IDI Asks Residents To Stay Disciplined In Prokes Even Though COVID-19 Will Enter The Endemic Phase

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

BANDA ACEH - The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) asks the public to remain disciplined in implementing health protocols (prokes) even though the government changes the status of the COVID-19 pandemic which will enter an endemic phase.

The General Chairperson of the IDI Executive Board, Dr. Daeng M Faqih, said that the government had relaxed restrictions on people's activities. In the next few months the pandemic will also turn into an endemic phase. However, health protocols must continue.

"At least we wear masks as an effort to reduce infection, but the community must still strive for it, washing hands and maintaining cleanliness must be entrenched," Daeng said in Banda Aceh as reported by Antara, Wednesday, March 23.

This was conveyed by Daeng on the sidelines of the opening of the 31st Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) congress and the 22nd Indonesian Doctor's Wives Association (IIDI) in Banda Aceh City.

IDI predicts that in the next two to three months the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will turn into an endemic phase. This, he said, could be seen from the decreasing number of new cases and the higher vaccination achievement.

Normally, he said, when a pandemic is heading towards an endemic phase, it will give birth to a new variant which will gradually weaken. And now this is seen in the Omicron variant with evidence of a less violent effect.

“This omicron is getting weaker. As usual, if the pandemic is heading to the endemic phase, it will give birth to variants that gradually weaken and the evidence is that the severity is not much," said Daeng.

According to Daeng, the pandemic leading to an endemic phase was also followed by a drastic decrease in new cases and an increase in people's knowledge about taking care of themselves, such as increasing vaccination coverage.

Therefore, conditions like this must be maintained properly through joint commitments.

"If it continues, we predict it will be endemic, if IDI predicts it can be done in a short time. Hopefully in 2-3 months it will be endemic," said Daeng.

Even so, IDI still recommends that all people be vigilant and disciplined to apply health protocols in every daily activity, at least this condition in the next one to two years.