The likelihood of novel coronavirus infection clusters arising in refugee shelters is high enoughJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Health Ministry is readying health protocols to be applied at refugee shelters to thwart potential transmission of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among refuge seekers owing to catastrophes occurring during this year's rainy season.
The health protocols being drafted by the ministry's officials firstly focus on ways to strengthen the immune system of those at the refugee shelters, Health Ministry’s spokesperson Didik Budijanto informed ANTARA here, Thursday.
The health protocols also regulate practicalities to break the chain of COVID-19 outbreak among residents of refugee shelters, including minimizing crowds and practicing physical distancing measures, he explained.
In drafting health protocols for refugee shelters, the Health Ministry's officials have taken into account various aspects, Budijanto stated, adding that the guidelines are expected to be finalized and issued in the near future.
Several areas in Indonesia have been struck by flooding. Early this week, flash floods, for instance, hit some parts of the sub-districts of Cicurug, Parungkuda, and Cibadak in Sukabumi District, West Java Province.
The Sukabumi district government has declared a disaster emergency response status until September 27, 2020, in response to floods that claimed at least two lives, left 10 people wounded, and affected 176 households or 525 people.
Flooding was triggered by the overflowing of Citarik-Cipeucit and Cibojong rivers that caused damage to 127 houses in 11 villages.
Sukabumi District Head Marwan Hamami spoke of having declared the disaster emergency response status to expedite mitigation efforts in disaster zones to assist affected residents.
In response to the impacts of natural disasters striking during the COVID-19 pandemic, an epidemiologist at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) urged the government to adopt precautionary measures to avert potential surfacing of new-fangled COVID-19 clusters at refugee shelters in areas prone to natural disasters.
"The likelihood of novel coronavirus infection clusters arising in refugee shelters is high enough," Citra Indriani, UGM's epidemiologist, noted in her recent statement.
Indriani contended that in disaster zones, the number of displaced people often surpassed the capacity of temporary shelters readied for accommodating them, thereby making it challenging for authorities to impose strict health protocols.
Furthermore, those affected by natural disasters would tend to give more weightage to rescue themselves rather than practice preventive measures as mandated in the government's health protocols, Indriani pointed out.
In dealing with this challenging reality, the epidemiologist suggested that the government outline a comprehensive map of areas susceptible to natural disasters and ready mitigation efforts to contain the airborne spread of COVID-19 in refugee shelters.
The transmission of COVID-19 continues unabated in Indonesia while concurrently, it is difficult to implement preventive measures at refugee shelters, such as wearing recommended face masks, washing hands, and maintaining social and physical distancing.
The virus causing COVID-19 spreads primarily through small droplets from infected people and also through contact with contaminated surfaces of goods. However, reports had yet to be received on the waterborne spread of COVID-19.
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Translator: Katrina, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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