The task force has been formed to support the establishment of a productive community which is safe from COVID-19.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National COVID-19 Handling Task Force has formed the Public Facilities 3M (Wearing Masks, Maintaining Distance, and Washing Hands) Health Protocols Task Force amid the re-opening of public facilities in several regions.
The establishment of the new task force is in accordance with Circular Letter Number 19/2021 on the establishment and optimization of a 3M Health Protocols Task Force for public facilities to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said.
"The task force has been formed to support the establishment of a productive community which is safe from COVID-19," spokesperson for the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.
There is risk of COVID-19 infection everywhere -- at home, while traveling, or doing activities outside the house, he noted.
"Hence, it is expected that the activities at the public facilities will also be able to contribute to reducing the risk of transmitting the virus among the community," he said.
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The circular letter will be effective starting September 1, 2021 until an undetermined date and will be evaluated further in accordance with the latest developments, he informed.
Furthermore, the health protocols task force is expected to be established in eleven community activity groups -- economic and shopping; entertainment and sports; accommodation provision; health service; transportation; work; education; social events; law enforcement activities; energy and environmental events; as well as religious activities, Adisasmito said.
To support the health protocols' implementation, the newly established task force will involve the public facilities' managers/officers and management associations, as well as the regional COVID-19 task forces, Behavior Change Ambassadors, or volunteers for carrying out the three functions of prevention, surveillance, and support.
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The prevention function of the task force will be performed through periodic 3M socialization and the daily application of the health protocols, such as setting different entry and exit points, spraying disinfectants regularly, as well as screening visitors’ health at entrances by checking their temperature, PeduliLindungi app barcode scanning, and asking them to wash hands, Adisasmito said.
Meanwhile, the surveillance function will be conducted by monitoring the health protocols' implementation among officers, managers, workers, traders, and visitors at public facilities and giving necessary reprimands, he added.
In addition, sanctions will be imposed by regional governments and management associations of public facilities on health protocol violators, he said adding, tiered sanctions will apply for repeat violators.
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Furthermore, performance monitoring and evaluation of the health protocols task force will be carried out by the regional COVID-19 task forces, while training to the task force will be provided by the regional military and police officers, he said.
"Hence, in monitoring and evaluating the performance of the Health Protocol Task Force, the Regional COVID-19 Task Forces should pay attention to their administrative level and adjust to the conditions of the public facilities," Adisasmito stated.
Moreover, in carrying out the three functions, the Public Facilities 3M Health Protocols Task Force would also follow the Technical Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of the Public Facilities 3M Health Protocols Task Force, he informed.
He also said that the funding for the activity would later come from community donations, grants, and the local or central government’s official assistance.
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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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