesday, June 22.

The Professor of the UI Faculty of Medicine added that with the increase in cases, vigilance and prevention or control efforts need to be increased, including in high-risk groups and conditions with a high risk of transmission. , because the message regarding the easing of the rules for wearing masks outdoors is feared to be 'read' by the public as free, even though the regulations still mention that in certain situations they are still required to wear masks. Thus, comprehensive socialization and education are needed to the community, "he said.

The former Director of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization/WHO) Southeast Asia added that the government's efforts to return to making policy adjustments regarding the regulation of health protocols for the implementation of large-scale activities were contained in the SE Task Force Number 20 of 2022 concerning Health Protocols for the Implementation of Large-Scale Activities. In the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it is right.

"This regulation adjustment is very appropriate to respond to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, the most important thing is socialization and education," he said.

Previously, the spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito said the policy adjustment was carried out taking into account the trend of cases starting to increase again, the importation of new variants of COVID-19 cases and evaluation of health protocol management, the government again arranged for events that were physically attended by more than 1,000 people at the same time and location. both indoors and outdoors.

Through this regulation, children aged 6-17 years who want to attend large events are required to have a second dose of vaccination and adults over 18 years of age are required to have a booster or "booster" vaccination.

The regulated events include local activities attended by local, cross-provincial or district participants such as social and cultural events for the community, as well as international activities attended by inter-state or multilateral participants. In addition, specific screening is also applied according to the involvement of the type of participant.