Covid-19 Transmission at Papua Games Raises Concerns
A total of 29 participants in the National Games are reported to have been infected with Covid-19, which has led to calls for heightened vigilance against widespread transmission by tightening health protocols.
By
FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA/DEONISIA ARLINTA/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH/MUHAMMAD IKHSAN MAHAR/HELENA F NABABAN
·5 minutes read
KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO
The women\'s runners compete in the women\'s 5000-meter number in the PON Papua 2021 athletics at the Mimika Sport Center Athletic Stadium, Timika City, Timika Regency, Papua, Tuesday (5/10/2021). DKI Jakarta athlete Odekta Elvina Naibaho won a gold medal.
JAYAPURA, KOMPAS — The occurrence of Covid-19 transmission among the athletes, officials and Games organizing committee members must be addressed immediately to stem the spread to other participants, which it is feared could disrupt the quadrennial multi-event national sporting showcase.
The implementation of health protocols for the athletes, officials, committee members and spectators needs to be tightened as mandated in the Games guidelines.
The finding of 29 positive cases was confirmed by Papua Covid-19 task force spokesperson Silwanus Sumule in Jayapura on Tuesday (5/10/2021), saying that the cases were discovered at the four Games clusters -- Jayapura municipality, Jayapura regency, Mimika regency and Merauke regency.
All but one of 29 were said to be undergoing treatment at isolation centers. One is reported to have recovered from the illness.
"Of the 29 people, 19 are athletes and 10 are officials and committee members. The athletes come from Jakarta, West Java, Banten, East Java, North Sumatra, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara," Silwanus said, adding that they showed mild or no symptoms at all.
They are being treated on two ships belonging to shipping line Pelni and a number of Games organizer-designated hospitals while one patient has been allowed to self-isolate.
Hermawan Saputra, a member of the Indonesian Association of Public Health Experts, said the discovery of Covid-positive athletes pointed to loose health protocols at the Papua Games. He called for increased efforts in tracing and sterilization to prevent a further spread.
"This transmission cluster at the Games indicates that the prevention system related to health protocols is not running optimally. This incident also shows possible contamination from outside of the Games premises," he said.
Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
Spectators packed the stands of the PON Papua 2021 football match between West Java and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) at the Mandala Stadium, Jayapura, Papua, Thursday (30/9/2021). Many football spectators in the arena have not implemented health protocols to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
The recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, said Hermawan, showed strict supervision and health protocols were the key to successfully holding major sports events. He added that not only was the focus on the screening and inspection before the competitions start, but supervision during the events also had to be implemented.
“Make sure there is no [physical] interaction with the outside environment, including the organizing committee members. Apart from avoiding human interactions, there should be no interaction with food or goods brought in from outside the Games arena without medical verification," Hermawan said.
Based on Kompas\' observations over the past week, a number of athletes have not adhered to the administered bubble system during their travel between the athletes village and competition venues. Some athletes were seen among the spectators supporting their fellow delegation members.
Make sure there is no [physical] interaction with the outside environment, including the organizing committee members.
On the spectator side, not only has inspection of vaccination documents been frequently ignored but also the number of spectators has been overlooked leading to an excess of the permitted 25 percent venue capacity. Spectators were seen jostling and taking off their masks without being reprimanded. These conditions are in violation of the Games’ health protocols.
Responding to this situation, Silwanus said the Covid-19 task force officials and volunteers stationed at the four Games venue clusters would tighten health protocols in competition arenas. People who want to watch the competitions must show a vaccine certificate and negative Covid-19 antigen rapid test document.
“We restrict people from entering the arenas, especially indoors. The committee will prepare a video set-up to allow those barred from entering the arena to follow the Games," he said.
Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
Spectators at the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) rowing competition arena in Youtefa Bay, Jayapura City, Wednesday (29/9/2021). The high enthusiasm of the public to watch the 2021 PON XX Papua match has not been supported by the awareness and discipline in implementing the Covid-19 prevention health protocol.
Health protocols
In the efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the organizing committee for the badminton competition at the Waringin Sports Building, Jayapura, looked to be compliant with health-protocol implementation.
They placed the players on the east and south sides of the stands. Committee volunteers were at the entrance doors to prevent spectators from entering the stands where players and coaches gathered.
While in the stands, the athletes were asked to always wear masks. They were allowed to take off their masks only when they were competing.
The coaches were obliged to keep wearing masks while accompanying their athletes in competition. Spectators were told to show a vaccine certificate to enter the Waringin sports hall. With only one accessible entrance gate, the spectators had to queue for a long time to get inside.
Mimi Irawan, from the badminton technical delegation, said they had designated separated stands for spectators, sports delegation members and VIP guests in order to reduce physical contact in the competition arena.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta delegation has tightened health protocols by warning their athletes and officials against interacting with spectators after matches.
This measure was taken after five Jakarta athletes, members of the basketball and judo squads, had contracted Covid-19. Two athletes are currently in Jayapura and three in Timika, Mimika regency.
Jakarta Sports Council (KONI Jakarta) chairman Djamhuron P. Wibowo, when contacted from Timika said on Tuesday (5/10) that the women\'s basketball players had tested positive as shown in their antigen swab tests the day before their match against South Sulawesi at PT Freeport Indonesia\'s Sports Complex in Timika on Thursday (30/9). Two judokas were found to be positive as they were returning to Jakarta after competing on Monday (3/10).
After the findings, Djamhuron instructed all delegation members to comply more strictly with health protocols.
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