Covid-19 Prevention Needs Further Strengthening

The nationwide total of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has declined. However, the number of new cases is still rising in some regions.

Kompas/Priyombodo

Officers record residents who were caught in an orderly raid on masks on Jalan Inpres, South Petukangan, Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta, recorded, Tuesday (31/8/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The restrictions on social and economic activities in a number of regions have been eased following the recent decline in the number of new Covid-19 cases. However, the implementation of the health protocols, detecting and tracing new cases, and the vaccination rollout must be strengthened further.

National Covid-19 Task Force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said in Jakarta on Thursday (2/9/2021) that there was no single solution for controlling Covid-19. The new virus variants were spreading at such a high rate that it was impossible to rely solely on vaccination, he added.

“Even in countries with vaccination coverage of above 60 percent, new cases remain high. The ideal protection is [public] discipline in applying the health protocols, full vaccination, and the 3T [testing, tracing, and treatment] measures," he said.

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As part of efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19, the government has called for the establishment of a task force on the 3M health protocols (wearing masks, washing hands, and avoiding crowds) at public facilities. The task force’s duties include asking residents to follow the health protocols and ensuring that they have installed the PeduliLindungi official Covid-19 contact tracing app.

So far, the implementation of the health protocols has begun to decline in a number of areas, with people improperly wearing masks can be found in at least 20.6 percent of the country’s regencies and cities. In addition, the majority of residents in 21.9 percent of regencies and cities are not complying with social distancing measures.

Even in countries with vaccination coverage of above 60 percent, new cases remain high.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

A number of students walk towards the exit after school, at Warga Surakarta Elementary School, Surakarta City, Central Java, Thursday (2/9/2021). That day was the first time that face-to-face learning was held again after being canceled for several months due to the policy of imposing restrictions on community activities. regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. Face-to-face learning is held again with strict health protocols.

Authorities have told residents not to become complacent with the recent drop in new Covid-19 cases. "Public discipline in applying the health protocols and not travelling if there is no urgent need has been the biggest contributor to the decline in cases," said Wiku.

However, a number of provinces outside Java were still seeing an increase in new Covid-19 cases, including Aceh, Central Sulawesi and South Kalimantan. An increase in Covid-19 deaths was seen in Bali, South Kalimantan and Central Sulawesi, among other provinces

Vaccine effectiveness

Covid-19 vaccination coverage is to be expanded further. According to a number of studies, the Covid-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe symptoms and death.

The effectiveness and efficacy of vaccines against new SARS-CoV-2 variants needs further tests. The Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Moderna, and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines are all believed to be more than 50 percent effective against the coronavirus.

The AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have efficacies of above 50 percent against all virus variants. The efficacy of the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines needs further study.

The Moderna vaccine is effective against the Alpha and Beta variants, but further studies are needed on its efficacy against the Delta variant.

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"With the decline in [vaccine] effectiveness following the emergence of new variants, vaccination coverage should exceed 70 percent of the population," Wiku said.

According to the Health Ministry, 65.2 million people have received their first vaccine dose against Covid-19 as of 2 Sept, while 37.1 million people have received their second dose. The government target is 208.2 million vaccine recipients.

Meanwhile, the acting head of the Health Ministry’s Health Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency, Kirana Pritasari, said that 99.32 percent of arrears totaling Rp 1.4 trillion from the central government’s 2020 incentives for health workers had been disbursed, while around Rp 5.8 trillion of the 2021 incentives for health workers had been disbursed.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.