COVID-19 Task Force: The Compliance Rate For The Use Of Masks In South Sulawesi Is 87 Percent

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MAKASSAR - The COVID-19 Task Force (Satgas) released the level of compliance with the use of masks at crowd locations in South Sulawesi until March 2022 at 87 percent.

South Sulawesi COVID-19 Task Force consultant Prof Ridwan Amiruddin said this figure was based on observations in several places such as restaurants, shops, settlements, public sports venues, places of worship and public roads.

"The sloping status of COVID-19 cases in South Sulawesi must still be accompanied by health protocols, such as maintaining distance, avoiding crowds and wearing masks because this pandemic is not over yet," he said in Makassar, Tuesday, April 12.

This Unhas FKM lecturer said that there were differences in compliance with the use of masks between regions, one of which was in West Sulawesi Province as an area with a compliance level of 100 percent along with Jambi City.

Nationally, based on data from the COVID-19 Task Force, there are 16 provinces with compliance rates for wearing masks below 85 percent. Even though masks are considered to be one of the most effective media in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

"In general, the level of compliance with the use of masks in Indonesia reaches 91.88 percent, while the habit of not wearing masks is at 8.12 percent," he added.

Prof Ridwan did not forget to convey that vaccination of the elderly group must continue to be intensified and completed in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is because the vaccination coverage for the elderly is still very low both nationally and in every region, from districts to provinces. Meanwhile, the elderly are a vulnerable group to the spread of COVID-19, which is still present.

According to him, understanding the elderly and their families must be done through a special approach by health workers, such as going from house to house and then vaccinating.

"The elderly must be vaccinated immediately, task force officers must step down but still have to be escorted by security forces such as Babinsa and the police," he said.