During a virtual discussion held by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, which was accessed from here on Wednesday, Pompini Agustina Sitompul said that 9,739 active COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Indonesia as of April 26, 2022, with around seven thousand patients self-isolating at home.
Sitompul, who also serves as the head of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Working Group at the hospital, said that some of the seven thousand patients undergoing self-isolation have experienced no symptoms.
Thus, there is a risk of transmission when people do not implement the health protocols and come into contact with people who are sick.
"Therefore, by implementing the health protocols, we are actually breaking the chain of (COVID-19) transmission," she remarked.
Meanwhile, the function of vaccination is that the patient will not experience severe COVID-19 symptoms when an infection occurs.
For that reason, both vaccination and health protocols need to be carried out simultaneously as preventive measures.
Regarding the exodus, she reminded people that there are people who are more vulnerable to the virus, such as people with comorbidities and older adults, who need to be protected.
Thus, even though vaccinations have continued to be pushed and the coverage has continued to increase, people must keep complying with the health protocols as a form of self-protection and an effort to protect other people as well, she added.
Related news: Task Force calls for health protocol compliance during homecoming
The Indonesian government recently announced its decision to allow people to travel to their hometowns to celebrate Eid al-Fitr this year in view of the improving COVID-19 situation in the country.
The trips will be allowed as long as prospective homecomers complete their primary and booster vaccinations. Those who have not received the booster dose will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result.
The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of April 27, 2022, the nation has recorded a total of 6,045,660 COVID-19 cases, 5,880,319 recoveries, and 156,199 deaths.
Related news: Surabaya city outlines strategies to handle COVID-19 during Eid
Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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