Endemic Transition Period, DKI Health Office Proposes Positive People For COVID-19 No More Self-Isolation

ILLUSTRATION BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Head of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and Immunization Section of the DKI Jakarta Health Office, Ngabila Salama, proposed to relevant stakeholders that people who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 no longer need to self-isolate.

This was revealed by Ngabila when he saw the increasingly controlled condition of the spread of the corona virus and that Indonesia is currently entering a transition period to the COVID-19 endemic.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases in Jakarta in the past week were only 540 cases with an average of 70 new positive cases per day. The death toll is only 4 cases in the past week.

"Currently, the COVID-19 positive isolation regulation is still 10 days if it is not done PCR and 5 days if the PCR is negative. I give input to stakeholders, COVID-19 patients do not need to be isolated anymore, but they must wear masks," he said. Ngabila, Tuesday, June 13.

However, if mandatory compliance with masks in COVID-19 patients is difficult to monitor, Ngabila proposes self-isolation to be carried out only during the emergence of symptoms or isolation for 3 to 5 days.

"This input sees now the incubation of COVID-19 1 to 3 days and 3 to 5 days from symptoms until it has recovered. Prevent pain is still the best. Prevent pain by wearing a mask when you meet a sick person," he said.

The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 has also issued Circular Letter (SE) Number 1 of 2023 concerning Health Protocols during the 2019 Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Transition Period.

The SE, which was signed by the Head of the COVID-19 Task Force Suharyanto on June 9, 2023, was issued in order to follow up on the development of the situation in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the increasingly controlled conditions of cases in the world and Indonesia, high community immunity, and relaxation of transportation policies in several countries, as well as the results of cross-sectoral evaluation of COVID-19 control.

The following are the provisions of the health protocol contained in SE:1. All domestic and foreign travelers, actors of activities in public facilities, and perpetrators of large-scale activities continue to seek personal protection from the transmission of COVID-19 as well as:a. It is recommended to continue to vaccinate against COVID-19 until the second booster or the fourth dose, especially for people who have a high risk of transmitting COVID-19. b. It is permissible not to use masks if in a healthy and not at risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19 and it is recommended to continue to use masks that are properly closed if they are not healthy or at risk of COVID-19, before and when traveling and activities in public facilities.c. It is recommended to continue to carry hand sanitizers and/or use soap and running water to wash hands periodically, especially if they have been in contact with objects that are used simultaneously. d. for people who are not healthy and at risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19, it is recommended to keep a distance or avoid crowds of people to prevent the spread of COVID-19.e. It is recommended to continue using the SATUSEHAT application to monitor personal health.

2. All managers and operators of transportation facilities, public facilities, and large-scale activities together with the local government are recommended to: a. Continue to protect the community through preventive and promotive efforts to control the transmission of COVID-19.b. Continue to supervise, guide, control, and take action against the implementation of health protocols to control the transmission of COVID-19.