BERITASOLO ■ In the midst of a rising trend of positive cases in West Java, epidemiologists are calling on the public to discipline themselves again to apply the COVID-19 health protocol.
According to the teaching staff of the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University Prof. Bony Wiem Lestari, the community is at the forefront of the war against COVID-19. There is plenty of scientific evidence that wearing masks and keeping a distance can prevent transmission.
Experts in West Java had previously predicted a surge in this case would occur today.
"Now a positive case in West Java 4,951 has added 105 people. Not much different from our estimate of 5,000 positive cases, "he said, today.
Bony explained how the public should read wisely the data presented so as not to respond incorrectly.
According to him, there are three possibilities of positive data presented. First, the rate of infection is indeed happening. "Our predictions show that one month later it will still go up," he said.
Second, the effect of an increase in massive tests. Currently West Java is pursuing a WHO target of PCR testing of 1 percent of the population or around 500,000. Currently West Java is currently intensively swab test (swab / PCR test). The wipe test week was already at 78,000.
"Now maybe at 88,000. The more tested, the more positive findings, the better for tracking, "explained Bony.
Third, administrative delegation. West Java has the potential to receive an abundance of cases from other provinces, in the sense of contracting it in other provinces, but because the West Java ID card is counted as a case of West Java residents.
"We have also received an abundance of cases from other provinces," Bony said.
Facts on the ground, experts actually have difficulty determining the transmission curve whether Indonesia has passed the first wave of COVID-19 or not. The condition for determining curves is good massive test capacity. At the beginning of the outbreak, massive tests were not as good as they are today.
"Actually it is rather difficult to determine the curve whether we are still the first wave or welcome the second wave," he said.
In such a situation, Bony recommended a number of things for the local government to do.
First, the local government must ensure that the institutions or organizations below it diligently go to the field to check that air ventilation is functioning properly, as well as disinfection of air conditioners (AC) in offices, factories, theaters, malls, boarding schools, dormitories and other high-risk places.
"There was an epidemic whose source was from AC, it had an outbreak in America. So acute inflammation turns out to be the source is AC. So it must be cleaned more often, "said Bony.
Second, local governments must provide a system of health care and adequate human resources to anticipate the explosion of patients.
"If there is an increase in cases and for example all must be treated, is the hospital bed and medical staff sufficient. This must be prepared by the government, "he said.
At the same time, local governments also need to strengthen public education about the importance of implementing health protocols.
According to Bony, however much the government requires a lot, but if people do not obey, it will still be difficult to walk.
"This is the moment we introspect whether we have implemented health protocols properly. Remind each other because with that we can be strong, "he said.
Airborne Transmission
On the same occasion, Prof. Bony also answered and straightened the issue circulating in the community that COVID-19 can be transmitted through air transmission.
According to him, WHO is always updating various information related to COVID-19 transmission and how health protocols are implemented throughout the world.
He stressed, airborne transmission was possible in health facilities such as isolation rooms.
"The method of airborne transmission is only possible in a specific setting, not in a public place," he stressed.
Bony said, currently WHO still has not found evidence that airborne transmission can occur in other places. While valid research has not yet come out, the government is still using the old WHO health protocol.
"The existing research so far is still in health settings such as isolation rooms," he said.
From this information it can be concluded that vigilance must be increased, especially in COVID-19 health facilities consisting of Ring 1, Ring 2, Ring 3. This is a warning for medical personnel such as doctors, nurses, and by the patient's immediate family.
"When should medical personnel wear surgical masks, N95, APD Level 3 for example. This is really warning our health friends must be disciplined in enforcing health protocols for their protection, "he said.
Even so, the WHO also warned the public to be very careful about being in an indoor area, there were many people, and the air ventilation was poor.
"There is a potential for an outbreak," he concluded. (Julian Sinaga)
