Reinforce Sanctions against Health Protocol Violators

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

A resident takes part in the Covid-19 vaccination in Jayapura City, Papua, on Tuesday (21/9/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The National Games (PON), which will be held in Papua early next month, have the potential to cause a new Covid-19 hot spot. In order to prevent this, the government and the PON organizing committee need to strictly implement health protocols and impose stringent sanctions for violations.

“The health protocols should not only be good on paper, but should also be implemented effectively, efficiently and consistently. Do not hesitate to give strict sanctions. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the host took extraordinary measures and implemented strict health rules. But the transmission of Covid-19 still occurred, mostly outside of matches," said Iqbal Elyazar, an epidemiologist at the independent data initiative LaporCovid-19. Iqbal is one of a number of epidemiologists who are concerned about Papua\'s readiness to hold the national sporting event in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, spectators are allowed to watch the Games, which will officially open on Saturday (2/10) next week, with venues at a maximum of 25 percent capacity.

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Thus, the games have the potential to attract large crowds since the event will be attended by around 6,300 athletes, 3,000 team officials and 9,000 supporters of the events from various provinces of the country, while the coverage of Covid-19 vaccination in Papua is still very low. "Only 14 percent of people in Papua have received a second vaccine dose," said Iqbal.

In addition, the latest WHO report on the Covid-19 situation in Indonesia shows that as of 22 Sept., Papua had the highest provincial percentage of health workers who had not been vaccinated (zero doses). The number was 611 people, or 3.1 percent of health workers.

However, oddly enough, the positivity rate in the four regions per week had suddenly decreased to 1.42 percent. Previously, it had consistently exceeded 15 percent.

Hasmi, the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Epidemiologists (PAEI) in Papua, said that the four regions where the games would be held had been categorized as red zones with low vaccine coverage. However, oddly enough, the positivity rate in the four regions per week had suddenly decreased to 1.42 percent. Previously, it had consistently exceeded 15 percent.

The four regions are Jayapura city, Jayapura regency, Mimika and Merauke. “Meanwhile, the tracing ratio is only 1 to 2.47. In fact, according to WHO, for every case, at least 30 close contacts should be traced. So it is still very far [from ideal],” said Hasmi.

Of the 24 districts in Papua that have reported Covid-19 cases, only 25 percent have PCR testing equipment. Most of them are in Jayapura city. "There are also other challenges, namely that the PCR equipment often does not work," said Hasmi.

Efforts to improve tracing, testing and vaccination are often hampered by a number of factors, such as security disturbances created by armed criminal groups and skepticism about the existence of Covid-19 or the benefits of vaccination.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Rowing athletes from Jambi practice physically in the Lake Sipin area, Jambi City, Friday (7/8/2021). Some athletes are focusing on preparing for the PON in Papua later this year.

With such difficulties, discipline in applying health protocols remains key, and it should be followed with efforts to improve the 3Ts of testing, tracing and treatment. As a comparison, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the committee applied strict sanctions, namely sending the participants back home, if they violated health protocols. For example, two judokas from Georgia were sent home after leaving the Athletes\' Village to go sightseeing.

"It\'s too late to postpone the PON because several matches have already been held. Now, we hope that the committee will immediately fix the data monitoring and prevention efforts," said Iqbal.

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Health workers in Papua also hope that the organizing committee, participants and supporters are committed to applying health protocols. Otherwise, the spike in Covid-19 cases in Papua could overwhelm the limited local health facilities.

"This is not to mention that apart from Covid-19, malaria should also receive attention," said Yohana Yosephina, a health worker from local medical community Komunitas Medis Papua Tanpa Batas.

In addition to conducting periodic PCR tests, an isolation bubble system similar to the one used in the Tokyo Olympic Games would also be applied.

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said the government and the committee were concerned about the progress of the PON. In addition to conducting periodic PCR tests, an isolation bubble system similar to the one used in the Tokyo Olympic Games would also be applied.

"In order to proceed according to the plan, I and other officials from the Youth and Sports Ministry will have an office in Papua during the PON," he said.

Government spokesperson for Covid-19 Reisa Broto Asmoro said that the PeduliLindung Covid-19 tracking app must be used by all parties involved in PON. It is a recommendation to prevent Covid-19 transmission. (DRI/FLO/AIK/CAS)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)