While traveling, people are advised to implement health protocols by always wearing masks, keeping their distance, washing their hands regularly, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobilization.
"It must be our awareness that 3M (health protocols) and avoiding crowds as well as reducing mobilization is intended to protect ourselves," Aditama noted in an electronic message here on Tuesday.
The professor quoted a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) that people should strive to maintain the requisite distance and cut short their time if they are in a crowd.
Speaking in connection with the vacation locations, Aditama advised people to choose open spaces instead of indoors. These alternatives are in accordance with the WHO recommendations which state that open spaces are safer than closed spaces.
Meanwhile, health workers in health facilities should conduct simulations to prevent transmission of COVID-19 and conduct surveillance of data and information regarding COVID-19 cases in a systematic, continuous, rigorous, and thorough manner.
Meanwhile, Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Thomas Russo, remarked that vaccination can protect people from potential transmission of COVID-19 when they travel long distances despite the protection not being optimal.
"The vaccine is very effective but not perfect. Although your chances of transmitting or contracting COVID-19 are much smaller, there is still that possibility," Russo remarked as quoted by Insider.
The health expert has advised individuals to continue to wear masks while in a crowd despite being vaccinated.
Russo affirmed that the safety of an individual from potential transmission of COVID-19 depends on factors, such as the travel plan, location of the tourist destination, potential level of transmission at the destination, and behavior of the individual after arriving at the destination.
If people are keen on having a safe vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic, they can choose to travel by land transportation and stay at private rental places or hotels that have strict COVID-19 prevention protocols in place. Related news: Indonesia sets aside Rp3.8 trillion to revive tourism sector
Related news: Tourism industry to apply health protocol in "new normal" era
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Translator: Lia Wanadriani Santosa, Katria
Editor: Suharto
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