COVID-19 Cases Continue To Rise, The 'Honeymoon' Moment Of Removing Masks Must End

Mask illustration (Photo by Kyle Austin on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Socialization of the importance of using masks - indoors and outdoors - must be intensified again.

"The public must continue to be reminded of the importance of using masks, both indoors and outdoors," said health expert Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Thursday, July 14, quoted from Antara.

The Professor of the UI Faculty of Medicine explained that the use of masks inside and outside the room is very important considering that currently there is an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.

"Currently, cases of COVID-19 are increasing, so our protection must be even better to prevent the spread of the virus," he said.

The former Director of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization/WHO) Southeast Asia also added that the use of masks along with other health protocols, such as washing hands, maintaining distance and avoiding crowds, also needed to be strengthened again.

"In addition, the coverage of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination to booster doses must also continue to be increased because it has been scientifically proven to be useful in reducing the risk or possibility of contracting COVID-19," he said.

Tjandra Yoga Aditama added that the public must continue to be reminded that the pandemic is not over yet, so people still have to continue to increase their vigilance.

"The pandemic is not over yet, so we still have to stay alert and continue to carry out health protocols properly," he said.

Meanwhile, he again reminded the need to prepare hospitals and health service facilities (fasyankes) to anticipate the increase in COVID-19 cases.

Tjandra also added that at this time it was necessary to find out with more certainty the cause of the increase in cases, which could be done using two methods.

First, by increasing whole genome sequencing (WGS) according to proportion.

Second, by intensifying in-depth epidemiological investigations on all or most of the COVID-19 cases in the country.